Rogue Community College hosted representatives from the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO), Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) and Oregon Community College Association (OCCA) at Table Rock Campus on Oct. 14.
The visit centered on a clear message: RCC is relevant and responsive to the students, employers and communities we serve.
Through campus tours and a presentation by President Randy Weber, visitors explored how RCC uses data, employer partnerships and community needs to guide educational opportunities and investments. The visit connected the college’s enrollment growth, student outcomes and regional economic impact with the work happening across our campuses every day.
President Weber also highlighted how state capital investments have helped RCC expand opportunities for students and outlined future facilities needs, including the proposed Table Rock Campus modernization and career technical education expansion project.
The funding discussion reinforced the central message: being responsive to regional needs requires a funding model aligned with those needs. RCC highlighted limits preventing enrollment growth from being fully reflected in operating support, along with a formula that does not distinguish between programs with substantially different delivery costs. Together, these challenges make it harder to sustain growth and meet workforce demand, particularly in fields requiring specialized equipment, labs, and instruction.
The visit provided an opportunity to demonstrate RCC’s stewardship of public resources while connecting future investment needs with tangible benefits for Southern Oregon. It also brought visibility to the collective work of employees whose expertise and commitment keep RCC relevant and responsive.
Thank you to everyone who supported the visit, and to our state partners for taking time to learn more about RCC and the communities we serve.
— Jamee Harrington