Oregon: Higher ed commission opens AmeriCorps planning grants, hosts student listening session and HB 4124 briefing

Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) shared these official notices in its Oct. 9, 2026, update:

- OregonServes AmeriCorps Planning Grant (2026-27): applications are due Nov. 13, 2026. A virtual information session is Oct. 15 at 11 a.m.

- Student Story Circle: an in-person conversation for students on Oct. 13, 6-7 p.m., in Portland, to help shape Open Doors Oregon, the state’s planned direct admissions program. Students don’t need college plans to join. Contact: mariana.zaragoza@hecc.oregon.gov.

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- Oregon Adult Basic Skills Conference: online, Friday, Oct. 16.

- Public meetings: Oregon Youth Works Advisory Board and Transfer Council (Oct. 15); rulemaking hearings on Chapters 715 and 583 covering State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement and Office of Degree Authorization fee changes (Oct. 16); and a special commission briefing on the House Bill 4124 higher education revitalization study (Oct. 16). HECC recently sent the Legislature a preliminary HB 4124 report.

- Student aid: the 2027-28 FAFSA is open, the 2027-28 ORSAA is expected in early October, and the Chafee Education and Training Voucher application for current and former foster youth is open at OregonStudentAid.gov.

- HECC updated its federal changes page with student Q&A on the federal lawsuit over tuition equity and state financial aid.

Source: Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission, News Clips email, Oct. 9, 2026 (https://www.oregon.gov/highered). Outside press links in that email are not included here. Notice Nearby wrote this brief in its own words. Oregon hub: https://noticenearby.com/or · Local businesses: ZOST.app (https://zost.app)