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a gathering placea place of peace

Learn About Chemeketa

Chemeketa is governed by our Board of Education comprised of seven officials elected from geographic districts in our region. They hire and direct the district president on matters of college policy.

The Meaning of Our Name

You can learn a lot about Chemeketa Community College by understanding the meaning of our name. Chemeketa means "gathering place" in the local Native American language of the Kalapuya. We translate that as "place of peace." We interpret it to mean "you are welcome here."

Chemeketa Key Facts

Connect with Chemeketa

Hispanic Serving Institution

Chemeketa Community College is a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as defined by the Higher Education Act. It requires that two- or four-year colleges enroll a significant number of low-income students, and have at least 25 percent of their full-time undergraduate student body identify as Hispanic. There are more than 500 Hispanic serving institutions in the United States and six in Oregon (2020), including Chemeketa Community College, which received the HSI designation in 2017.

Title V Grants

Colleges with HSI designation are eligible to apply for federal grants under the Title V and Title III, Part A, Programs. These grants assist HSI colleges to expand educational opportunities for, and improve the attainment of, Hispanic and low-income students. Some grants also enable HSIs to expand and enhance their academic offerings, program quality, institutional infrastructure, and facilities.

Chemeketa Accelerated Pathways to Success

In October 2018, Chemeketa was awarded a 5-year, $2.4 million Developing Hispanic Serving Institution Title V grant. Chemeketa is the first college in Oregon to be awarded a developing HSI grant. The grant targets degree-seeking Hispanic and low-income students, providing support throughout the student lifecycle and improving institutional efficiencies within student support services. The project is called Chemeketa Accelerated Pathways to Success (CAPS).