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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 9, 2017)
August 9, 2017 Page 5 Yes, You can Afford College Terence Keller Cascade Connections by Dr. Karin Edwards When someone from an under- represented background is consid- ering whether to attend college, a number of factors come to bear on that decision. Am I prepared for college? Are there people like me? Will I feel welcomed and support- ed? Will I have enough time to focus on my studies? Can I bal- ance college with all of my other responsibilities? And, most importantly, can I afford it? Fortunately for us here in Ore- gon, we have taken steps to ensure that the answer to that last ques- tion is “yes.” When Gov. Kate Brown signed the Oregon Prom- ise into law in 2015, it effectively removed cost as a barrier to entry into higher education. Any stu- dent who qualifies for the Oregon Promise can attend most in-state community colleges tuition-free. Unfortunately, though, too few students of color are taking advan- tage of this promise. Of the more than 7,000 Or- egonians who received Oregon Promise funds for the 2016-17 academic year, only 88 were Af- rican American (1.3 percent of the total); 68 were of Native Ameri- can descent (1.0 percent); and 277 were Asian American (3.9 per- cent). All three of these groups are represented in Oregon Promise in smaller proportions than in the general population. In fact, among all communities of color, only Hispanics and self-identified mul- tiracial people participated in the program at rates surpassing their portion of the general population. For a program designed spe- cifically to help people from dis- advantaged populations, this is a problem. There are likely a host of rea- sons why more people of color aren’t taking advantage of this op- portunity – too many for me to ad- dress in this column. But whatever the reason, the answer is the same: If you qualify for the program, sign up, get registered for classes, and start your journey into higher education. It’s that simple. Now, you may have heard that the state Legislature wasn’t able to fully fund the Oregon Promise during the recent legislative ses- sion – and that’s true. The likely result will be that program grants won’t be available to students from wealthier families, but for most students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, that won’t be a problem. You’re eligible for the Oregon Promise if you meet the following criteria: • Be a recent Oregon high school graduate or GED recipient • Document a 2.5 cumulative high school GPA or higher; or a GED score of 145 or higher on each test • Plan to attend at least half- time at an Oregon community college within 6 months of high school graduation or GED com- pletion • Be an Oregon resident for at least 12 months prior to atten- dance • File a FAFSA or ORSAA ap- plication and list at least one Ore- gon community college • Have no more than 90 college credits completed or attempted Taking part in Oregon Prom- ise is simple. But it’s one thing to discuss attending college in the abstract, and quite another to connect college – and the Oregon Promise -- with a gainful career. Take Portland Community Col- lege’s Welding Technology Pro- gram, based out of the college’s Swan Island Trades Center, for example. In two years, a student can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Tech- nology; and in less than one year, a student can attain a certification in general welding, flux-core arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, pipe welding, or shielded metal arc welding. Under the Oregon Promise, all of these outcomes are available to qualified students tuition-free. And what does this mean to a student’s future? The Oregon Bureau of La- bor Statistics reports that the state is in the midst of a welding job boom, with the number of welder positions expected to be 15 percent higher by 2020 than it was in 2010. That’s a gainful career. That’s a living-wage occupation. That’s an incredibly versatile skill set that someone could put to work virtually anywhere. And it doesn’t stop at welding. PCC has literally dozens of programs that can pre- pare you for a good career, or help you on your way to a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or even more. That’s the Oregon Promise, and that’s how PCC can help make it a reality. I encourage more students of color to take advantage of this opportunity and take the State of Oregon up on its promise. Dr. Karin Edwards is president of Portland Community College’s Cascade Campus. To learn more about the Oregon Promise pro- gram, visit oregonstudentaid.gov. To learn more about PCC, visit pcc.edu. Career Connections – Congratulations to Portland’s own Gabriel Romero, Jennifer Truong, Kelly Han, Laloni Wilson, and Peter Za, chosen for Bank of America’s Student Leaders eight-week, paid internship program, a program which recognizes community-minded high school students and connects them to employment, professional development and service opportunities. A full Service Realtor • List & Sell your House • Find your New Home • Help you Invest • Find you the Best Loan • Help with Pre-Sale Prep • Hold Open House to sell your home Portland is my Town Call Terence Keller 503 839-6126 Liberty Group Realtors Inc. terencekellersr@gmail.com • Oregon License 200306037 to publish a court document or L e g a L N o t i c e s Need notice? Need an affidavit of publication quickly and efficiently? Please fax or e-mail your notice for a free price quote! Fax: 503-288-0015 e-mail: classifieds@portlandobserver.com The Portland Observer