PCC Reaches Tentative Deal With Its Faculty Union, Effectively Ending Nearly Three-week Strike - 03/30/26

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College and its Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (FFAP) have reached a tentative agreement, marking an end to a three-week strike that began March 11.

Thanks to this tentative agreement and possible ratification, PCC is planning for spring includes a condensed 10-week schedule, with most classes beginning on April 6. Only some classes are meeting this week, including non-credit Community Education classes and Professional Development and Training (PDT). This allows PCC to keep published start and end dates in place while supporting continuity for students.

The tentative agreement includes a 2% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) this year and 3% for 2026-27. In addition, lump sum payments of $5,475 for full-time faculty, $5,000 for Academic Professionals and $1,400 for part-time faculty. The offer also provides doctoral pay for both faculty and APs and invests in part-time faculty pay equity by increasing the pay scale from 75% to 76%, a $600,000 commitment. APs will also get 40 vacation hours to cash out and no instructional days will be added. On health care, the proposal includes full coverage at the most common tier, a new option for college contributions to a Health Savings Account, and additional insurance contributions for part-time faculty. PCC has roughly 1,600 faculty and APs.

On March 25, the college reached a deal with the Federation of Classified Employees (FCE) union. In that deal, employees approved a 0% COLA for this year and 5% for 2026-27. Classified employees will also receive a $1,350 lump sum payment upon ratification of the agreement on the next payroll cycle and be able to cash out of up to 40 vacation hours. PCC has approximately 700 classified employees.

“This tentative agreement is an important step toward stability for PCC and the students we serve,” said PCC President Dr. Adrien Bennings. “We are pleased to be moving forward and refocusing on our core mission of educating students and serving our community.  At the same time, our hearts are heavy because we know that this agreement is so far outside of our budget that it will result in significant additional cuts in the future.”

PCC continues to face mounting fiscal pressures that threaten not only the college’s future, but also its contribution to Oregon’s economy. Like many colleges and universities across the state, PCC is confronting persistent structural budget challenges as it works to remain financially sustainable while continuing to meet the needs of students, employers, and the broader community.

That challenge carries real consequences. PCC serves more than 57,000 students each year across four campuses and ten centers, providing a critical pathway to education, workforce training, and economic mobility. Sixty percent of PCC students attend part-time while balancing jobs or family responsibilities, and two-thirds rely on financial aid. PCC plays an outsized role in opening doors for underserved students and preparing Oregonians for family-wage careers. When funding falls short, the risk is not just to programs and services on campus, but to the state’s ability to build a skilled workforce and sustain broad-based economic growth.

The College’s expenses outpaced revenues by $26 million last year. With revenues constrained and costs rising, PCC has already made $14.7 million in reductions to balance its 2025–27 biennium budget and is now facing an additional $21 million in cuts for the 2027–29 biennium. Long-term planning is made even more difficult by growing uncertainty around federal funding, creating further instability for institutions that Oregon depends on to expand opportunity, strengthen workforce development, and support long-term economic resilience. 

The stakes are high because PCC is far more than a college system, it is a major economic engine for the region and the state. A recent economic impact study found that PCC contributes $2.3 billion to the regional economy and supports 25,314 jobs. The same study found that students gain about $5.10 in higher future earnings for every $1 invested in their education. Across Oregon’s 17 community colleges, the impact is even greater: together they generate $9.6 billion in annual economic activity statewide and support roughly 118,000 jobs. Continued underinvestment in PCC and community colleges does not just strain campuses, it weakens Oregon’s workforce pipeline, limits economic opportunity, and puts at risk one of the state’s strongest returns on public investment.

“Higher education institutions across Oregon continue to face serious fiscal challenges,” Bennings added. “PCC is proud to play a vital role in creating opportunity, strengthening the workforce and supporting the regional and state economy, and it is important that we continue working together to ensure community colleges have the resources needed to sustain that impact.”

For complete details on the bargaining process and history, visit: https://www.pcc.edu/president/bargaining-updates/

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

PCC Sets Spring Schedule, Awaits Decision By Faculty Union - 03/27/26

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College is planning for spring term instruction to maintain a clear and reliable start. The college’s current approach is a slightly condensed 10-week schedule, with most classes beginning on April 6. This allows PCC to keep published start and end dates in place while supporting continuity for students.

Maintaining this approach depends on reaching an agreement with the Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (FFAP) and resuming normal operations by March 31. Because the situation is now so urgent, the college believes it is critically important to come together around a fair package and move forward in a way that provides stability for students and the future of PCC.

If delays extend past March 31, the college will have to restructure over 4,000 course sections, affecting faculty schedules and operational timelines. This would potentially prolong the spring term, creating a cascading effect for the next 4 terms.

Changes of this scale affect course availability, the number of sections ultimately offered, and the certainty of teaching assignments – particularly for part-time faculty whose schedules are determined term-by-term and who rely on consistent teaching opportunities each quarter.

In addition, current enrollment trends have already begun to shift during this period, with the college noting a 10% decline for the spring term attributed to the ongoing strike. This may further influence how many sections can be supported this spring and beyond. 

And if this strike results in another delay to the spring term, the uncertainty for students will likely force them to seek other educational options, leading to even lower enrollment, which translates directly into less revenue, program eliminations, and layoffs.

“The immediate and long-term impacts of this disruption are being felt across our community, particularly by students,” says Jennifer Ernst, Vice President of Academic Affairs. “The way to reduce those impacts now is to come to a timely resolution and get our faculty back to instruction.”

The current package, shared below, returning to work comes with a one-time payment, and the sooner everyone returns, the sooner the increased salaries and other benefits become activated. 

Current College Offer to Faculty Union:

• 2% COLA in year 1

• 3% COLA in year 2

• One-Time lump sum payments for full-time faculty and Academic Professionals (prorated for PT academic professionals): $935

• One-Time lump sum payments for part-time faculty who taught in the 2025-26 year: $530

• 100% coverage for individual healthcare and 90%+ coverage for dependents and family members

For complete details on the bargaining process and history, visit: https://www.pcc.edu/president/bargaining-updates/

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

PCC, Classified Union Reach Tentative Agreement To End Strike - 03/25/26

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College and its Federation of Classified Employees (FCE) union have reached a tentative agreement, marking an important step toward stability for the college and its employees.

In summary, the agreement includes a 0% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for this year and 5% for 2026-27. Classified employees will also receive a $1,350 lump sum payment upon ratification of the agreement on the next payroll cycle and be able to cash out of up to 40 vacation hours. PCC has approximately 700 classified employees.

Bargaining with the Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (FFAP) continues and the college leadership feels a deal is also very close. A remaining topic under discussion is compensation related to strike time. As a publicly funded agency, PCC maintains that they will not spend tax dollars for people who do not provide the services for which they're compensated.

PCC President Dr. Adrien Bennings said the agreement comes at a time of significant financial pressure for higher education institutions in Oregon and across the country. Rising costs, uncertainty around future state and federal funding, and enrollment declines following the COVID-19 pandemic have caused expenditures to significantly outpace revenue for many colleges and universities.

“We appreciate the efforts of everyone involved in returning to the table and working toward a resolution,” said Bennings. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with our classified union. This outcome reflects the value of continued dialogue and good-faith collaboration. It also underscores the ongoing challenge community colleges face in Oregon and across the nation, where state funding has not kept pace with the true cost of delivering high-quality instruction and the support students need to succeed.”

Bennings added that while the tentative agreement provides stability moving forward, PCC continues to face significant fiscal pressures. Like many colleges and universities across the state, the college is working to address ongoing structural budget challenges and ensure its long-term sustainability while continuing to serve students and the broader community.

With funding tight and costs rising, PCC recently made $14.7 million in reductions to balance the 2025–27 biennium budget and is facing an additional $21 million in reductions for the 2027–29 biennium. Long-term planning is further complicated by growing uncertainty around federal funding, adding another layer of instability for institutions that Oregonians rely on to expand opportunity, strengthen workforce development, and support long-term economic resilience.

Even amid these challenges, PCC remains a major economic driver for the region and the state. A recent economic impact study found that PCC adds $2.3 billion to the regional economy and supports 25,314 jobs. The same study found that students see about $5.10 in higher future earnings for every $1 invested in their education. Across Oregon’s 17 community colleges, the impact is even greater: together, they generate $9.6 billion in annual economic impact statewide and support roughly 118,000 jobs.

“Our focus now is to support our employees while protecting the long-term stability of the college and our ability to serve students,” Bennings said. “Most importantly, we are doing everything in our power to support students and keep their academic progress on track.”

For complete details on the bargaining process and history, visit: https://www.pcc.edu/president/bargaining-updates/

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

Portland Community College Advances 5% COLA In Effort To Reach Agreement - 03/23/26

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College has formally advanced a revised compensation proposal to union leadership, as the faculty and classified strike enters its third week. 

The proposal includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in the first year of the contract and a 3% COLA in the second year, along with increased contributions to employee healthcare plans. This brings the total COLA of the current PCC contract up to 19% across 4 years (PCC previously awarded compounding 6% and 8% COLAs, plus step increases). 

College leadership emphasized that this proposal reflects continued, significant movement by management at the bargaining table and a clear effort to balance support for employees with the College’s responsibility to students and long-term financial sustainability.

“We are optimistic about this competitive offer and eager to reach an agreement with both negotiation teams,” said PCC President Adrien Bennings. “Continuing to place our students in a prolonged state of uncertainty is untenable for their success.”

The advancement of this proposal comes at a critical time for the College. PCC is currently experiencing a 4.2% decline in student headcount and a 3.4% decline in full-time equivalent enrollment compared to this time last year. College leaders are also aware of students exploring transfer options due to uncertainty surrounding the spring term.

“The PCC team is working to reach an agreement that allows us to move forward together as an institution while ensuring students can continue their education without disruption,” said PCC Board of Director Gina Sanchez Roletto. “I’d expect and hope that students support their instructors during this time. Instructors and staff are the front line of education, and at the same time I hope the public is continuing to reach out to state legislators to continue advocacy for education funding.”

Due to PCC’s quarter-based academic calendar, prolonged uncertainty can have cascading impacts on registration timelines, financial aid disbursement, and student progress. If union leadership does not agree to this offer tonight, the College is prepared to explore options for delaying spring term to April 6.

“We believe there is still a path forward,” Bennings added. 

For complete details on the bargaining process and history, visit: https://www.pcc.edu/president/bargaining-updates/

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

Portland Community College Emphasizes Urgency Of Agreement To Start Spring Term On Time - 03/20/26

With a critical deadline approaching, reaching an agreement with striking unions by Monday is essential to avoid disruptions to spring term.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portland, OR — As Portland Community College continues mediation efforts with faculty and classified unions, college leadership is underscoring the importance of reaching a tentative agreement by Monday to keep the spring term on track and minimize disruption for students.

Right now, PCC still expects spring term to begin as scheduled. However, the timing of a resolution is critical and the timeline for finalizing grades and resolving outstanding coursework for winter term has been significantly shortened. 

“If an agreement is reached by Monday, the College can move forward with processing to transition between terms,” said Dr. Jennifer Ernst, Vice President of Academic Affairs. “This approach allows the majority of students to stay on track.”

A delay to the start of the spring term could result in a week-long delay in financial aid disbursements for all students. Right now the College is preparing for an impact to approximately one in seven students’ aid timelines due to the compressed grading period.

The College is working to prioritize the least disruptive path for the greatest number of students.

The College is preparing contingency plans to ensure continuity of instruction and student support should faculty not return to work by Tuesday.

“We are committed to supporting our students through this moment and remain focused on reaching an agreement that allows us to move forward together,” Ernst added.

Updates will continue to be shared as more information becomes available.

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses, and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

PCC Unions Announce Strike Beginning March 11; PCC Plans To Continue Negotiations And Support Students - 03/11/26

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College’s Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (FFAP) and the Federation of Classified Employees (FCE) have announced they are striking, effective Wednesday, March 11.

The college is operating remotely through until the end of the strike. Mediation will resume on Monday.

PCC remains committed to reaching agreements and continues to meet with union leadership. The college is focused on reaching agreements that are fair, sustainable, and aligned with long-term institutional stability. 

“While we are disappointed in these developments, Portland Community College remains committed to reaching agreements and will continue meeting with union leadership in good faith,” said PCC President Adrien Bennings. “Our focus is a settlement that is fair and sustainable, one that supports our employees while protecting the long-term stability of the college and our ability to serve students.

“Most importantly, we are doing everything in our power to support students and keep their academic progress on track,” she added. 

Context: negotiations amid significant financial pressures

These negotiations are occurring amid a challenging financial outlook for higher education. Rising costs, uncertainty around future state and federal funding, and enrollment declines following the COVID-19 pandemic have caused expenditures to significantly outpace revenue for many institutions.

PCC recently made $14.7 million in reductions to balance the 2025–27 biennium’s budget and is facing an additional $21 million in reductions for the 2027–2029 biennium. Long-term planning is further complicated by growing uncertainty around federal funding, adding another layer of instability for institutions that Oregonians rely on to expand opportunity, strengthen workforce development, and support long-term economic resilience.

This moment also highlights a persistent reality across Oregon and the nation: state funding for community colleges has not kept pace with the true cost of delivering high-quality instruction, career and technical training, and the wraparound supports many students need to succeed. That gap limits colleges’ ability to fully serve students, especially those balancing work, caregiving responsibilities, or financial hardship.

Even in these constraints, PCC is committed to distributing available resources as equitably as possible while maintaining its mission of serving students and the community. The college hopes to find a settlement that maintains that mission while finding an equitable solution for employees’ compensation and benefits.

As background, the current collective bargaining agreement remains in effect for its full term (September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2027). This is a mid-term reopener and is focused on wages and benefits only.

What the strike may mean for students

PCC is actively preparing to ensure continuity in instruction, advising, financial aid support, and other essential services so that students’ academic progress stays on track.

The strike is expected to impact the end of winter term and could result in delays to grades being posted. Faculty will grade students’ work and staff will process grades when the strike ends.

During the strike, PCC plans to offer classes and student services to the fullest extent possible. The college is taking steps to support students and help them complete coursework and academic requirements on time.

Staff will process spring financial aid as quickly as possible once winter grades are posted and spring courses are successfully underway.

If the strike impacts spring term, which begins March 30, students have a period in which to request a refund at the beginning of the term. That period may be extended depending on the situation.

PCC will continue to provide updates to students, employees, and the community as more information becomes available.

For complete details on the bargaining process and history, visit: https://www.pcc.edu/president/bargaining-updates/

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

Portland Community College’s SBDC And Partners Celebrate 20 Years Of ‘Getting Your Recipe To Market’ (Photo) - 03/05/26

PORTLAND, Ore. – Where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday that the Portland Community College Small Business Development Center (PCC SBDC), together with partners Oregon State University’s Food Innovation Center and New Seasons Market, launched “Getting Your Recipe to Market” or simply known as GYRM. 

Now, two decades later, the partners and the college are celebrating the program’s 20th anniversary as a signature training program that helps local food entrepreneurs transform a promising recipe into a commercial-ready consumer packaged goods product.

Since the first cohort launched in fall 2006, GYRM has guided hundreds of aspiring food entrepreneurs and early-stage food businesses through the complex work of developing, producing, packaging, pricing and selling food products. Over the past two decades, the partnership between PCC SBDC, New Seasons Market and the Food Innovation Center has created a robust pathway that blends business advising, food science and product development expertise, and real-world retailer perspective.

“Twenty years is an amazing milestone,” said Tammy Marquez-Oldham, director of the SBDC. “It’s incredible to think about how many food entrepreneurs have walked into their first session with an idea, and walked out 12 weeks later with a product and a plan, all supported by experts and a community that wants them to succeed.”

The three-month training program is designed for pre-business and early-stage entrepreneurs who have a complete, consistent recipe and want to determine whether that recipe can be transformed into a viable, shelf-ready product. 

“This partnership reflects New Seasons Market’s commitment to building a strong, sustainable local food system,” said Chris Tjersland, director of brand development at New Seasons. “By supporting small food producers at the earliest stages of their journey, we’re helping create economic opportunity, strengthening our regional food community, and ensuring our stores continue to showcase local food made with care, integrity and purpose.”

The program culminates in an opportunity for participants to pitch their products to New Seasons Market buyers, strengthening connections between makers and the local retail ecosystem. Graduates of the program stand out when pitching to buyers, said New Season’s Local Finds Manager Lori Hunter.

“They show up retail-ready and understand the nuances of label compliance, shelf life, cost of goods and distribution,” Hunter said. “Wholesale isn’t intuitive or easy to access, so from a buyer’s perspective, this course is incredibly valuable. Our 20-year partnership with GYRM continues to grow and evolve, and we truly love working with brands that have completed this class.”

GYRM recently hosted an in-person pitch and sampling event for its students at New Seasons Market’s new headquarters last term. These local food entrepreneurs pitched directly to New Seasons buyers, received real-time feedback and showcased products at various stages of development, from refined shelf-ready concepts to innovative prototypes.

This experience is a hallmark of the program, offering participants an opportunity to learn what retailers look for, ask questions, and refine their approach before launching to market. Offered during spring and fall terms, the program has helped more than 500 graduates and supported more than 300 new business owners, contributing to a thriving regional food economy and expanding what shoppers can discover on local grocery shelves.

“Watching makers transform kitchen-table experiments into grocery-store-ready brands has been truly inspiring,” said Sarah Masoni, director of the Product and Process Development Program at OSU’s Food Innovation Center. “Celebrating 20 years of ‘Getting Your Recipe to Market’ fills me with immense pride and gratitude, and I’m excited to see the remarkable products the next 20 years will bring.”

For more information, visit: https://www.pcc.edu/small-business/getting-your-recipe-to-market/

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.