About Us
In January 2023 a group of colleges and universities across the state of Oregon convened on Oregon State University's campus to begin the Higher Education Early Learning Partnership of Oregon (HEELPO). Through a grant with the Ford Family Foundation, the group worked to create the mission, vision, and values that will guide future work of HEELPO in the advocacy of early care and education (ECE) on Oregon's colleges and university campuses.
Membership
Blue Mountain Community College
Central Oregon Community College
Chemeketa Community College
Clackamas Community College
Clatsop Community College
Columbia Gorge Community College
Eastern Oregon University
Lane Community College
Linn Benton Community College
Oregon Coast Community College
Oregon State University
Portland Community College
Portland State University
Rogue Community College
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Umpqua Community College
University of Oregon
Western Oregon University
Mission
We are a statewide network of higher education Early Care and Education (ECE) professionals dedicated to quality ECE on campuses in communities across Oregon. Our Partnership demonstrates quality ECE by modeling programs that link knowledge with practice, support academic research, further develop ECE professionalism, provide career pathways in ECE, and share resources. Our quality ECE campus programs advocate for and serve the needs of the ECE profession and Oregon’s parenting students. The Partnership is a recognized sector leader and advocates for publicly funded ECE programs and campus early learning centers, universal access to quality care, community collaborations and partnerships.
Vision
To have state, higher education, and community leaders value and resource campus Early Care and Education (ECE) academic programs and centers to promote student success and cultivate high quality ECE Professionals to educate and care for Oregon’s children and families.
Values
As colleagues and partners in early care and education, our work centers on trusting relationships in which we create equitable, meaningful, safe and brave spaces to share expertise, support, and information to guide our work. We cherish the diverse lived experiences and collective wisdom of one another and the families, children, students, and communities we serve.