PCC Innovates How New Students Are Supported In Their First Year Of College (Photo) - 11/12/25

PORTLAND, Ore. – Across the nation, community colleges are seeing fewer first-generation and low-income students complete their degree programs. At Portland Community College, this national decline is colliding with a local reality of recovering enrollment and increasing financial pressure for a turning point at the state’s largest postsecondary institution.

Yet amid these challenges, PCC has found opportunity. With the support of federal, state and philanthropic partners, the college is reshaping how it approaches student success. Under these pressures, PCC has become increasingly strategic in how it sees students' success by instituting the First-Year Experience (FYE).

While most community colleges in the country have similar first-year experience programs (estimates are at 80%), PCC employed a design team made up of staff from different departments to create a first-year experience that would be tailored specifically to the college. This student-centered initiative is designed to support new students during one of the most critical times in their educational journey: their very first year of college.

“Creating a sense of belonging and connection for students is incredibly important,” said Josh Laurie, dean of College Success Programs. “That first term, second term and that first year are crucial for building student momentum.”

A Strong Start for First-Generation Students

Starting college can be overwhelming, especially for first-generation students who often have no family roadmap to follow. PCC’s new FYE program aims to change that by surrounding students with personalized guidance and connection from day one.

FYE builds on the success of nationally recognized Future Connect, a mentoring program launched in 2011 that pairs first-generation and low-income students with dedicated coaches and scholarships. After FYE’s pilot year in 2024–25 that reached approximately 2,000 first-time, first-generation students, PCC expanded the effort to include “all first-time-in-college” students, about 5,000 this fall.

Each participant is paired with a FYE coach, who provides one-on-one guidance throughout the academic year. Coaches text students weekly, remind them about campus resources and events, and help them navigate challenges from financial aid to course registration.

“Our First-Year Experience coaches provide holistic, wraparound support to every single student,” said Jana Daugherty, program coordinator. “They support the whole human, not just the individual in class.”

This includes connecting students with all PCC on-campus resources like the Student Basic Needs Center for referrals to childcare, PCC Panther Pantry, counseling, bike rentals, transit passes, as well as off-campus resources like housing and more.

Connecting Students Through Pathways 

To deepen that support, PCC has embedded six FYE coaches within its guided pathways or academic grouping. This alignment allows coaches to connect students to one another and pathway-specific opportunities and resources.

“This year, what we did is we connected coaches to every guided pathway,” Laurie explained. “Now they have a very specific pathway they're aligned with to better serve students.”

That personalized connection helps students see how their studies fit into long-term goals while ensuring no one slips through the cracks. Daugherty said the outreach begins even before students step into class.

“Coaches reach out weekly, usually it’s a text message,” she said. “Even if students don’t engage every time, they know they’re not alone on this journey.”

FYE also includes an interactive online module hosted on D2L, PCC’s learning platform. Modeled after the college’s “success courses,” the module gamifies learning as students complete weekly levels, earn badges, and can qualify for scholarships by finishing all levels.

Last year’s pilot showed strong early results: FYE met nearly all its goals for retention, grade-point average and credit completion, and about half of all students regularly engaged with their coaches. Those outcomes encouraged the college to scale up the program across all campuses.

A Community Investment

PCC designed FYE with long-term sustainability in mind. Its braided funding model combines general fund support, private donations and foundation grants.

The PCC Foundation received one of its largest gifts by an individual donor to fund the initiative. The $1 million gift pledge by Brigid Flanigan, who is founder and principal of Tenfold Senior Living, is helping build and expand the offerings and support. The pledge will be fulfilled at $200,000 per year over five years.

Laurie said other foundations like the Oregon Community Foundation and Meyer Memorial Trust also have provided funding. 

Faculty and staff are also playing a role. Course rosters now include an FYE attribute identifying participating students, allowing instructors to offer extra encouragement and connect them with their coaches when needed. Ultimately, the FYE is about more than numbers, it is about belonging.

“I would say first-generation students show up as really brave,” Daugherty said. “Our college community is so much better because of all of them.”

Laurie agrees. “When I see texts from students saying, ‘Thank you for this. I’m so excited for next week,’ that’s really special,” he said. “Those moments remind us why this work matters.”

For more information visit the pcc.edu/first-year and meet FYE’s staff.

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

Building Connections: Amber Bliss Calderón Helps Newberg Adults Find Their Voice (Photo) - 11/04/25

NEWBERG, Ore. – When Portland Community College restarted English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes at its Newberg Center in fall 2023, instructor Amber Bliss Calderón was on a familiar mission: helping adults find their voice in a new language and community.

Bliss Calderón previously taught at PCC from 2004 to 2006 after a stretch overseas and graduate study. She has lived in Newberg for about 20 years and is now entering her third fall teaching ESOL at the center.

“It was really nice to come back to PCC, and especially in my hometown,” she said.

A graduate of George Fox University with a bachelor’s degree in Writing and Literature, Bliss Calderón spent two years teaching in South Korea before earning a master’s degree from Portland State University. That time abroad, she said, reshaped how she teaches.

“I wasn’t successful at learning the language when I lived overseas,” she said. “I know how isolating that can be and how you stay in pockets of comfort. It gives me a lot of compassion for my students.”

The Newberg Center currently offers four ESOL levels on site, with Levels 1–3 delivered as integrated-skills classes that fold reading, writing, listening, speaking and grammar into everyday scenarios. Level 4 is available locally as a bridge, and students who want to continue through the full eight-level ESOL sequence can transfer to PCC’s other campuses, such as Sylvania.

“We’re teaching students how to negotiate life here, how to talk to a cashier at the supermarket, ask their children’s teachers questions, or communicate with clients, bosses and co-workers,” Bliss Calderón said.

Most students at the Newberg Center are native Spanish speakers, she said, but the classrooms also include speakers of Chinese, Tagalog and Portuguese. Their goals tend to be practical and urgent.

“When I ask, ‘What’s your goal?’ most say, ‘I want a better job,’ or, ‘I want to help my kids with their homework,’” Bliss Calderón said. “We’re trying to provide a way they can do that.”

The center’s location is critical, Bliss Calderón added, because many ESOL learners work long hours and early shifts in industries that power the region’s economy. She sees students who start between 4 and 5 a.m., rush home for a nap, make dinner for their families and then come to class.

“They don’t have an hour to drive to Rock Creek or Sylvania or the Hillsboro Center,” she said. “They need something right here in their community.”

Students at the Newberg Center often hold essential, but less visible, jobs. Many work in farming, landscaping, nurseries, furniture building and construction. A large share of women in her classes clean homes or schools, including custodial positions in the local district. Some are even engineers with advanced degrees in their countries.

“They are highly skilled people,” she said. “It’s just the language piece that’s holding them back.”

The 13,000-square-foot Newberg Center opened its doors in 2011 and is one of the first projects stemming from passage of the college’s $374 million bond measure in 2008. The college bought the 16 acres from the Werth Family LLC to have a central location in the Newberg area to serve a growing community with classes, transfer credits and training. 

The collaborative effort with the local community earned PCC the Partner in Education Award from the Newberg School District and the facility was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum level for its energy efficiency.

This year, PCC has shifted into a new era and has been working with the community to align offerings at the center. The college hosted a community open house at the center in October that attracted more than a hundred from the community that connected them to services and classes like ESOL or healthcare. This fall, ESOL enrollment at the Newberg Center is up by nearly 10% and total enrollment at the center for all classes is at 133, edging back up toward pre-pandemic levels.

“Since we relaunched ESOL classes at Newberg, we’ve seen working adults choose PCC because they know these classes lead to real opportunity for their families and employer,” said Karen Sanders, assistant associate vice president of Academic & Career Pathways at PCC. “The impact is community-wide. Amber’s compassionate, experience-driven teaching has been central to this progress; she meets students where they are and turns language learning into access, dignity, and momentum for Newberg.”

Bliss Calderón believes the classes benefit more than individual learners. She points to parent-teacher conferences that run more smoothly when families can ask questions directly, and to workplaces that become safer and more efficient when instructions and concerns are understood the first time.

“You don’t have to have a translator every single time you meet with parents or need to discuss a child’s needs,” she said. “It helps the whole community.”

While other ESOL options exist in Newberg, Bliss Calderón said students choose PCC because it offers a pathway, whether to clearer communication, higher wages or future college coursework. Several of her Level 4 students, she noted, have a degree in mind.

“They’re not here because it’s fun, although we do make it fun,” she said. “They have an end goal, which is to communicate better or to get paid better and that benefits everyone. They need a bridge to a new world. Our job is to build it, one class at a time.”

For more information about what's happening at the Newberg Center, visit www.pcc.edu/locations/newberg/.

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

PCC Welding Instructor Wins National Award From American Welding Society (Photo) - 10/28/25

BEAVERTON, Ore. – Portland Community College welding instructor Matt Scott of Beaverton was recognized with a 35-year Lifetime Membership Award from the American Welding Society (AWS) at FABTECH, an industry show. The national honor celebrates his decades-long commitment to workforce training and his impact on generations of welding students.

“We're absolutely thrilled to see Matt Scott get recognized for his lifetime commitment to training, encouraging and mentoring students into the welding workforce,” said Patty Hawkins, program dean for Electronics, Mechatronics, Advanced Manufacturing and PCC’s OMIC Training Center. “The industry partners Matt works with would be proud to hear about this recognition because he’s committed to their voices always being at the table.”

The American Welding Society is the global authority on welding standards, certification and education. The AWS grants Lifetime Membership Awards to professionals who demonstrate significant contributions through education, service and leadership. The award highlights Scott's technical expertise and commitment to workforce development, while reinforcing PCC’s leadership in trades education.

His True Reward -- Completion

Scott, who has been an instructor for 32 years, also serves as PCC’s high school liaison for welding. He said the recognition is a reminder of why he teaches.

“Awards are nice, but the real reward is watching students succeed,” he said. “When they leave here with skills that change their lives, that’s what matters most.”

Hawkins said the honor shows the caliber of instructors PCC has.

“Matt’s dedication elevates our program and sets a standard of excellence that benefits every student who walks through our doors," she said. “Matt is extremely passionate about teaching welding. He’s always the first to arrive and the last to leave. If there’s a need in the department, he’s there to help."

Scott began his career in the welding industry before moving into education, bringing real-world experience and industry standards directly into his classrooms. At PCC, he splits his time between teaching and outreach, emphasizing safety, hands-on instruction and collaboration with local employers.

Outside the classroom, he partners with local high schools to introduce younger students to welding and help them earn college credit while still in high school, saving both time and money.

AI Won't Replace Welders

Scott stressed that technology, AI, and robotics will complement (as a tool), not replace welders, making the field even more adaptable and rewarding as the demand for skilled welders remains strong across Oregon and the nation.

“A lot of students don’t realize welding is even an option,” Scott said. “But once they try it, they see how many doors it can open. The AWS said they need 330,000 new welding professionals by 2028. As long as PCC welding grads are actively seeking jobs, they will be actively hired with multiple offers.

“It’s okay to mess up as that’s part of learning,” he continued. “What matters is that you keep practicing until it clicks and the skill becomes second nature.”

This wasn't the only collaboration. In October, Scott joined colleague Todd Barnett at the British Columbia Technology Education Association’s Conference for Welding Educators, teaming up with industry partners Vigor Marine Group and Diversified Marine to present on bridging the skills gap through partnership.

“It’s going to take all of us to grow the trades workforce," he said. 

For more information on certificate and two-year associate degree options, see pcc.edu/programs/welding.

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

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Music Instructor Happy To Guide Students In Vocal Performance After Years Of Performing With Legendary Stars (Photo) - 10/21/25

BEAVERTON, Ore. – It’s not every day at Portland Community College that you can ask somebody the question, “Who did you like working with most – Barry Manilow or The Rolling Stones?” But it’s a question that needs to be asked when a person has the background of Sam Barbara.

“Both were special, but there’s no comparing anything to standing on the Staples Center stage in front of tens of thousands of people, close enough to touch Mick Jagger, and seeing the energy he still has in his 70s,” he said. “He can hold an audience in the palm of his hand. It’s inspiring to watch an artist still rocking it at that age.”

Barbara, who directs the Rock Creek Campus choir, worked with Manilow years ago at a holiday tree‑lighting event at Staples. At the University of Southern California, Barbara served as the contractor for the university’s choir, coordinating high-profile appearances, including singing at Nancy Reagan’s house, The Jay Leno Show and TV shows like “Glee.” 

“At USC, high‑profile gigs come with the territory,” Barbara said. “I got my money’s worth.” 

The notable experiences came when Barbara was working on his doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Music from USC. He was a senior teaching assistant in the Department of Choral and Sacred Music and assistant conductor of the USC Thornton Chamber Singers. He studied under renowned conductors Jo-Michael Scheibe, Cristian Grases, Nick Strimple and Donald Brinegar.

“It’s not that I set out to sing with rock musicians, but days like that happen in Los Angeles,” Barbara said. “USC really gave me access to high‑profile artists and taught me that you have to hustle and build your network if you want to make it.”

That is exactly what he is trying to instill in his 30-plus chamber choir. The PCC Music Program, which offers choir experiences at not only Rock Creek but also the Sylvania Campus, is gearing up for fall choir performances.

The slate of entertainment begins with the Rock Creek Bands and Choirs’ Midterm Performance at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5 in The Forum at the Rock Creek Campus (17705 NW Springville Rd). In addition, the Chamber Choir and Chorus will share their voices at Portland’s beloved Grotto Festival of Lights (8840 NE Skidmore St) on Wednesday, Dec. 3, and then join Clark College to perform Bach’s Cantata 142 on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Vancouver First United Methodist Church (401 E 33rd St). The season concludes with the Rock Creek Choirs Final Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 10 in The Forum at Rock Creek. All performances are at 7 p.m.

“We’ve got strong new singers and excellent retention from last year, which creates a real synergy,” Barbara said. “I’m building a robust calendar because they deserve meaningful experiences. Collaboration is central to who I am. Opportunities also come in; we get calls for choirs at various functions, and we say yes when we can.”

PCC’s Music Program typically hosts two concerts per term, including a planned variety show that doubles as a fundraiser for the program through the PCC Foundation this winter.

“It lets students shine as soloists and as an ensemble, which are very different skills,” he said. We’re only in week three of rehearsal, and they already sound terrific. This is probably the most talented group I’ve had since before the pandemic. We’d built the program up, then March 2020 changed everything. It’s taken time, but I think we’re back.” 

Besides leading the Rock Creek Chamber and Concert choirs, he teaches applied voice and class voice courses. A native Oregonian (Medford), Barbara returned home pre-COVID after serving as Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Westminster College in Pennsylvania.

Earlier in his career, Barbara directed choirs at Cleveland High School, where his ensembles won three Oregon State Choir Championships. He holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Portland, where he was later honored as a Fulbright Scholar in Weimar, Germany.

In addition to his teaching and conducting, he remains active as a soloist, clinician and adjudicator. His research interests include music literacy through solfège and contemporary German choral repertoire.

Faculty in PCC’s Music Program help students see the breadth of music careers. A lot goes into music education to ready students for transfer to four-year universities or gain valuable music training. The program prepares students for performance (opera, recitals) and both musical theatre and music therapy.

At the core of the Music Program is the ensemble, which is an audition‑based class. It follows a group that meets earlier in the day that is open to all students with no audition needed, focusing more on pedagogy and vocal warm‑ups. Barbara said many students take both because they love it.

“Roughly two‑thirds of our students identify as music majors taking theory, ear training and piano,” he said. “The other third come from any major and often sang in high school.”

For choir participants, who can range from fresh high school graduates to older learners auditing the class, performances are a key skill development. Besides the learning, and there is a lot of learning, the experience of being part of a choir can be meditative.

“For many, it’s the breath of fresh air that carries them through academic or economic stress,” Barbara said. “They may struggle with mental health, coursework, or finances, but the music room lets them leave that at the door and get lost in the work. It’s a community: they know each other well, share highs and lows, and learn to support one another in concert.”

For more information on PCC’s Music Program, visit www.pcc.edu/music/ 

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.