Rogue Community College was well represented at the Oregon State Capitol on Sept. 9 as part of the Oregon Community College Association’s Legislative Day.
David Koehler, Rusty Riis, Joseph Maurer and ASG President Greg Adrian represented RCC, meeting with legislators from both parties and both chambers. The delegation connected with members of Southern Oregon’s legislative delegation, higher education leadership and members of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
The conversations focused on three priorities for RCC and Oregon’s community colleges:
- Community college funding: Supporting the Community College Support Fund at the Higher Education Coordinating Commission’s agency request level for 2027–29.
- Investing in Table Rock Campus: RCC is seeking $12 million in state Article XI-G bonding to support improvements to instructional spaces at Table Rock Campus and help meet evolving student and workforce needs.
- Funding colleges experiencing growth: As Oregon phases in the Student Focused Distribution Model, RCC is encouraging continued attention to how the model supports colleges that are growing to meet student and workforce demand.
The visit also provided an opportunity to share RCC’s broader impact on Southern Oregon. A recent economic impact study commissioned by OCCA and Oregon’s 17 community colleges estimates that RCC adds $325.6 million in income to the Jackson and Josephine County economy each year. The study also estimates that RCC students gain $6 in higher lifetime earnings for every $1 they invest in their education.
The Table Rock project is included in HECC’s community college capital recommendations, making continued communication about the project important as the state develops its 2027–29 budget.
Legislative Day was an important opportunity to share RCC’s story, our growth, and the needs of the communities we serve. RCC will continue building on these conversations in the months ahead as Oregon prepares for the 2027 legislative session.
— Jamee Harrington