ORS 660.445: Grant program for community colleges and universities providing students from priority populations with academic credit for prior experience and skills gained outside of traditional educational institutions.

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Community college” has the meaning given that term in ORS 341.005. (b) “Priority populations” has the meaning given that term in ORS 660.300. (c) “University” means: (A) A public university listed in ORS 352.002. (B) Oregon Health and Science University. (2) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall establish a grant program to award grants to community colleges and universities that work toward increasing opportunities for students from priority populations to receive academic credit for prior experience or skills gained outside of traditional higher education institutions, with such academic credit counting toward a certificate or credential that provides a pathway to employment or career advancement. (3) In administering the grant program under this section, the commission shall consult with employers and targeted industry consortia to develop uniform standards that may be used to certify whether a student’s technical competency, qualifications, knowledge or skills are sufficient to earn a certificate or credential recognized by a targeted industry sector. (4) A recipient of grant moneys under this section may use the funds: (a) To develop assessment criteria and practices that may be used to evaluate whether a student’s prior experience or skills may count toward earning a certificate or credential recognized by a targeted industry sector; (b) To train staff on how to apply the assessment criteria and practices in awarding credit for prior experience and skills; and (c) For recruitment of and outreach to priority populations. (5) The commission shall establish criteria and standards by which a community college or university may submit a proposal to receive a grant under this section. The commission shall award grants under this section on a competitive basis, and may give priority to proposals that demonstrate effective strategies for engaging with individuals from priority populations. (6) The commission may adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this section. [Formerly 660.350]