Central Oregon Community College is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...

community college A community college is a type of undergraduate higher education institution, generally leading to an associate degree, certificate, or diploma. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an open enr ...

Bend, Oregon Bend is a city in central Oregon and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is located to the east of the Cascade Range, on the Deschutes River. The site became known by pioneers as a ford (cros ...

. It primarily serves residents of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook Counties. Its service district also includes portions of Klamath,

Lake A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from ...

, and Wasco counties.

History

Central Oregon Community College is the oldest two-year college in Oregon. The college was originally founded in 1949 making it almost a decade older than

Clatsop Community College Clatsop Community College (CCC) is a public community college with facilities in Astoria and Seaside, Oregon. The college's service area includes Clatsop County, portions of Columbia and Tillamook counties and Pacific and Wahkiakum counties ...

, the next oldest community college in Oregon. The main campus is located on the west side of

on 200-acres. The campus has a total of 26 different buildings, the most recently built being the residence hall in 2015. The location provides views of the Oregon Cascades, as well as access to much of what Bend has to offer. The main campus is located near the

Deschutes National Forest The Deschutes National Forest is a United States national forest (NF) located in Central Oregon, in parts of Deschutes, Klamath, Lake, and Jefferson counties. It was established in 1908, with border changes following in 1911 and 1915. The f ...

and Shevlin Park providing access to miles of trails and outdoor recreation opportunities. Central Oregon Community College also has campuses in

Redmond, Oregon Redmond is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. The population was 33,274 at the 2020 census, and according to 2023 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 37,009. The city is on the eastern side of Oregon ...

Prineville, Oregon Prineville is a city in and the county seat, seat of Crook County, Oregon, United States. It was named for the first merchant to establish businesses in the present location, Barney Prine. The population was 10,429 at the United States Census 2010 ...

, and

Madras, Oregon Madras ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Oregon, United States. Originally called "The Basin" after the circular valley the city is in, it is unclear whether Madras was named in 1903 for the cotton fabric called "Madras (c ...

providing educational opportunities across the Central Oregon Region.

Academics

Central Oregon Community College provides students the opportunity to pursue an Associates two-year degree or a Certificate. Programs will either prepare students to enter directly into the workforce or to continue their education as a transfer student to a four-year college for a

Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

. As of 2018, Central Oregon Community College offers 78 different academic programs, including programs like Automotive Technology, Aviation, Culinary Arts, Criminal Justice, Dentistry, Fire Science, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Outdoor Leadership, and Veterinarian. Outside of coursework, Central Oregon Community College also provides opportunities for students to become involved in clubs and activities. Clubs provide opportunities for students to become involved in groups focused on their area of study as well as become more involved with the student body. Students also have the opportunity to participate in sports.

Partnership with Oregon State University

Central Oregon Community College has a 2+2 partnership with

Oregon State University Cascades Campus Oregon ( , ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much ...

offering lower-division and prerequisite coursework that can be used toward the goal of earning a bachelor's degree. Starting Fall 2015, Oregon State University Cascades hosted its first freshman class of students seeking a bachelor's degree.

Notable faculty

* Ray Hatton - geography professor, author, and long-distance runner * Ken Ruettgers - professional football player (an instructor)

References

External links