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Portland Community College outlines shift at Newberg Center toward workforce training
Summary
PCC leaders told the council they are repositioning the Newberg Center from general-education offerings to short-term workforce training in health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing community partnerships and noncredit options to build local pipelines with George Fox University and area high schools.
Portland Community College presented a plan on Nov. 17 to refocus its Newberg Center on workforce development and industry-aligned training.
Dr. Adrian Bennings, joined by vice chair Greg McKelvry, Alfredo Moreno and Karen Sanders, said PCC intends to prioritize short-term health-care and advanced-manufacturing training, expand noncredit offerings and strengthen partnerships with local employers and educational institutions.
"The PCC Newberg Center needed a new direction, and I'm excited about the foundation that we are building to expand enrollment," Bennings said, adding the center will align programming with local workforce needs and shared community priorities. Karen Sanders described a fall enrollment increase (197 students) and highlighted bilingual mental-health first-aid training delivered in Spanish.
PCC staff said they are working on an intergovernmental agreement with the Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District to convert the center's learning garden into a community garden and are coordinating with George Fox University and area high schools to establish education-to-career pathways.
Council members and community members suggested expanding pretrades and CTE coordination with local high schools to create pipelines for plumbers, electricians, welders and other skilled-trade careers; PCC presenters pointed to a Scappoose model that links high-school instruction with PCC training as an example.
The mayor and city staff thanked PCC for taking the initiative; PCC representatives said they will continue outreach and return with further updates as programs and partnerships expand.
