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Blue Mountain Community College president outlines enrollment and dual-credit growth for Morrow County students
Summary
BMCC President Mark Browning briefed commissioners on the college’s service area, enrollment trends and expansion of dual‑credit programs that serve Morrow County students; the board welcomed continued outreach and partnership with local employers and AWS training programs.
Mark Browning, president of Blue Mountain Community College, told the Morrow County Board of Commissioners that BMCC serves an 18,000‑square‑mile district with a campus in Pendleton and four centers across Eastern Oregon and that the college’s full‑time equivalent enrollment has rebounded since 2020.
"I have the honor of serving as the eighth president of Blue Mountain Community College," Browning said. He told the board BMCC serves about 4,600 students by headcount with a full‑time‑equivalent enrollment reflecting more credits per student than in earlier years.
Browning emphasized dual‑credit expansion: about 1,500 of BMCC’s 4,600 students participate in dual‑credit programs taught in local high schools, producing more than $1 million in tuition savings for families. Morrow County is BMCC’s second‑highest county for dual‑credit participation in the region.
He described a programmatic shift toward workforce and customized training alongside traditional transfer programs, and highlighted partnerships with Amazon Web Services (AWS): the college runs an AWS data‑center technician program and training for technical operations and HVAC roles at data facilities. Browning said AWS rents space in Hermiston and has partnered with BMCC on training and local hiring efforts.
The board thanked the college for outreach and encouraged continued partnership with local employers and schools; commissioners noted the growth potential for dual‑credit and workforce programs in the county.
