Agreement increases access to in-demand university degree and certificate programs, builds on WGU’s commitment to Oregon’s community colleges
JACKSON and JOSEPHINE counties, Oregon [Oct. 3, 2025] – Earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree just became more accessible for residents of Josephine and Jackson counties. A new partnership between Western Governors University (WGU) and Rogue Community College (RCC) provides a seamless transfer pathway for RCC graduates and employees to pursue advanced degrees entirely online, helping them build their careers right here at home.
A signing ceremony to formalize the partnership will be held Monday, Oct. 6, at 10:50 a.m. at the RCC Redwood Campus Student Center. RCC President Randy Weber and Ismar Vallecillos, director of WGU’s Northwest Region, are scheduled to give brief remarks prior to a ceremonial signing of the partnership agreement.
Designed to keep local talent in the Rogue Valley and surrounding area, this collaboration is a strategic investment in the region’s economic future. The partnership creates a powerful, affordable option for the community to gain skills needed for the modern workforce, reinforcing both institutions’ core mission of building a better future through education.
“We believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not,” said Vallecillos. “Our mission is to build bridges to that opportunity right here in Southern Oregon. Students leave RCC with a powerful toolkit of skills, and our partnership ensures their journey doesn’t have to stop there. We’re providing a direct and affordable path for RCC graduates and employees to translate their
achievements into bachelor’s and master’s degrees and university certificates—empowering them to write their own futures and, in doing so, ensure this community continues to thrive.”
RCC joins six other community colleges in Oregon as a partner of WGU. The participating colleges include Chemeketa, Clackamas, Columbia Gorge, Lane, Mt. Hood and Southwestern Oregon community colleges. As part of this partnership, all RCC graduates and employees are eligible to apply for the WGU Community College Partner Scholarship, which is valued at up to $3,500. This scholarship can significantly reduce the cost of WGU’s already affordable, flat-rate tuition.
RCC President Randy Weber said the partnership is a direct response to the needs of local students and employers.
“Everything we do is about launching our students into successful futures, and this partnership with WGU creates another high-impact resource on their journey,” Weber said. “It provides our graduates with a clear, respected and highly flexible pathway to a university degree while they continue to work and live in the community they call home. By empowering our students this way, we are building a stronger, more skilled Rogue Valley from the ground up.”
WGU has a significant and growing footprint across Oregon, with nearly 2,900 current students and more than 9,200 graduates statewide. In Southern Oregon specifically, the university serves more than 220 students and more than 630 graduates, including 150 students and 467 graduates in Jackson County, and 73 students and 164 graduates in Josephine County.
The pathway’s value is evident to residents who have already graduated from both institutions.
“I have such strong ties to this community, and I’m so grateful to RCC and WGU for allowing me to get my education and kickstart my career right here in my hometown,” said Grants Pass resident Emily Prosise. “Once I graduated from RCC, I started working as a teaching assistant in the Grants Pass School District, and that’s when I really fell in love with teaching. WGU helped me follow my passion and get my degree so I could become a kindergarten teacher.”
“I really appreciate how RCC and WGU prioritize value and return on investment for their students. For me, that made achieving my dream of earning a college degree possible,” said Sierra Gilkey, a WGU graduate from Medford who also attended RCC. “I was the first in my
family to graduate from college, and now I’m a small business owner in Medford. RCC and WGU truly changed my life, and I’m excited that this new partnership will help even more people in our community experience the benefits of education.”
The partnership is effective immediately. More information on WGU’s commitment to Oregon’s community college graduates can be found at www.wgu.edu/partners/community-colleges/oregon.html.
About WGU
Western Governors University, the nation’s leading nonprofit, online university, is transforming higher education to be more student-centric, affordable, accessible to all and relevant to the workforce. Established in 1997 by 19 visionary U.S. governors, WGU creates life-changing pathways to opportunity for those underserved by traditional institutions—working adults, historically underrepresented communities and a diverse, growing number of learners looking for a flexible, online model that better suits their life circumstances. WGU’s competency-based education model allows students to demonstrate mastery as they progress through programs at their own pace.
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, WGU operates in all 50 states and offers more than 80 programs in health, education, technology and business. WGU serves more than 190,000 students nationwide, with nearly 400,000 alumni, and has awarded nearly 450,000 degrees. Learn more at wgu.edu. Follow WGU on X at @wgu and on LinkedIn.
About RCC
Rogue Community College enhances the quality of life in our communities by providing accessible, exemplary educational opportunities for student success and economic development.
Established in 1970, Rogue Community College serves residents in Jackson and Josephine counties at campuses and learning centers in Grants Pass, Medford, White City and the Illinois Valley.
A public two-year community college, RCC offers multiple transfer degrees; more than 80 career and technical education degrees or certificates; and a variety of workforce and short-term training, academic skills, and continuing and community education classes; plus, services to the business community.
One of 17 community colleges in Oregon, RCC is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. RCC also is approved by the Veterans Administration as a veterans training institution.