ROCCS

This summer, an Oregon community college president is hitting the pavement to spotlight a critical issue: The basic needs of community college students. Starting mid - June, Clackamas Community College President Dr. Tim Cook — an avid marathoner — will embark on a bold challenge to run to every community college in Oregon. That’s more than 1,500 miles over 50 days, averaging 32 miles per day. 

The Running for Oregon Community College Students (ROCCS) campaign is a statewide awareness and fundraising initiative to highlight the challenges facing today’s students and to advocate for increased state funding for essential support services. Funds raised through ROCCS will be distributed directly to participating colleges to support students’ basic needs, such as food, housing, child care and transportation. 

Community college students represent some of the most vulnerable populations in the state. A survey from The Hope Center highlights the pressing needs of Oregon's community college students: 

● Food insecurity: Approximately 41% of students reported experiencing food insecurity within the previous 30 days. 

● Housing insecurity: About 52% of students faced housing insecurity in the past year, which includes difficulties such as affording rent, utilities, or frequent moves.

● Homelessness: Nearly 20% of students experienced homelessness in the past year, indicating a lack of stable and safe housing. 

Oregon’s community colleges serve approximately 200,000 students, which is 52% of all public and private higher education enro llments in the state. Many of these students encounter significant obstacles, including housing and food insecurity, lack of child care and transportation issues. Through this run, Oregon’s community colleges seek to highlight these challenges and generate support to address them. 

“As a first - generation college student, I understand the transformative power of education,” Cook said. “Through ROCCS, I aim to shed light on the significant challenges our students face, rally support to address these critical needs and raise awareness of the valuable role community colleges play in our state.” Columbia Gorge Community College is proud to support this mission and encourage the community to get involved,” Tom Penberthy, Director of Marketing and Communication said. “This initiative not only raises awareness but also directly impacts our students by securing much - needed resources."

Dr. Cook will be finishing his journey with us at Columbia Gorge Community College. We invite the students and the community to join us in Hood River to celebrate the conclusion of this inspiring effort. Stay tuned for more details on how you can take part in recognizing his achievement and supporting our students.

Learn more:  https://bit.ly/cgcc-finish-line 

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