After 76 years serving the Madras community, Central Oregon Community College has completed a landmark campus expansion -- a $22 million, state-of-the-art building on 26 donated acres that is already transforming healthcare education and workforce opportunities in Jefferson County.

The Madras community and college officials officially celebrated the campus opening on April 30. The new facility is now home to five new programs, with gleaming white and blue walls filling quickly with students eager to enter the healthcare workforce.

New Programs Open Doors to Healthcare Careers

The expanded Madras campus introduces the following new educational opportunities:

  • Nursing -- a full registered nurse training program in partnership with St. Charles Health System
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) -- a pathway into entry-level healthcare work
  • Medical Assistant -- hands-on clinical training for support roles
  • Early Childhood Education -- offered in both Spanish and English, in partnership with The Children's Learning Center

A Career and Technical Education program also allows Madras High School students to earn nursing experience before graduation, creating a direct pipeline from high school into the healthcare workforce.

Built by Listening to the Community

Madras campus director James Rodriguez said the entire project began with listening to what residents needed. "We are providing healthcare careers and opportunities for students to go right into the workforce," Rodriguez said. "The value is tremendous to the community."

The 26 acres of land were donated to the college by the Bean Foundation. Meghan Drew, a registered nurse and CTE health sciences teacher at Madras High School, praised the new facility's depth of resources. "We are learning everything," she said. "We have all of the supplies so that we can teach and make sure they're doing it correctly before we send them into the workforce."

A Major Economic Driver

A recent COCC economic impact study found the college generates $349 million for Central Oregon annually and supports 1 in every 41 jobs in the region. Students who earn an associate's degree from COCC earn, on average, $10,000 more per year than those with a high school diploma alone.

The college now serves 10,000 square miles across five counties. With healthcare worker shortages affecting communities across the region, the Madras campus expansion arrives at a critical time -- positioning Madras at the forefront of building Central Oregon's next generation of healthcare professionals.