The Roseburg Schools Board of Directors has approved a $2.5 million investment in partnership with Umpqua Community College to support the Welcome Center and Medical Careers Hub currently under construction on UCC’s campus. The investment reflects a broader community development effort to strengthen Douglas County’s economy, improve access to healthcare, and create clear, locally rooted pathways from education to family-wage careers.

The partnership, also approved by the UCC Board of Directors, will support learning spaces and programming designed to serve Roseburg High School students pursuing healthcare career pathways. By expanding postsecondary opportunities close to home, the project aligns student success with regional workforce needs and long-term community health outcomes.

With parts of Douglas County designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas, local leaders say growing the healthcare workforce from within the community is essential to meeting current demand while ensuring sustainable care for the future.

“This is more than a building; it’s a shared investment in our region’s future,” said Dr. Rachel Pokrandt, president of Umpqua Community College. “By working together, we are strengthening the connection between education, workforce preparation and the health of our community.”

Roseburg Schools Superintendent Jared Cordon said the investment builds on successful collaboration already underway between the district and college. 

“Our students are already completing college-level coursework and earning dual credits while still in high school,” Cordon said. “This project allows us to expand that success and open even more doors that lead directly to family-supporting wage careers and postsecondary education, right here in our community.”

Both the UCC and Roseburg Schools Boards of Directors voted Jan. 14 to approve a 25-year agreement and programming commitment between the district and college. The agreement recognizes the common goal to provide Roseburg High School students accelerated access to medical career pathways through instructional space incorporated into the UCC Welcome Center and Medical Careers Hub.

Regional healthcare leaders emphasized the importance of developing local talent pipelines and improving access to care, particularly for rural and underserved populations. Leaders from Aviva Health, CHI Mercy Health and Umpqua Health shared why this investment matters for the long-term strength of local healthcare.

“Caring for everyone depends on having a strong local healthcare workforce,” said KC Bolton, CEO of Aviva Health. “We are helping local students stay local as they train for healthcare careers, which means more talented Douglas County young people staying here to care for their own and stronger access to care for our community in the years ahead.”

“Every day, hospitals across the country feel the impact of staffing shortages in nursing, allied health and support roles,” said Russ Woolley, President, CHI Mercy Health - Roseburg. “This unique collaboration between our school district, community college, and Mercy Medical Center helps ensure we confidently meet growing demand with talent trained right here in our own community. We're excited to support students entering pathways that lead directly to high-impact, deeply meaningful and rewarding careers in healthcare services within our community." 

“Strong health systems begin with strong people, and this partnership builds both,” said Umpqua Health CEO Brent Eichman. “This partnership demonstrates the strong linkage between investments in local education and improved community well-being. We see this as a smart, upstream investment in improving individual and community health.”

This joint initiative reflects a growing integration between Roseburg Schools and UCC. Through dual credit offerings primarily available through UCC, Roseburg Schools saved students and families nearly $900,000 in tuition last school year and is on track to exceed that amount this year. UCC students already graduate with a student loan debt far below the national average, making this an especially smart and sustainable path for local students.

Career pathway coursework also supports student engagement and success. In 2024, Roseburg High School students who completed at least two Career and Technical Education courses graduated at a rate of 95 percent. 

Pathways in allied health, engineering, trades, forestry, education and other fields are developed in collaboration with industry partners and aligned to national standards. These pathways continue to evolve as Roseburg Schools, UCC and regional partners identify new opportunities to better connect student learning with workforce needs.

“We don’t have a talent problem in Douglas County, we have a training opportunity,” Cordon said. “This medical center partnership helps ensure our students can become the skilled professionals our local healthcare system and community depend on.”