Portland Community College

Portland Community College is a public community college located in Portland, Oregon, founded in 1961 with the help of Oregon Legislature and Portland Public Schools. The college has grown to become one of the largest institutions of its kind in the United States, serving students from Multnomah County, Washington County, Oregon, and Clackamas County. Portland Community College has partnerships with Oregon State University, University of Oregon, and Portland State University to provide students with transfer opportunities. The college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

● History

The history of Portland Community College dates back to 1961 when it was established by a vote of Multnomah County residents, with the support of Oregon Governor Mark Hatfield and Portland Mayor Terry Schrunk. The college's first classes were held at Marshall High School and Grant High School, with Portland Public Schools providing initial funding. Over the years, the college has expanded to include multiple campuses, including the Sylvania Campus, Cascade Campus, and Rock Creek Campus, with the help of Bureau of Indian Affairs and National Science Foundation. The college has also received funding from Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support its programs.

● Academics

Portland Community College offers a wide range of academic programs, including Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificate of Completion programs. The college has partnerships with Intel Corporation, Nike, Inc., and Columbia Sportswear to provide students with workforce training and development opportunities. Students can also participate in Study Abroad programs with University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, and Australian National University. The college's academic programs are accredited by American Dental Association, American Bar Association, and Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

● Campuses

Portland Community College has four main campuses: Sylvania Campus, Cascade Campus, Rock Creek Campus, and Southeast Campus, located in Portland, Oregon, and Hillsboro, Oregon. The college also has several centers, including the Newberg Center, Willow Creek Center, and Columbia County Center, which serve students from Washington County, Oregon, and Clackamas County. The campuses offer a range of facilities, including Library of Congress-affiliated libraries, National Institutes of Health-funded research centers, and NCAA-approved athletic facilities. The college's campuses are also home to Kaiser Permanente-affiliated health clinics and United States Department of Veterans Affairs-affiliated veterans' services.

● Student Life

Students at Portland Community College can participate in a range of extracurricular activities, including National Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa, and Student Government Association. The college also has a range of athletic teams, including Portland Community College Panthers men's and women's basketball teams, which compete in the Northwest Athletic Conference. Students can also participate in Model United Nations conferences, National Science Olympiad competitions, and Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology. The college's student life programs are supported by Ford Foundation, Gates Foundation, and Open Society Foundations.

● Organization

Portland Community College is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors, appointed by the Governor of Oregon. The college is led by a President, who is responsible for overseeing the college's academic and administrative operations. The college is organized into several divisions, including Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Administrative Services, which are supported by National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Institute of Museum and Library Services. The college's organization is also influenced by its partnerships with Oregon University System, Oregon State Board of Higher Education, and American Association of Community Colleges. Category:Community colleges in Oregon