holly smyth

Online classes provide flexibility for working mom

Originally from Merced County, California, Holly Smyth has been in Grants Pass since 2005 and started attending classes at Rogue Community College to get her GED in 2012. Years later, she decided to return to finish what she had started and received her GED in October 2019. She is now working for her associate degree. “I know I need an education,” Holly says, “because I...

Portrait of Nik Sorensen and family

RCC fits the bill for pre-med student with a mission

Nik Sorensen had already earned two master’s degrees when he decided to pivot in his career path and enrolled in science courses at Rogue Community College. Since graduating high school in Talent, Oregon, in 2007, Nik has been on a journey to discover his passion. He served a two-year church mission in Taiwan, then attended Brigham Young University, where he double-majored in history and Chinese,...

RCC Open Houses

College to host Campus Open Houses August 17, 23 and 30 

Wildlife Images and Free Ice Cream entice visitors  Each of the three Rogue Community College (RCC) campuses, Grants Pass, White City and Medford, will be hosting an August Open House for interested students and families to learn more about college programs and financial aid.  RCC invites all community members to visit campus and say hello.  Tours and activities are available at each site and visitors may...

Transfer Student Survey

Your feedback is important Dear RCC student, We know that many students struggle with understanding how their college courses will transfer to other colleges and universities in Oregon. To address this challenge, Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission is planning to develop a website that would help students with transferring college credits between Oregon colleges and universities. This website could also help students with the transfer process...

Portrait of Michael Surgeon

Teacher’s lesson: Building community is key to student success

Michael Surgeon has always wanted to teach.   Right out of high school, he knew he needed to start higher education — but the nearest university was too expensive, so he turned to community college. “I definitely made the right choice,” Michael says. “RCC was the place where I developed as a student. Erika Giesen and Verne Underwood really kept me on track in the humanities.”...

Health Professions and Public Safety Guided Pathway icon

RCC Allied Health Building Project Slated for Federal Funding

Rogue Community College’s (RCC) proposed creation of a new Allied Health education and training facility on its Redwood Campus in Grants Pass has been included in a slate of projects forwarded by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden for Fiscal year 2023 (FY23) Senate appropriations funding consideration. Senators Wyden and Merkley recently announced RCC’s selection, along with a 110 other Oregon-based community-initiated projects from...

child care worker with child

Grant Renewed for Early Childhood Education Students

Oregon Community Foundation Awards $26,000 via Betty Gray Endowment Fund Rogue Community College received a renewed grant of $26,000 for student scholarships courtesy of the Betty Gray Endowment – Early Childhood Development Fund at the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF). With this funding RCC has been able to provide scholarships up to $4,000 per year for eligible students focused on Early Childhood Education (ECE). “This scholarship...

CNA supporting an elder client in a wheel chair

Nursing Assistant Program Orientation Offered August 10

Rogue Community College is offering an easy pathway to start a career in the medical field through the Nursing Assistant (NA1) Program. This state-approved NA1 program consists of 155 hours of online and in-person training. To help interested students learn more, a free, no-obligation orientation is being offered Wednesday, Aug. 10, 6-7:30 p.m. Financial assistance for course costs is available through WorkSource Rogue Valley and...

Kelsey Carlson

After years of low-wage jobs, RCC grad now pursues career in higher education

At age 16, Kelsey Carlson graduated from Crater High School in Central Point, Oregon, but she was unable to afford college, so she started working.   She spent years in low-wage jobs, but when her husband started classes at Rogue Community College to become a diesel mechanic, she thought, “If he can do it, I can do it.”    So she did.   Kelsey started at...

listening session with RCC and SOU

State Task Force to Hold Listening Session at Rogue Community College and SOU July 21

Community Voices Sought for Underrepresented Student Success. Statewide data on students from underrepresented backgrounds show that some groups of those seeking higher education face extra barriers to college enrollment and success. The Joint Task Force on Student Success for Underrepresented Students in Higher Education will be holding an open public meeting at Rogue Community College’s Table Rock Campus on Thursday, July 21 at 5:30 pm...