Suzanne Chavez during the 2017 Winter Term.

The View Back: An RCC Instructor’s Experience

Suzanne Chavez has watched Rogue Community College grow and change since it began in 1970. What started with a few buildings in Grants Pass has now grown to cover two counties and has three separate campuses. “I’ve always liked Rogue,” said Chavez, 61, who currently teaches Spanish courses there as well as oversees the college’s Foreign Language department. “In this case, the name ‘community college’...

From the President

Greetings to our communities. Since coming aboard at Rogue Community College, it has been my pleasure to meet with organizations; business, education, and community leaders; students, and RCC staff and faculty to talk about where RCC is now and what it could be in the years to come. In addition, RCC has recently engaged the community in meetings, surveys, and strategy sessions to get input...

Kevin Kuhn

The Future is Happening at RCC

Kevin Kuhn plans to be a doctor. But first the Logos Charter School high school junior needs to earn his diploma and his college degree, which he’s doing simultaneously at Rogue Community College. Logos Scholars Academy is an early college program offering personalized education with college campus options for motivated students. One of the unique attractions of the Logos program is that high school students...

Ebbi Zamani

Ebbi Zamani

In his 20s, Ebbi Zamani dabbled in college courses but never earned a degree. By the time he was in his 30s, married with children, he realized he had not created any strong skill sets or prospects for his career. He resolved to change his future. “I had heard encouraging things about RCC, and community college was an affordable way for me to get serious...

RCC pathfinder program helps highschool students get credit for college

High School Program is Maue’s Path to College

Getting a high school diploma and attending college are no longer mutually exclusive choices. Logos High School senior Addison Maue is doing both through a partnership with Rogue Community College. “I really wanted to get a jump start on college,” she says. “This (program) has been a great way to do that.” Logos is an accredited K-12 public charter school that is sponsored by the...

sarah reedy nursing student

Sarah Reedy

Life can take plenty of twists and turns. Sarah Reedy knows that firsthand. When she was 16 years old, her mom, Sheri Nottingham—a Rogue Community College employee—passed away unexpectedly. Sheri’s best friend and coworker Pamela Peckham took Sarah under her wing and helped her get on track for a college degree in nursing. “I decided to become a nurse after being in close contact with...

The RCC effect

RCC today

Rogue Community College (RCC) opened its doors to 1,000 students in 1971. Today, there are more than 17,000 students studying on three campuses. They have over 95 certificate programs and degrees to choose from in high-demand careers ranging from health care to mechanics, electronics, fire science, and business. In addition, half of RCC students are earning transfer degrees to go on to four-year universities. RCC...

Henry Pete, first RCC president.

A Rogue Community College timeline

1969 “A small cadre of true believers,” led by founder Marge Holzgang, and Midge Renton, Bill Ford, and Phil Nelson circulate a petition to approve a community college in Grants Pass. 1970 Voters of Josephine County approve the college on 84 acres of donated property on Redwood Highway in Grants Pass. Original Board of Education is formed: Bill Ford, Midge Renton, Lyle Haley, Lewis Krauss,...

RCC history- loggers posing on cut trees

A short history of Rogue Community College

Rogue Community College (RCC) was established in 1970 by vote of the electorate of Josephine County after a long campaign effort by many supporters including Midge Renton, a local school teacher, and the founders of the College, Marjorie Holzgang, Bill Ford, and Phil Nelson. The mission was clear: RCC would provide quality education to help learners achieve their goals and to support the social, civic,...

Midge Renton

RCC Foundation thanks all of its contributors: past, present, and future

Here are three examples of hundreds of our supporters. PAST Midge Renton and her husband, Bill, moved to Grants Pass from San Francisco in 1966. “After crying all the way up the freeway, we arrived to fog, fog, fog,” she recalls. But soon she and Bill fell in love with the Rogue Valley and became active in the community. In 1969 Midge became one of...