Clackamas Community College is working to continue offering essential services and provide online learning to maintain academic continuity for students in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Community college students already face high rates of housing and food insecurity, and the economic and social fallout from the pandemic will make their circumstances all the more precarious.
Many CCC students are from low-income homes and do not have access to technology to complete online courses, according to the college.
“Our students are parents who now don’t have child care or their school-aged children are home,” John Chang, CCC Foundation executive director, said in a press release. “They work in the service industry and are being laid off from their jobs. They live in rural areas with either no or poor internet service.”
To offset some of these impacts, the Clackamas Community College Foundation has created a COVID-19 Relief Fund with the goal of raising $200,000 for students and programs impacted by the new coronavirus.
The funds will be used to provide internet connection, computers, tuition and fees, and classroom materials to ensure education is accessible to all students.
“Higher education is the way out and up for our students, but they need some resources to be successful,” Chang said.
Chang encouraged community members to consider giving to the COVID-19 Relief Fund to ensure students can start, continue and complete their educational goals.
To donate, visit give.clackamas.edu/covid-19. Checks may be mailed to the CCC Foundation at 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City, OR 97045 with “Covid Relief” in the memo.
