COCC President Dr. Laurie Chesley talks Madras Campus expansion, other efforts in first-ever State of the College address

(Update: adding comments from COCC president, board members)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Local leaders, educators and members of the public gathered at Central Oregon Community College to watch President Dr. Laurie Chesley deliver the first annual State of the College address Wednesday morning.

The presentation on their Bend campus was a chance for constituents and stakeholders to hear more about the school's current priorities, goals and key initiatives.

"It synthesized the story that we have to tell about all that we can do for our community and all that we are doing." Chesley told us afterward.

Members of the public were invited to attend the event at the Coats Campus Center's Wille Hall, which also was livestreamed and is available to view on YouTube.

Topics Chesley covered ranged from breaking down barriers to student access and success, to workforce development and community engagement, such as the Nancy R. Chandler Lecture Series and COCC's Season of Nonviolence, as well as an expansion project at the Madras Campus.

The new 24,000-square-foot facility in Madras will address the shortage of health care and early child care sites in the region. It will also be offering degrees in nursing and early childhood education to students in the Jefferson County and Warm Springs area.

The building will house a child care center, with up to 100 new child care spots available. The center will be operated by The Children's Learning Center of Madras.

COCC Board member Jim Porter said, "I'm excited about the expansion of the nursing program and the expansion of our ability to provide child care for our students and for the community at large."

The new $18 million building in Madras is being funded with federal and state resources. It is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025.

At COCC's Redmond campus, there are plans to revitalize programs in manufacturing and advanced technology.

"We'll be updating our curriculum with industry input, and we'll be looking at new ways to deliver that curriculum that involves short-term training, custom training, stackable credentials." Chesley explained.

COCC enrollment spiked during the Great Recession, Chesley told the audience, and took "a more precipitous fall" during the COVID pandemic, but has stabilized in the last few years.

"We anticipate a modest enrollment increase in the next few years," she said, and COCC is redoubling its efforts to retrain the region's employed workforce.

According to Chesley', Central Oregon Community College has 6,760 students (2022-23 credit).

The audience for the address included Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler, Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang, COCC faculty and board members.

Porter said, "We're kind of a hidden asset that a lot of people don't see up front, but they do see it on their tax bill, and they often wonder what they get for it. And this provides us with the opportunity to explain.”