Press Releases

Press Announcements November-December 2018

For more information contact Mark R. Johnson, Staff Writer, College Relations.


December 7, 2018

COCC BOARD MEETING–DECEMBER 12

Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) board of directors will meet at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12, in Cascades Hall, Room 118, at the Bend campus, 2600 NW College Way. The board will first meet for dinner at 5 p.m. in the same building.

The board will hear reports on a series of topics, including a president's report on new credit program proposals in career and technical education and a presentation concerning a petition (submitted to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission earlier this year) from some residents of northern Lake County seeking the region's removal from COCC's district. The meeting concludes with an executive session on legal counsel.

For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599. In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability, contact Joe Viola: 541-383-7775. For accommodation because of other disability such as hearing impairment, contact the Office of Disability Services: 541-383-7743. 


November 27, 2018

COCC VETERANS CENTER NAMED FOR MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT   
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is now an officially designated "Medal of Honor College" following a resolution by its board of directors to honor Robert Maxwell, the oldest living recipient of the Medal of Honor and a formative faculty member in the college's automotive technology program. An accompanying resolution officially named COCC's veterans services center the Robert D. Maxwell Veterans Center.

"This is a unique, meaningful way for us to pay tribute to Mr. Maxwell," said John Mundy, chair of COCC's board of directors. "It honors his valor and his service to our country, while also recognizing the impact he's made as a talented educator and as a tireless supporter of veterans."

Maxwell, 98, who served in Europe and Africa during World War II as a U.S. Army communications technician, received the nation's highest military honor for throwing himself on a German grenade in a battle near Besancon, France, on Sept. 7, 1944, to absorb the explosion and save the lives of others in his squad. He is also the recipient of the Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and two French honors, the Croix de Guerre and the Legion d'honneur.

Following the war, Maxwell settled in Oregon and used the GI Bill to study automotive technology. He became an automotive instructor, first teaching at Bend High School in downtown Bend before helping COCC launch its automotive program in 1958, where he served as an instructor for eight years. He spent the remainder of his career with Lane Community College and later retired to Bend.
 
At present, some 435 credit-seeking students at COCC are veterans. The college offers an automotive training scholarship in Maxwell's name, sponsored by High Desert Automotive.

For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.
 
COCC PROFESSOR HONORED AS DIFFERENCE-MAKER FOR WOMEN
At the fall conference for the Oregon chapter of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC), held in Tigard earlier this month, Stacey Donohue, Ph.D., an English professor at Central Oregon Community College (COCC), received two awards from the organization: its College Excellence Award and the Carolyn DesJardins Leadership Award.

The AAWCC's College Excellence Award recognizes individuals whose accomplishments have made a difference for women at their respective community college. COCC's Oregon chapter members chose Donohue, a member of the staff since 1995, for the honor. The organization's Carolyn DesJardins Leadership Award, also presented to Donohue, is given to only one recipient in each state, honoring the individual who demonstrates outstanding leadership and makes a significant contribution to community colleges by inspiring, championing and celebrating women as leaders. The state of Oregon has 17 community colleges.

Founded in 1973, AAWCC provides education, career development and advancement to women educators and students at community colleges.

For more information, contact Jennifer Newby, COCC's AAWCC chapter president, at 541-383-7562.
 
GRAND REOPENING CEREMONY FOR CASCADES HALL AT COCC
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is holding a grand reopening of its recently remodeled Cascades Hall building—formerly home to OSU-Cascades—from 4-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12, on the Bend campus, and is inviting the community to attend.

This free event (RSVP at cocc.edu) will feature live music, food from COCC's culinary department and a host of program tours and presentations. The building is home to the offices of the college's university partners—Eastern Oregon University, OSU-Cascades and Portland State University—as well as its forestry, paramedicine and advising/counseling services.
 
For more information, contact Charlotte Gilbride at 541-383-7257. In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability, contact Joe Viola: 541-383-7775. For accommodation because of other disability such as hearing impairment, contact the Office of Disability Services: 541-383-7743.

MARKETING TEAM AT COCC PRESENTED WITH PAIR OF AWARDS
Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) college relations office took home two awards at the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations' (NCMPR) northwest district conference held recently in Boise, Idaho. The team won a "gold medallion" for a set of radio spots that highlight the life-changing opportunities at COCC, produced by Tim Underwood of Audio Tango, as well as a "silver medallion" for an article on the college's foreign language program, written by staff writer Mark Russell Johnson.

The NCMPR Medallion Awards recognize outstanding achievement in design and communication at community and technical colleges in each of NCMPR's seven districts. District 7 includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Yukon Territory.

For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.


November 16, 2018

BIG BAND JAZZ CONCERT AT COCC
Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Big Band Jazz group is performing its fall concert, a combination of modern and big band styles, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2, in the Coats Campus Center's Wille Hall. Admission is $10 at the door; $5 for students and seniors.
 
Big Band Jazz is a community group of Central Oregon musicians dedicated to bringing artistry to the big band genre. Sponsored by COCC, it has been a part of the Central Oregon jazz scene for more than 30 years.

For more information, contact Jon Harnum, interim band director, at jharnum@cocc.edu. In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability, contact Joe Viola: 541-383-7775. For accommodation because of other disability such as hearing impairment, contact the Office of Disability Services: 541-383-7743.

COCC HOSTS NURSING PROGRAM OVERVIEWS
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is holding nursing program overviews at its Bend and Redmond campuses:

Redmond campus: 9-10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 3, in Building 3, Room 306
 
Bend campus: 9-10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 30, in the Boyle Education Center, Room 155, and 5-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5, in the Boyle Education Center, Room 155
Nursing orientations are information sessions designed for students interested in COCC's associate degree in nursing. Sessions cover minimum requirements to apply to the program, how applicants are selected, deadlines and more. The formal presentation usually runs 45 minutes with plenty of time for questions during and after. Prospective nursing students are strongly encouraged. Reservations are not required. Contact: Kara Rutherford at 541-318-3741.​

COCC REDMOND OFFERS INFO SESSION ON HEALTH PROGRAMS
Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Redmond campus is hosting an information session on its Allied Health programs from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, in Building 3, Room 305. The health programs covered will include dental assisting, massage therapy, medical assistant, pharmacy technician and veterinary technician.

The session will include a description of each occupation, the typical clinical and administrative duties, as well as the certification or licensing required. There will also be a review of the structure, length and cost of each of the programs. It is not necessary to be enrolled at COCC to attend this session. Reservations are not required. For information, call 541-383-7420..


November 8, 2018

COCC BOARD MEETING–NOVEMBER 13
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) board of directors will meet at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the Christensen Board Room on the second floor of the Bend campus's Boyle Education Center, 2600 NW College Way. The board will first meet for dinner at 5 p.m. on the first floor of the same building.

The board will hear reports on a series of topics, including updates on the Oregon Promise grant and the college's strategic plan, as well as a presentation on campus public safety. The meeting concludes with the executive session, with subjects to include real property transactions and labor negotiations. For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.

In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability, contact Joe Viola: 541-383-7775. For accommodation because of other disability such as hearing impairment, contact the Office of Disability Services: 541-383-7743
 
HEALTH CODING EDUCATION AT COCC EARNS TOP SPOT
Medical Billing & Coding World, an online career development resource for students researching an education in health care information specialties, recently ranked Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) coding and billing program as Oregon's best on its 2018-19 "50 Best School Programs for Medical Billing and Coding," a state-by-state evaluation. Criteria for the distinction included accreditation, affordability, practicum experience and job placement support, among other considerations.

Accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), COCC's health information technology (HIT) program offers certificates in medical coding, medical insurance, medical office specialist and medical billing. The college also offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in health information technology.

"We are thrilled that our program has been recognized," said Michelle Aistear, director of COCC's HIT program. "It speaks to the longstanding leadership that has gone into keeping this program at a high academic level for student success."

The field of health information technology is a fast-growing industry, expected to grow by 13 percent between 2016 and 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For more information, contact Michelle Aistear at 541-383-7732 or maistear2@cocc.edu.

TURKEY TROT FUN RUN A COCC FUNDRAISER
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is holding its 19th annual Turkey Trot, a 3-mile run/walk, that begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the COCC track. Free to students, this event is $10 for all other entrants and includes a T-shirt, food and prizes. Day-of-race registration will take place in the Mazama Gym from 9-9:45 a.m. All proceeds benefit the COCC Foundation which provides financial assistance to students and fiscal support for college programs. For information, or to request an entry form, contact Bill Douglass, COCC's director of Sports and Recreation, at 541-383-7794 or bdouglass@cocc.edu.

COCC SCHOLAR TALK INVESTIGATES SCIENCE OF BEING STRESSED OUT
A Gallup Poll last year found that 8 in 10 Americans are routinely dealing with stress in their lives. Managing—even avoiding—that stress is the subject of a Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program presentation, titled "Toxic & Positive Stress: How to Maintain a Healthy Balance," at Central Oregon Community College (COCC), at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at the Bend campus's Coats Campus Center. Tickets are $10, available at cocc.edu.

Presenter Alexandra D. Crosswell, Ph.D., an assistant professor with the department of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, as well as the executive director of the National Institute on Aging's Stress Measurement Network, will share her research on examining the pathways linking chronic stress to changes in physical and cognitive health. Crosswell will discuss the overall science of stress, including how evidence-based practices can build stress resilience and whether it's possible to convert toxic stress into positive stress.
 
For more information on this event, contact Charlotte Gilbride, Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program coordinator, at 541-383-7257. This program is presented by St. Charles Health System, with additional support from Brooks Resources Corp., the Associated Students of COCC and the Associated Students of Cascades Campus/OSU-Cascades.
 
In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability, contact Joe Viola: 541-383-7775. For accommodation because of other disability, such as hearing impairment, contact the Office of Disability Services: 541-383-7743.


November 1, 2018

TRADES CAREER FAIR AT COCC SPARKS INSPIRATION WITH PARTICIPATION
Some 600 regional high school students will discover hands-on career inspiration at the third annual Central Oregon Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship Fair, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 16, at Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Redmond campus. Coordinated by Central Oregon STEM Hub, this collaborative project highlights the skilled trades sector by combining company face time, immersive career sampling, educational opportunities and internship information. Partners include COCC, High Desert Career Technical Education, East Cascades Works and Youth Career Connect.
 
According to organizer Tracy Willson-Scott, education coordinator for Central Oregon STEM Hub, students will have an opportunity to operate an excavator, fire up a welding torch and try their hand at a wide range of participatory demos. Representatives from the construction, auto mechanic, engineering and manufacturing trades, among others, will share industry overviews while students also learn about local training and educational offerings.

"We have more than 30 organizations joining us to lead hands-on workshops or host a table," said Willson-Scott. Students, she said, will be coming from throughout Central Oregon, some from as far away as Lakeview and The Dalles.
 
"Our mission and focus is on creating STEM pathways for young people, particularly young women," said Angie Mason-Smith, executive director of Central Oregon STEM Hub. "Having this partnership with COCC allows us to instantly connect career ambitions with tangible workforce training."

A study by the Manufacturing Institute finds that by 2025, while some 3.5 million industry jobs will have opened up, some two million won't be filled due to a lack of skilled workers. "If you look at the skilled trades gap affecting our nation," said Michael Fisher, instructional dean at COCC, "we need to excite young people to apply themselves in these fields. It's a win for all involved—these are well-paying and in-demand careers."

For more information, contact Tracy Willson-Scott, STEM Hub Education Coordinator, at 541-693-5775 or tracy.willson-scott@hdesd.org.

This event is open to the media. Contact Ron Paradis, COCC's executive director of College Relations, at 541-280-2106 or rparadis@cocc.edufor specifics.