HECC proposes stakeholder process to refresh Oregon’s statutory postsecondary attainment goals

Ben Cannon, executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, asked the committee to consider whether Oregon should update its statutory postsecondary attainment goals. Cannon reviewed the 40‑40‑20 framework in ORS 350.014 and the adult attainment target (300,000 new credentials by 2030), noting the share of young adults with a bachelor’s degree has risen from about 31% to roughly 39% since 2011, while the “middle 40” (credentials short of a bachelor’s) has hovered around 18–19%.

Cannon said the adult attainment goal is falling short of the pace needed to meet the 2030 target and proposed a potential interim process to convene legislators, HECC commissioners, the state workforce board, employers, labor and other stakeholders to craft updated goals that balance measurable outcomes (degrees and certificates) with broader purposes (employment outcomes, employer satisfaction, affordability and equity). He emphasized that measuring certificates and degrees is straightforward but may not capture the deeper public purposes of postsecondary education.

Speakers from industry, labor and campus groups supported a broad stakeholder process: Skip Newberry of the Technology Association of Oregon urged inclusion of employer‑relevant applied skills (data literacy, AI familiarity, cybersecurity and human skills), while Arianna Jacob of AFT Oregon urged measuring affordability and equity in addition to credentials. Cannon said any process would seek public check‑ins and could inform a 2027 legislative concept if the commission and stakeholders agree on a proposal.