Southwestern begins master planning process

Southwestern Oregon Community College and master planning architects Crow/Clay Associates of Coos Bay are set to begin the master planning process this spring for all College facilities.

The firm and Southwestern are planning to kick off the process with community focus group meetings in April in Curry County, where the College recently finalized a land deal with Rio Tinto Minerals – the parent company of U.S. Borax – regarding 10 acres north of Brookings with plans to construct a new campus.

Focus group meetings will follow at locations throughout the College District – which stretches from western Douglas County to the California border – and will involve community leaders and residents from each community. Participants’ input will help the College steer future programming, campus planning at current and future Southwestern locations, outreach offerings and myriad other activities.

The first focus group meetings are to be scheduled in Curry County by April 15. The new campus, to be located north of Brookings, would serve as the main Southwestern location in Curry County. A groundbreaking celebration is scheduled at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, at the new campus site, which is located along U.S. Highway 101 north of Brookings.

The master planning process for the new Curry County location will focus on identifying community needs for planning the new campus site. Plans at this time include a full-time practical nursing program, coursework for on-site associate degrees and additional programming – including some program offerings unique to Curry County – to meet community needs.

Southwestern also will seek information from Langlois, Port Orford and Gold Beach residents about current and potential offerings and facilities serving those communities. Southwestern plans to maintain the Port Orford and Gold Beach centers at their current locations after the new campus is completed.

Press Release Date: March 20 , 2007