Latest news with #PortlandCommunityCollege
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
PCC plans to cut Music and Sonic Arts program despite community support
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Portland Community College faculty plan to appeal the administration's decision to axe a program that prepares students for careers in the modern music industry. Director of Public Relations James Hill confirmed that PCC will cut its Music & Sonic Arts program, along with Gerontology, within the next two years — after 'teach-out plans' are developed for the impacted students. 7 Portland weekend events, from Cinco De Mayo Fiesta to live Trisha Paytas show But employees told KOIN 6 they are challenging the decision, noting the program has high enrollment and high retention with each cohort reaching its full capacity. They also noted that it entices students who potentially wouldn't pursue higher education if it weren't for the program. 'As an advisor for the program, I get to work with parents, too, who just would love to have their kids out of the basement and in a learning environment,' Arts Pathway Advisor Darcy Demers said. 'And this attracts many students and professionals out there in the community, which makes for rich classroom discussions and such. But we open doors more than for students who otherwise would not be attracted to school and academia.' Last month, KOIN 6 reported that the college was as part of a 'fiscal sustainability initiative.' Part-time Music & Sonic Arts instructor Rachel Brashear previously revealed faculty members from each program were asked to conduct 'self-studies' to help administrators make their decision. Portland woman dies after snorkeling trip in Hawaii The music program's study showed a 'lack of data to clearly demonstrate that an associate degree or credit certificate/credit credential is necessary to become employed in the field,' Hill wrote in an email. However, Music & Sonic Arts Co-chair Jesse Mejia said the study received positive feedback before faculty members learned the program would be cut. They now have until May 12 to write a three-page appeal in an effort to preserve the courses. 'My feeling is that our administrators have a fairly narrow view of what a music career looks like, and we know that the city is full of music and music tech workers, but suddenly the burden of proof to show that has fallen on us,' Mejia said. According to , Oregon's commercial music industry generated almost $3.8 billion in economic output and nearly 23,000 jobs in 2021. PCC faculty plan to further highlight this in their appeal, which will include statements from students and advisors advocating for the program. OHSU takes public stance against calls to close primate research center 'This community — it's bigger than these few administrators with their decisions,' Music & Sonic Arts Instructor Mary Kadderly, who's taught at PCC for more than 35 years, said. Music Portland has also joined the effort by that asks industry professionals to identify the variety of jobs offered to those with education in contemporary music and technology. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
TriMet sex offender receives 22-year sentence for videotaping women using restrooms
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Jared Walter, who was once known as the 'TriMet Barber,' was sentenced to 22 years in prison after recording a multitude of women using the bathroom at Portland Community College and local businesses two years ago. Walter, a , was convicted on 31 counts of invasion of privacy in May of last year. Between April 26-30, 2023, Portland police learned a man was entering different women's bathrooms across the city. to those bathrooms and the recordings. Those incidents happened just two months after Walter was released from custody for different crimes. In September 2021, he was sentenced to nearly two years in prison after admitting to taking a picture of a woman inside a bar's bathroom. In 2019, Barber was after targeting women using TriMet, including two separate cases in March 2019. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PCC considering 14 programs on chopping block as part of its ‘fiscal sustainability initiative'
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Portland Community College is considering nixing various programs in an effort to tighten its budget. While PCC spokesperson Misty Bouse told KOIN 6 the school has yet to determine which would be cut, there are currently 14 of them on the chopping block. 'Oregon won't be bullied': Oregon joins lawsuit over blocked Education Department funding This includes General Science, Electronic Engineering Tech, Machine Manufacturing Tech, Welding, Chinese, German, Russian, Art, Music and Sonic Arts, Theatre Arts, Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Gerontology and English for Speakers of Other. According to Bouse, these 14 areas were narrowed down from 92 in a 'comprehensive program review' as part of the college's 'fiscal sustainability initiative' that was launched last fall. 'PCC's Fiscal Sustainability Framework and Action Plan and six-year financial forecast,prioritizes financial sustainability and responsible fiscal management, with a target 12% – 18% ending fund balance to create a financial buffer,' a . 'Immediate and phased actions, like managing personnel and operational costs, ensure the college's ongoing financial health.' The college's ensuing review of each program evaluated them on factors like cost efficiency, course completion rates and employment opportunities for graduates. Earlier this year, faculty members were asked to conduct 'self studies' showing the value of their programs offer to students and PCC. The studies are due in mid-April, and the college is slated to review them in May. Oregon Supreme Court declares ODOT's rules for 'community workforce agreements' invalid Part-time instructor Rachel Brashear teaches Music and Sonic Arts classes, which aim to prepare attendees for careers in the modern music industry by showing them skills like engineering and creative coding. She said the impacted students and faculty have been 'very upset' since learning the program could be slashed. 'It was like having the rug pulled out from under us because we've been really popular,' Brashear added. 'We have very high enrollment, and we're growing all the time, and our students love the program.' Each program was asked to showcase different evidence in its self-study. Faculty with Music and Sonic Arts were specifically directed to explain which academic credentials are required for roles in the commercial music industry, and what the current job market offers to students. The program was also told to consider merging with the pre-existing music program. In response, Music and Sonic Arts joined Music Portland in s to weigh in on the significance of the program. Brashear said there is plenty of data that supports the strength of the commercial industry, which , but PCC Lead Steward for Full-time Faculty Yvette Rosales said the required studies are merely 'extra labor' for faculty who already have packed schedules. She added that a student just recently expressed their interest in taking a Music and Sonic Arts class. Dismissed Waldport mayor removed from city council meeting, cited for disorderly conduct 'It really sucks to hear that PCC is considering [getting] rid of these really cool offerings that we grant to our community,' Rosales said. 'Money aside, we're not a corporate institution. We're a community college. We're supposed to be offering things to students and not, you know, threatening departments just because they aren't big money-makers or whatever PCC's rationale is.' She noted the college will soon start bargaining with its workers union, the PCC Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Community centers at risk of closure ‘the life blood' for Portlanders
PORTLAND, Ore. () — People were fired up over the topic of the possible during a listening session on Thursday night amid the City of Portland's $93 million budget shortfall. The was held at Portland Community College Cascade campus in North Portland. It was scheduled to take place in the Moriarty Auditorium. However, so many people poured in that they occupied four overflow rooms. Dow drops 1,600 after Trump's tariffs The , Montavilla and Peninsula Park community centers are all being considered for the chopping block as members of the public ask city leaders to find cuts elsewhere. 'I want city councilors to know community centers are the life blood of these communities, that that is where people go,' said Ben Meyer-Crosby, the vice chair of the Piedmont Neighborhood Association. 'The couple million dollars that the rec centers take from these budgets is so small compared to other things in the city and it provides such a huge impact for such a small — really — amount of money, the city can put into making sure our community stays together.' The city-wide sports office of Portland Parks and Recreation may be cut. 'My boys want to keep playing,' said Jeff Bayer, a volunteer coach with Goldenball Youth Basketball. 'Let us compete, reduce the sports office budget if you have to but don't destroy the program.' 1 hospitalized in Gresham parking lot shooting KOIN 6 News asked Portland City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney to comment on the community members' concerns about the budget. 'We have a lot of tough decisions ahead for us,' she said. 'Certainly there are other cuts we could make, certainly there have been conversations to raise revenue, and those are all other conversations that are before us still at this point.' Thursday night was the last budget listening session the city held. As for next steps, Mayor Keith Wilson is going to release his proposed budget, and then councilors will make their adjustments before they release a final budget in June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
