OCCA Annual Conference

Join us in 2024!
November 6-8, 2024
Salishan Coastal Lodge, Gleneden Beach, OR

The theme for the 2024 OCCA Annual Conference is “Charting a Course to the Future.” Stay tuned for details coming this summer!

Click here for the Conference save-the-date flyer

Call for Breakout Session Presentation Proposals

OCCA invites you to submit proposals for breakout sessions for our Annual Conference. We encourage you to take this opportunity to share best practices, showcase a unique college program or inform other stakeholders about an event or issue affecting your institution and/or community colleges on a broader level.

This year’s theme is Charting a Course to the Future. All presentation proposals should relate to the conference theme in some fashion. We have also identified topic areas that we encourage conference presentations to focus on or relate to in some way:

Innovation & the Future
Equitable Pathways to Good Careers
Board & College Commitment to Equity
Student Achievement & Data
Policy & Procedure
Community Engagement & Partnerships

For full details and to submit a presentation proposal, please click here. All submissions must be made using the survey form link. Proposals should be submitted no later than Friday, August 16, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. PST.

Conference Planning Timeline

Sponsorship Opportunities Available: March 5 – July 19

Call for Presentations: May 31 – August 16 (due by 5:00 p.m. PST)

Call for Howard Cherry Award Nominations: May 31 – August 16 (due by 5:00 p.m. PST)

Keynote Speakers Announced: June 7

Early Bird Registration: September 4 – October 4

Breakout Presentation Presenters Notified: No later than September 16

Breakout Presentations Announced: No later than September 27

Hotel Room Block Bookings Close: October 4

Regular Registration Closes: October 18

Late Registration Closes: October 30

Hotel Room Block

OCCA has secured a block of rooms at a special conference rate at the Salishan Coastal Lodge. To make your reservations and receive this special rate, you must call the Salishan Coastal Lodge Group Registration Department between 7am and 7pm and identify yourself as a participant of the OCCA Annual Conference 2024:

541-764-3600, press #2 for designated group reservations

Nightly Room Rates
Traditional Guestroom – $169*
Premier Guestroom – $169*
*Rates subject to applicable taxes and fees

2024 Sponsorship Opportunities

OCCA invites interested sponsors to check out our sponsorship opportunities for 2024! OCCA provides a variety of sponsorship levels to help meet just about any budget.

Audience: Board of Education/Trustee members, presidents, administrators and stakeholders from Oregon’s 17 community colleges
Attendance: Around 125-150 attendees

Benefits

High visibility for your organization as a champion of community colleges.
Opportunity to market directly to conference attendees.
Connect with community college presidents, board members, administrators, and government leaders.
Branding reinforcement of your organization’s visual identity.
Recognition within the Oregon higher education sector as an organization that shares their vision for student success and affordable access to an education.

Click here to learn more about our sponsorship levels and to commit your sponsorship today!

Sponsorships are due by July 19. Questions about sponsorships? Contact OCCA Communications Director Casey White-Zollman.

Howard Cherry Awards Banquet

The annual Howard Cherry Awards celebrate the contributions that local advocates, administrators and board members have made to the benefit of Oregon’s community colleges. The awards are named for the late Dr. Howard Cherry, a lifelong advocate for education and community involvement. Dr. Cherry was also a founding member of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and was a trustee of the American Association of Community & Junior Colleges.

The Howard Cherry Awards Banquet is included with OCCA Conference Registration (additional tickets also available), and will take place on Thursday, November 7, 2024. It also included recognition of distinguished service awards for community college board members, as well as honors the Oregon Presidents’ Council winner of the Cam Preus Award for Extraordinary Commitment to Community Colleges. Attire for the banquet is business professional or formal.

Submit a Nomination for a 2024 Howard Cherry Award

OCCA is also accepting nominations for the 2024 Howard Cherry Awards in the following three categories:

Outstanding Community College Advocate
Outstanding Community College Board Member
Outstanding Community College Administrator

For full details and to submit a nomination, please click here. All submissions must be made using the survey form link. Nominations should be submitted no later than Friday, August 16, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. PST.

Congratulations to the 2023 Howard Cherry Award winners! Click here for the press release.