Medford, Oregon- A new partnership between Western Governors University (WGU) and Rogue Community College (RCC) is aimed at expanding access to higher education for residents of Southern Oregon. The agreement establishes a transfer pathway that allows RCC graduates and employees to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees online through WGU.
A signing ceremony for the partnership is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 6, at 10:50 a.m. at the RCC Redwood Campus Student Center in Grants Pass. RCC President Randy Weber and Ismar Vallecillos, director of WGU’s Northwest Region, are expected to speak before signing the agreement.
According to both institutions, the collaboration is intended to support local workforce development and create additional educational options for students in Jackson and Josephine counties.
“We believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not,” Vallecillos said. “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 Oregon community colleges currently partnered with WGU, including Chemeketa, Clackamas, Columbia Gorge, Lane, Mt. Hood and Southwestern Oregon. As part of the agreement, RCC graduates and employees may apply for the WGU Community College Partner Scholarship, which is valued at up to $3,500.
Weber said the partnership is designed to give students more flexibility as they pursue additional education.
“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.”
WGU reports that it currently serves about 2,900 students and has more than 9,200 graduates across Oregon. In Southern Oregon, the university has more than 220 students and 630 graduates, including 150 students and 467 graduates in Jackson County and 73 students and 164 graduates in Josephine County.
Several local graduates say the connection between RCC and WGU has helped them continue their education while staying in the region.
“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.”
About Western Governors University (WGU):
Founded in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors, WGU is a nonprofit online university accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The university serves more than 190,000 students nationwide and offers more than 80 programs in business, education, health and technology.
About Rogue Community College (RCC):
Established in 1970, RCC serves Jackson and Josephine counties with campuses in Grants Pass, Medford, White City and the Illinois Valley. The college offers transfer degrees, more than 80 career and technical programs, and a range of workforce and continuing education opportunities.
Discover more from Medford Alert News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
