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.

Foundation Hosts Big Give Day Fundraiser For Scholarships, Essential Programs (Photo) - 02/25/26

PORTLAND, Ore. – On March 4–5, the Portland Community College Foundation is hosting its seventh annual Big Give Day, a 36-hour community giving event that brings together alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to support PCC students.

This year, the goal is to raise $150,000 to fund scholarships and essential programs across the college. This ranges from helping students who face food insecurity, to supporting immigrant and refugee students, to helping provide resources to military-affiliated students and others like PCC’s Native and Indigenous students. The difference-making of Big Give Day begins at noon on Wednesday, March 4, and runs through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 5. 

“Big Give Day shows what happens when people across our community decide to show up for PCC students,” said PCC Foundation Executive Director Christina Kline. “In just 36 hours, that generosity turns into real support, helping students stay enrolled, focused, and moving toward their goals.” 

Through the power of crowdfunding and shared networks, supporters can make a direct impact by giving to more than 20 PCC programs and scholarship funds. A full list of participating funds is available on the Big Give Day webpage. Access is the goal. 

All gifts are encouraged, no matter the size, as they help provide critical resources that support student success and positive change across the college and community. The Foundation distributes $2.3 million in scholarships annually, ensuring that students in the region have access to an excellent education at PCC and the support needed to succeed, regardless of their ability to pay.

Big Give Day benefits students like foundation scholarship recipient Fareeha Nayebare. She said PCC is much more than credits, it is about survival, purpose and a path forward. Raised in a village in Uganda, she grew up apart from her parents, the only daughter among four brothers. Scholarships brought her to Forest Grove High School, and helped transition her to PCC in summer 2024. Now an Accounting Program student, Nayebare is the student trustee on the college board.

“My family doesn’t have much and they are fully dependent on me,” said Nayebare. "PCC has been transformative. If I were back in Uganda, I would be stuck at home and not sure about my future. Now I have hope. The path is a lot clearer. Dream high and dream big."

Learn more about the foundation's Big Give Day at pcc.edu/biggiveday.

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.

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Newberg’s Rising Star And PCC Interior Design Alum Gets The NKBA Nod For Her Work In Industry (Photo) - 02/17/26

NEWBERG, Ore. – When Newberg's Emma K. Winn started Portland Community College’s Interior Design Program during the first months of the pandemic, she never expected the experience to lead her to national recognition, international travel and a leadership role in one of the design industry’s key associations.

Winn, who completed her associate degree in Interior Design and two certificates from PCC in 2022, was recently named to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) Thirty Under 30 honor designation. The annual program celebrates emerging professionals shaping the future of kitchen and bath design.

It is the first time our NKBA chapter has ever had two Thirty Under 30 nominations in the same year with colleague Bethany Broussard, also a PCC interior design alum and communications chair for the NKBA Columbia River Chapter, being named to the same Thirty Under 30 cohort. Having two in one class is a record for any college in the country.

Interior design faculty chair Robin Fisher said the recognition reflects both Winn’s accomplishments and the strength of PCC’s accredited program.

“I really get jazzed when I hear about our graduates’ success,” Fisher said. “Emma is the third graduate to earn the Thirty Under 30 distinction in the last three years. It’s a huge honor and business opportunity. They’ll spend the next year traveling to manufacturers and becoming spokespeople for the NKBA.”

Community colleges have proven to be Oregon’s most practical, local engine for skills, mobility, and growth. PCC alone generates a concrete economic impact that shows up in paychecks, business receipts, and job openings filled thanks to graduates like Winn. PCC’s Lightcast-based impact analysis for FY 2021–22 reports $2.3 billion in added income across its primary economic region and 25,314 jobs supported. Every public dollar invested pays back $1.60 through economic growth and stronger communities. 

Winn is part of that economic impact. She grew up watching home design shows but didn’t realize interior design could be a viable career until her mid-twenties. She chose PCC because it was affordable, accredited by the NKBA, and offered a clear path into the profession.

Her entire program shifted online due to COVID-19, but she said the support of dedicated instructors, especially Fisher, helped her stay on track.

“For the first time in my life, I was excelling academically because I loved what I was learning,” she said. “The instructors adapted quickly and pushed us to succeed. Robin gave me the confidence to think I could make it in this industry.”

While in school, Winn worked retail and later joined Arizona Tile, which provided early professional experience. She then worked as a design assistant at C Change Design in Portland, supporting full residential remodels, creating construction documents, managing materials and specifications, coordinating clients, and facilitating photoshoots and digital content for the firm.

However, Emma recently took on a new challenge for 2026 as the designer and cabinet specialist with Crystal Remodeling in Wilsonville.

"Not only is this a great opportunity but it's so close to home," said Winn of her shorter commute. "I'm settling in and getting to know so much about Cyrstal and full-service remodeling from a design-build perspective.

"It's been amazing so far and I'm very excited to see what the future holds for me here," continued Winn, who has a near-obsessive gift for details. "Design is a language that most people don't know how to speak, and my job is to translate it for my clients."

This year, she will travel to Austria at the invitation of Blum, a manufacturer of hardware for high-quality kitchens and cabinetry, for a factory tour and then to Milan to attend EuroCucina, one of the industry’s most significant international exhibitions.

“It’s a dream for many designers to attend EuroCucina,” she said. “Being invited so early in my career is a huge honor.”

Winn also serves the local design community. After joining the NKBA Columbia River Chapter as a student member, she moved into leadership roles and is now the Chapter President for the 2026–27 term, beginning early due to a leadership transition.

Winn encourages prospective students to consider PCC’s Interior Design Program for its affordability, hands-on learning, and strong industry ties.

“If someone is interested in designing kitchens and bathrooms, PCC is the place to go in Oregon,” she said. “The instructors care about their students and the program prepares you for real work.”

Balancing full-time classes with multiple jobs was challenging, but she said the experience strengthened her time-management skills and helped her succeed in her career.

Outside of work, Winn enjoys knitting, she made the sweater in her photo, and loves spending time with her two cats. She and her electrician husband bought their first house in 2024 at the base of the Chehalem Mountains in Newberg, and are dreaming of remodeling their kitchen in the near future.

For more information, visit pcc.edu/programs/interior-design.

Newberg Center Classes And More

For the past decade, Newbergite Stephanie Romero has been the Newberg Center office assistant and helps coordinate ongoing courses and events.

The Newberg Center, located at 135 Werth Blvd., offers discounted event rentals for nonprofit groups, from public meetings to private gatherings such as community baby showers and club meetings. The building features a lobby with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto an entry courtyard and the surrounding landscape. With free parking and an accessible facility, it is a convenient place for the community to gather near the hospital, senior living and the university. The adjacent PCC Learning Garden and acres of green space support seasonal gardening and activities.

“I just love to see people here and enjoying this beautiful, open space and its artwork,” said Romero. “PCC even offers senior discounts on free or reduced-rate classes.”

The center’s winter and spring class schedules are available online and include courses ranging from retirement planning, Heart Savers First-Aid, CPR & AED training, to career-boosting project management and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).

To inquire for more information, call (971) 722-8602 or visit pcc.edu/locations/newberg/ for the latest class information.

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.