Higher Education Coordinating Commission

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) is a State of Oregon agency and [Commission](https://www.oregon.gov/highered/public-engagement/pages/commission.aspx) working to improve equitable access to and success in higher education and workforce training for Oregonians statewide. We coordinate funding and policy, and convene partners across the public and private higher education and workforce landscape. Here you can learn about the work and structure of the HECC agency. **About Our Name** When people hear “higher education,” they sometimes think first of college degrees. Higher education includes college degrees and more. At the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), we approach higher education broadly as the wide range of postsecondary education and workforce training options beyond high school—from apprenticeships to career certificates, and from two- and four-year degrees to doctorates. [Read a short introduction to the?HECC.](https://www.oregon.gov/highered/about/Documents/About-HECC/HECC-2-pager.pdf)? The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) is the name for both the state agency and the Governor-appointed volunteer [Commission](https://www.oregon.gov/highered/public-engagement/pages/commission.aspx) that sets the vision for and makes public decisions guiding the agency. Our agency also convenes numerous other [advisory boards and public bodies](https://www.oregon.gov/highered/public-engagement/pages/advisory-boards.aspx) that guide our programs and strategies. The HECC agency is comprised of?eight distinct offices?of approximately 185 employees, led by Executive Director Ben Cannon. [Learn about how to stay engaged in our public policy work.](https://www.oregon.gov/highered/public-engagement/pages/engage.aspx)