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Central Oregon Community College expands Madras campus; county officials praise new programs
Summary
COCC president Greg Pereira updated commissioners on enrollment growth and a major Madras campus expansion that will add nursing and childcare training; the new facility is expected to open in early 2026.
Central Oregon Community College President Greg Pereira and Madras campus director James Rodriguez updated the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 3 about a major expansion at the Madras campus and rising local enrollment.
Pereira said COCC has invested in an expansion to add nursing assistant and childcare training capacity at the Madras campus. He said the new building is on schedule and could open in early 2026; in the meantime nursing and medical assistant classes will begin this fall and be housed temporarily in the existing facility. COCC reported a year‑over‑year enrollment increase of about 9.3 percent and said 21 additional Jefferson County residents had enrolled that day.
Why it matters: Commissioners and COCC officials emphasized local workforce development. Commissioners noted the expansion supports high‑demand health‑care and childcare occupations, reduces travel barriers to post‑secondary education for local students, and could help employers fill vacancies in the county.
Next steps: COCC invited commissioners to a ribbon‑cutting when the new facility opens and said staff would continue local outreach and coordination with schools and public‑health partners to maximize training, externships and placement opportunities.
Ending: Commissioners thanked COCC for prioritizing Jefferson County and said the college’s growth and program additions would help local employers and students seeking credentialed training.
