Latest news with #Oregonians
Cision Canada
2 hours ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Oregon Institute of Technology Expands Student Coaching Initiative to Boost Retention and Re-Engage Stopped-Out Learners
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore., June 3, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech), Oregon's polytechnic university serving more than 5,300 students, today announced the expansion of a multi-year student support initiative that will provide one-on-one coaching for students across its in-person and online programs. Through an expanding partnership with nonprofit InsideTrack, the university has rolled out personalized coaching services to help students enroll, persist, and ultimately complete their degrees. "Our coaching program has grown rapidly, driven by the entrepreneurial approach we have taken and a shared commitment to meeting students' evolving needs," said Greg Stringer, associate vice provost for strategic enrollment management and retention. "Oregon Tech is built to be agile—designed to meet students where they are and guide them toward success. At a time when too few students are thriving in STEM fields, our work is about more than enrollment or retention—it's about changing lives and expanding opportunity through education." Over the past 18 months, Oregon Tech has steadily expanded the coaching program to deliver high-touch support for learners, improve enrollment outcomes, and build long-term coaching capacity that engages students in both on-campus and fully online programs. Initial efforts focused on targeted outreach and support for re-enrolling students, and have since grown to include proactive coaching for first-time students as well as coaching to promote retention and long-term student success. Since launching with InsideTrack in 2023, Oregon Tech has deployed success coaching throughout the student lifecycle, providing one-on-one support to help learners navigate everything from choosing the right academic program to building a plan for how they will balance education with work, family, and financial responsibilities. "Given the range of work, family, and financial commitments most students are juggling today, it's not enough to simply open the door. We need to actively walk alongside students as they navigate their journey," said Ruth Claire Black, dean of online learning and global engagement at Oregon Tech. "This is about building a culture of support that meets students where they are, whether they're enrolling for the first time, returning after time away, or working to persist through academic or personal challenges." Across Oregon, nearly 500,000 Oregonians have some college credit but no degree. The university's approach comes at an important time for Oregon higher education, as the state's 40-40-20 goal —set in 2011 to ensure that all young adult Oregonians attain a high school diploma, postsecondary certificate, or college degree—nears its target date. This partnership, which started in 2023, has been funded in part using competitive grant funding from the state of Oregon's Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), underscoring Oregon's broader commitment to student success across the state's public colleges and universities. These funds, in addition to institutional support, will enable Oregon Tech to expand coaching to both re-enrolling and first-time students and begin supporting prospective students as they evaluate and enroll in one of the university's program offerings, ranging from certificate programs to bachelor's degrees. "Oregon Tech's students reflect the broad range of experiences of students in higher education today. Many are first-generation, working adults, transfer students, or returning students looking to sharpen their skills or retool for a new career," said Ruth Bauer, president of InsideTrack and a lifetime Oregon resident. "This is about making sure they don't have to navigate those challenges alone. Oregon Tech is doubling down on coaching as a way to provide the kind of high-touch, sustainable support that will help more students stay on track—and achieve their full potential." With over 5,300 students across its campuses and online programs, Oregon Tech serves a diverse population of career-driven learners, many of whom are working adults, transfer students, or military-affiliated. Nearly one-third of its students take at least one class online, while 15% study fully online. As Oregon's only public polytechnic university, Oregon Tech blends rigorous academics with real-world experience in engineering, health, technology, and business by integrating internships, clinical experiences, and fieldwork into its curriculum. For more information on Oregon Tech's work visit About Oregon Tech: Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) is the only public polytechnic university in Oregon, offering innovative, hands-on education in engineering, technology, health sciences, and applied sciences. With campuses in Klamath Falls, Portland-Metro, and online, Oregon Tech serves over 5,300 students and is committed to preparing graduates for successful careers and leadership in a rapidly changing workforce. About InsideTrack: InsideTrack is a mission-driven nonprofit that fuels positive change by empowering and advancing all learners to achieve their educational and career goals through the transformative power of coaching. We help people get the education they need to enhance well-being, create opportunity and secure meaningful employment — ultimately facilitating economic and social mobility. Since 2001, we have served over 3.5 million learners, partnering with more than 380 institutions and organizations to directly improve enrollment, retention, completion, and career advancement — tailoring our coaching outcomes to fit the needs of our partners and the learners they support. Our coaching methodology is evidence-based and research-confirmed, supporting all types of learners at every stage of their journey — especially those who face systemic barriers to postsecondary success. We are a catalyst for transformational impact, ultimately empowering learners and the organizations that serve them. To learn more, visit and follow us on LinkedIn @InsideTrack and X @InsideTrack.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Newly-appointed public defense head mounts effort to stem Oregon's public defense pileup
The newly-appointed head of Oregon's Public Defense Commission announced on Monday an effort to stem Oregon's public defense crisis. (Ben Botkin/Oregon Capital Chronicle) When Gov. Tina Kotek fired the head of Oregon's embattled public defense commission in April, she gave its new director until June 1 to come up with a strategy to end the state's ongoing public defender shortage. On Monday, Interim Executive Director Ken Sanchagrin announced just that: A 12-month-long, seven-point plan by the agency that seeks to expand contracts with lawyers and nonprofits across the state, increase voluntary caseloads for available attorneys and onboard law students who can be supervised while providing a defense for those accused of crimes. The response marks the commission's first attempt at addressing the shortage since Kotek overhauled its leadership two months ago. It doesn't provide a timeline for exactly when the crisis should end, as Kotek requested in April, but Sanchagrin told reporters Monday that he estimates that counties most affected by the issue could see relief as early as mid-fall. 'We can make significant progress over the next 12 months, but I think that coming up with a date, as somebody who really lives in the data, that's not something that is really possible at this point,' he said during a Monday media briefing. 'Given the increases in filings, and then given also some of these new proposals that we've put out that may or may not also be impacted by some legislative decisions that are being made, that makes it extremely difficult.' A Kotek press secretary said Monday that the governor could respond to the news on Tuesday. The announcement drew immediate praise from critics of the public defense agency's prior approaches to solving the crisis. 'We need to honor the hard work of public defenders and provide the appropriate level of representation and service for indigent defense. This plan does that with enhanced capacity and recruitment,' said Sen. Anthony Broadman, D-Bend, in a statement Monday. 'We will continue to leverage the Legislature's accountability and oversight functions to ensure the agency has the tools to execute this plan and resolve the crisis.' The public defense commission is an independent body with power delegated by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, designed with the goal of ensuring representation and defense counsel for all Oregonians. In April, it made headlines after Kotek fired its head leader and slammed the then-estimated number of Oregonians without representation for being at 4,000, which she had called 'unacceptable.' Oregon employs an array of centralized and deployable trial lawyers, public defenders, and nonprofit attorneys to help ensure that those who cannot afford an attorney are given proper defense, an obligation mandated by the U.S. and Oregon constitutions. The issue has long concerned officials, with a scathing 2019 study slamming Oregon's 'complex bureaucracy that collects a significant amount of indigent defense data, yet does not provide sufficient oversight or financial accountability.' As of June 2, 3,779 people lack public defenders, according to the state's dashboard, though Sanchagrin's letter said that the number was upwards of 4,400 as of May 2025. The majority of cases involve the six 'crisis' counties: Coos, Douglas, Jackson, Marion, Multnomah and Washington. Approaches in each of those localities will vary, but according to the plan, about 40% of an identified 176 attorneys with extra case capacity are based in these areas. 'What we're hoping to do is to proactively work with those individuals to identify who is willing and who has the ability to take additional cases above and beyond current…limits amongst those individuals,' Sanchagrin said. 'Then we can build that expectation into our contracts on the front end, which means it will be able to better predict and forecast what our case needs are going to be in a given area.' In a statement, the Oregon Judicial Department said it was 'encouraged by the urgency' demonstrated by Sanchagrin's plan. 'While we have not yet had the opportunity to fully review this detailed document, we support this step toward data-driven solutions and stand ready to assist the OPDC as needed to move forward,' wrote Chief Justice Meagan Flynn in a statement. Some of the plan's ability to be implemented will hinge on current legislative and budget discussions currently underway at the state level, Sanchagrin said. Currently the Legislature is still negotiating the commission's final budget and considering House Bill 2614, which would declare the public defense crisis an emergency and extend contract availability until July 2033. Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, helped lead the push in 2023 for legislation that allocated around $90 million to overhaul the public defense system. He told the Capital Chronicle on Monday that the plan represents the 'best opportunity we have for progress in sometime.' Citing ongoing negotiations, he declined to comment on the budget or the legislation but said 'we are giving them more than the baseline they need to be able to serve to succeed.' 'We've purposefully taken the long view that this whole session of recognizing that public defense must be integrated into all aspects and you need the entire system healthy,' he said. 'You can't just put money into one compartment and say, OK, somehow it's going to work out.' The amount of in-custody unrepresented individuals has sharply decreased since January — around 30%, according to the commission. Much of that reduction, it says, is because of the work of its trial division, which has taken over 2,200 cases and deploys across the state to assist in cases requiring multijurisdictional authority or high levels of expertise to put on a defense. Under the new plan, the trial division will seek out new counties and jurisdictions in which it can intervene in the crisis, said Aaron Jeffers, the division's chief deputy defender. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Oregon Senate passes bump stock ban, allows expansion of gun-free zones
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A gun safety bill is making its way through the Oregon legislature, which would ban bump stocks and allow local governments to decide whether to allow firearms in public meeting spaces. The Oregon Senate passed — the Community Safety Firearms Act — on Thursday, which would create new crimes for possessing bump stocks — or devices that turn semi-automatic guns fully automatic. Under the bill, local governments would also have the authority to limit concealed handgun license holders from bringing firearms in public buildings where official meetings are held, such as city halls. 'Something was not right': Oregon Coast safari park received complaints for nearly a decade Following the bill's passage, Oregon Senate Democrats said the legislation marks 'action for community safety.' 'Being elected to serve means guarding the people who put their trust in us: protecting their safety, defending their rights, and leading with humility and common sense,' said Senator Anthony Broadman (D –Bend). 'As a father, a hunter, a responsible gun owner, and an Oregon Senator, I know Senate Bill 243 honors that responsibility.' 'Rapid-fire activators are simply tools of mass destruction and do not belong in our communities,' added Sen. Floyd Prozanski (D –Eugene & Springfield), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and chief sponsor of the bill. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'It's time to call these devices what they are. They give legal firearms the same dangerous abilities as machine guns,' said Senator Lisa Reynolds (D –Portland). 'If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a machine gun.' The bill passed the Senate in a 17-12 vote along party lines, with the Oregon Senate Republican Caucus calling the legislation 'deeply flawed.' 'The people who follow the law deserve policies that respect them. The people who break the law deserve consequences,' said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). 'Senate Bill 243 targets responsible Oregonians, not criminals. That's a mistake we've made before. We should learn from it, not double down on it.' Candlelight vigil marks 15th anniversary of Kyron Horman's disappearance According to the Senate Republican Caucus, 'there is no credible evidence' that banning bump stocks will reduce gun violence. 'This bill does not address the core issues driving gun violence in our communities,' said Senator Bruce Starr (R-Dundee). 'It doesn't target criminals. It doesn't invest in mental health or illegal gun trafficking enforcement. Instead, it creates new penalties for responsible gun owners who already follow the law, store their firearms safely, and have undergone background checks.' The Republican caucus noted they offered their own proposals in a minority report, which was rejected by Democrats. Kohr Explores: Salmon fishing season arrives in Oregon The proposals from Republicans included repealing , a bill from 2021 that allows school districts and local governments to decide whether to allow concealed handgun license holders to bring firearms into public buildings. Other proposals from the Republican caucus included preventing people who have been charged with drug-related misdemeanors from owning guns along with another provision requiring participants in deflection programs to transfer their firearms to a law enforcement agency, a gun dealer or a third party until their deflection program is completed. After passing the Senate on Thursday, the bill moves to the Oregon House of Representatives, where the bill will have its first reading on June 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Oregon Capital Chronicle adds Spanish-language articles with ‘Noticias en Español' feature
Cherry blossoms frame the Oregon capitol. (Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Para leer esta historia en español, haga clic aquí. The Capital Chronicle is launching a new feature this week: Noticias en Español, or Spanish translations of selected articles. It's all thanks to reporter Mia Maldonado, a fluent Spanish speaker who for the past three years has translated stories she and colleagues wrote for the Idaho Capital Sun as part of its Sol-Capital Idaho section. Maldonado holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish and international political economy and was recognized for her Spanish-language translations by the Idaho Press Club last year. Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Oregon after English, with more than 360,000 of Oregon's more than 4 million residents reporting they spoke Spanish at home on the most recent American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau. More than 150,000 Spanish-speaking households in Oregon reported speaking English less than very well. And with immigration stories at the forefront of local and national news cycles, translating articles about state government into Spanish is one way to reach those neighbors where they are, because all Oregonians deserve to know what their government is doing with their tax dollars and how decisions made in the state Capitol affect their lives. These translated articles fit with work already being done by the Legislature and state agencies, which in recent years have pushed to make government more accessible to Oregonians regardless of the language they speak. Legislative committees now feature sign language interpretation and translators who help people who testify in languages other than English. Our state-issued voters' pamphlet is also translated into 18 different languages. We don't have the ability to translate all news articles. Instead, Maldonado is picking ones that are especially relevant to Spanish-speaking communities or of great importance statewide. Her first two translated articles are about child care providers asking the Oregon Legislature to continue subsidizing child care costs and about non-medical vaccine exemptions reaching record levels among kindergarten students. Noticias en Español can be found in the bottom left corner of our homepage, and links to read stories in Spanish or English will be available at the top of articles. We'll continue adding more Spanish-language coverage as Maldonado and other Capital Chronicle reporters report relevant pieces. If you have ideas for ways to make our reporting more relevant to Oregonians, please don't hesitate to reach out by emailing info@ SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon AG Rayfield on victory, White House response after Trump tariff ruling
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield is celebrating after a legal victory on Wednesday put a hold on President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs. The decision by the three-judge panel on the the U.S. Court of International Trade Trump slapped on almost all U.S. trading partners, as well as levies he imposed before that on China, Mexico and Canada. The ruling comes after a multi-state lawsuit led by Rayfield, alongside Arizona AG Kris Mayes and was joined by several other states, including Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York and Vermont. Chair Vega Pederson proposes 'critical' budget amendment to fund school-based mental health care Wednesday's also noted that Trump overstepped his authority when he invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to declare a national emergency and justify the sweeping tariffs. It further affirmed Congress' 'exclusive powers' to regulate commerce with foreign countries, including in the form of collecting taxes, according to the Constitution. Rayfield called this a victory for Oregonians and people across America, including working families, small businesses, and others. But in a Thursday briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the ruling 'judicial overreach' and stressed the need for the Supreme Court to intervene. 'Defeat for democracy'? Waldport City Council reinstates mayor after hostility complaints 'There is a troubling and dangerous trend of unelected judges inserting themselves into the presidential decision making process,' she said. 'America cannot function if President Trump, or any other president for that matter, has their sensitive diplomatic or trade negotiations railroaded by activist judges.' Rayfield told KOIN 6 News that is the type of response said when 'you're losing consistently in our courts.' 'I think it is a hallmark of our democracy to have an independent judiciary, because we believe that no one person in our government, whether that is Congress, a president or judges, should have that much power you have to have review,' Rayfield stated. 'And I think this is what's so offensive about the Trump administration. They walked into court last week and said that no court can ever review the President's decisions on an emergency order, and they said no court can ever review their decisions on how the president moves forward in these emergency powers. And that just is not the law in our country, and it never has been.' Although the ruling does leave in place other Trump tariffs – including those on foreign steel, aluminum and autos – those levies were invoked under a different law that required a Commerce Department investigation and could not be imposed at the president's own discretion. In response to the ruling, the Trump administration filed a motion to stay the court's order, appealing to the Court of the Federal District in Washington D.C. Until the appeal is resolved, there will still be a level of uncertainty for U.S. businesses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
