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Rogue Community College
Rogue Community College is an economic engine for Southern Oregon that generates more than $239 million annually for the region’s economy, according to an economic impact study released earlier this year. The analysis by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) of Moscow, Idaho, examined data from fiscal year 2015-16 to calculate the impact of RCC’s operations and student spending as well as the higher earnings of...
Suzanne Chavez has watched Rogue Community College grow and change since it began in 1970. What started with a few buildings in Grants Pass has now grown to cover two counties and has three separate campuses. “I’ve always liked Rogue,” said Chavez, 61, who currently teaches Spanish courses there as well as oversees the college’s Foreign Language department. “In this case, the name ‘community college’...
Greetings to our communities. Since coming aboard at Rogue Community College, it has been my pleasure to meet with organizations; business, education, and community leaders; students, and RCC staff and faculty to talk about where RCC is now and what it could be in the years to come. In addition, RCC has recently engaged the community in meetings, surveys, and strategy sessions to get input...
Life can take plenty of twists and turns. Sarah Reedy knows that firsthand. When she was 16 years old, her mom, Sheri Nottingham—a Rogue Community College employee—passed away unexpectedly. Sheri’s best friend and coworker Pamela Peckham took Sarah under her wing and helped her get on track for a college degree in nursing. “I decided to become a nurse after being in close contact with...
Rogue Community College (RCC) opened its doors to 1,000 students in 1971. Today, there are more than 17,000 students studying on three campuses. They have over 95 certificate programs and degrees to choose from in high-demand careers ranging from health care to mechanics, electronics, fire science, and business. In addition, half of RCC students are earning transfer degrees to go on to four-year universities. RCC...
1969 “A small cadre of true believers,” led by founder Marge Holzgang, and Midge Renton, Bill Ford, and Phil Nelson circulate a petition to approve a community college in Grants Pass. 1970 Voters of Josephine County approve the college on 84 acres of donated property on Redwood Highway in Grants Pass. Original Board of Education is formed: Bill Ford, Midge Renton, Lyle Haley, Lewis Krauss,...
High Technology Center Receives $25,000 Gift RCC’s High Technology Center is designed to be a hot spot of learning. The Foundation has been hard at work raising funds for this new, state-of-the-art facility where students will engage in hands-on classes, labs, and special projects related to a variety of advanced technical fields including welding, manufacturing, machining, computer aided drafting, electronics, and computer science. Recently, the...
Manufacturing is resurging in the Rogue Valley, but industry is having a hard time finding skilled workers to fill key jobs. To help meet that need, RCC is gearing up its industrial technology trainings with a focus on high-demand jobs. Steven Foster, chair of RCC’s Manufacturing Engineering Technology Department, has observed an upsurge in manufacturing in the Rogue Valley from small to medium to larger...
It’s a little-known gem, but the RCC Redwood Campus houses an arboretum that features a collection of trees and shrubs from all over the world. First begun some 33 years ago, the arboretum includes many native trees, some of which were donated as living memorials. The arboretum also educates the community about the diverse tree species that grow in the region, serves as an outdoor...
Rogue Community College has graduated more than 200,000 students and pumped millions of dollars into the economy since opening its doors in 1970. Financial aid alone, which RCC students receive to attend college, delivers about $35 million each year. About half that goes toward institutional expenses, according to Anna Manley, RCC director of Financial Aid, and the other half is refunded as excess aid for...