District advances partnership with UCC for Advanced Medical Pathway; $2 million allocated

Douglas County SD 4 staff updated board members on a planned Advanced Medical Pathway in partnership with Umpqua Community College (UCC). The board previously approved a memorandum of understanding and appropriated $2,000,000 this fiscal year to support construction of the pathway building. College and district negotiators are drafting an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) the college has requested before breaking ground.

Superintendent Jared said the college expects to break ground in August and the district anticipates enrolling its first cohort of juniors into the program in fall 2027. Under the plan juniors would take college coursework at the UCC campus as part of a dual-credit pathway; program areas identified include radiologic technology and surgical technology. Jared told the board these pathways have strong employer demand: at a recent meeting Mercy Hospital reported hiring 38 of 50 local graduates from a nursing program.

Staff said the IGA is a remaining hurdle; district legal counsel and UCC officials are negotiating terms such as dual-credit arrangements, diploma requirements and program operations. The board discussed timing and scheduling implications — including how the pathway might interact with a district-wide time audit — but took no formal action at the session beyond receiving the update.

Superintendent Jared said the pathway promises direct career opportunities for graduates and called the project "the first high-school campus on college property in Oregon" if completed as planned. The board asked staff to continue refining the IGA and return with the agreement for formal consideration when ready.