COCC approves new three-year contract with significant faculty raises

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Central Oregon Community College Board of Directors approved a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Faculty Forum on Oct. 14, providing compensation increases for full-time and adjunct faculty.

Under the terms of the agreement, full-time faculty will receive an average salary increase of approximately 19% in the first year, followed by 3% cost-of-living adjustments in years two and three, plus applicable step increases. Adjunct faculty will receive an average salary increase of nearly 48% in the first year.

The agreement also restructures the full-time faculty salary schedule from 23 steps to 15, alongside additional updates to faculty compensation and contract provisions. The new contract follows months of negotiations and mediation between the college and the Faculty Forum. Members of the Central Oregon Community College Faculty Forum voted overwhemingly to strike in September. Bargaining teams reached a tentative agreement on Oct. 2 and the Faculty Forum ratified the contract on Oct. 4.

COCC President Greg Pereira commended the bargaining process following the board's vote. “

We're pleased to have this agreement finalized and to move forward together as a College,” Pereira said. “Our faculty play an essential role in the education and experience we provide our students and this contract represents a meaningful investment in their work. We appreciate the efforts of both bargaining teams throughout this process and look forward to continuing our shared commitment to student success.”

Sara Henson, a COCC professor of human development and president of the COCC Faculty Forum, expressed optimism about the continued collaboration.

“I know I speak for all faculty when I say we are so happy that we were able to get back to the work of serving our students and our community and certainly the College,” Henson said. “I really hope that this shared experience makes us all stronger and that we can be partners in addressing the future challenges that we have. We really look forward to partnering with the College to continue that work.”

The complete agreement will be published on COCC's Contracts and Manuals webpage, with additional details on the bargaining process hosted on the college's Faculty Negotiations webpage.