As Roseburg School District follows through on its commitment to develop innovative career pathways for students, the School Board on Wednesday agreed to pursue a unique partnership with Umpqua Community College. 

The Board of Directors voted to move forward with a proposal to build an advanced medical pathways facility for Roseburg High School students on the UCC campus. The proposal would involve the district contributing up to $2.5 million for the construction of a facility that would be connected to UCC’s planned Welcome Center and Medical Careers Hub.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only fully integrate with UCC’s advanced medical program and provide seamless career pathways for our students but to create a legacy of learning and workforce development for our entire community,” said Superintendent Jared Cordon of Roseburg School District.  

Completion of the project will rest on a mutually agreed upon legal review and memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the district and college boards of directors. 

The district’s share of the project would create a space built specifically for high school students taking dual-credit classes as they follow pathways leading to certifications, associate degrees and baccalaureate degrees in nursing, phlebotomy, medical assisting and other healthcare fields. These career pathways allow students to earn college credit before high school graduation, helping them save money and enter the workforce more quickly.  

In partnering with UCC on construction, the district would be able to provide students with access to a state-of-the-art facility at a fraction of the cost of building a facility independently. RHS students pursuing advanced medical careers will train with specialized equipment, benefit from direct industry partnerships and follow a curriculum designed to meet workforce demands both locally and beyond.

The concept of a high school facility on the college’s campus, while unique for Oregon, aligns with the community’s repeated calls for the district to live within its means and find creative ways to improve learning spaces for students. Over the past five years, the district has invested more than $25 million in its facilities primarily through grant funds. A list of these investments can be found on the district website at https://bit.ly/418gITI.   

“The state does not provide direct funding for school districts to complete new construction,” Cordon said. “However, thanks to years of careful financial planning, our district has a strong reserve fund that keeps us prepared for unexpected costs and allows us to consider opportunities to expand services to students. This project gives us a chance to create something amazing for students who want to enter the medical field and will allow us to help fill the growing demand for skilled professionals.” 

As school districts in Oregon face lower enrollment numbers, increased costs related to PERS, and funding instability at the state and federal levels, Roseburg School District has used several strategies to build reserve funds. These strategies have included refinancing debt and selling pension obligation bonds, among other careful fiscal planning. Along with allowing the district to invest in the UCC opportunity, the reserve funds will help the district offset some of the cost increases related to PERS.

UCC expects to break ground on the facility this summer, with an estimated completion date of early 2027. 

“This is an incredible opportunity to continue our integration efforts with the Roseburg School District. These career pathways support the future success of our medical providers through a strong workforce and our young people with careers that result in family supporting wages. Douglas County is a place where entrepreneurial thinking, approaches and partnerships are just what we do,” said UCC President Dr. Rachel Pokrandt. “UCC is committed to partnering for the betterment of youth across Douglas County in order to ensure that our entire region thrives economically.”  

Learn more about how UCC and Roseburg School District are providing opportunities for students to “Grow Here. Learn Here. Work Here.” at https://www.roseburg.k12.or.us/community/career-pathways.