Central Oregon Community College

Welcome to Summer Term, Bobcats! ☀️

Whether you're taking one class, working toward a degree, exploring a new interest or getting ahead on your goals, we're excited to have you here.

Summer term moves quickly, so don't be afraid to ask questions, connect with your instructors and take advantage of the resources available to support you.

🌊 Ready for an unforgettable Oregon Coast adventure?

Join G169: Field Geology — Exploration of the PNW, a four-day field course packed with camping, hiking, and geologizing at Beverly Beach. No geology experience needed — this class is for everyone, and you do not need to be a COCC student to register.

You’ll depart from COCC’s Bend Campus at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16, camp at Beverly Beach Campground, cook meals together, explore the coast through a geologic lens, and return Sunday evening, July 19.

Course fee includes:
🏕️ Camping
🥾 Field exploration and hiking
🍽️ Food
🚐 Transportation

An orientation will be held via Zoom from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 24. Participants should be prepared for uneven surfaces, carrying a backpack with food and water and changing coastal weather.

Cost: $199
Instructor: Hal DeShow

Spots are limited — register today and experience the Pacific Northwest like never before. https://www.enrole.com/cocc/jsp/session.jsp?sessionId=SU26G169FIELDGEOLOGY.1&courseId=G169FIELDGEOLOGY&categoryId=10203

COCC will be closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth, which marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas learned they were free — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Learn more about the history and significance of Juneteenth through the National Museum of African American History and Culture: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth

Artist Reception Happening Tomorrow!

Fine Art Photo Exhibit at COCC Captures Spirit of Ghost Town

Portraying the Western spirit and history of the small community of Shaniko in north-central Oregon, an exhibition of fine art documentary photography, titled “Believers,” by Bend photographer Rosie Day will be on display at Central Oregon Community College’s Barber Library Rotunda Gallery from June 16 to Sept. 1.

The library will hold a reception from 3-5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17. The exhibition is free and open to the public. For gallery hours of operation, visit https://cocc.edu/departments/library/

Day’s work offers an intimate look at the residents of Shaniko - a once-thriving area deemed the “Wool Capital of the World” and now a veritable ghost town - whom she collaborated with over a five-year period. Some of the work employs the cyanotype process, an analogue photographic technique created in the 1800s.

“Shaniko is a place where America’s past becomes both a refuge and an illusion,” Day said of the collection. “This Western dream is sustained by Shaniko’s residents, whose care preserves the town’s history, stories and enduring sense of possibility.”

Originally from the United Kingdom, Day formerly lived in the ranch community of Spray, working as a high school educator, before relocating to Bend. A former staff photographer at COCC, she now teaches in the college’s welding program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the Arts London and a Master of Arts from Falmouth University.

Thanks to a generous rural grant from the Roundhouse Foundation, COCC youth camps in Redmond, Madras and Prineville are available at no cost.

Families can explore hands-on camps that help kids learn, create and stay engaged this summer — from arts and STEM to skill-building and outdoor-inspired fun.

View available camps and register:
Big news for Central Oregon families! ☀️

Thanks to a generous rural grant from the Roundhouse Foundation, select COCC Community Education youth camps in Redmond, Madras, and Prineville are available at no cost.

Families can explore hands-on camps that help kids learn, create, and stay engaged this summer — from arts and STEM to skill-building and outdoor-inspired fun.

View available camps and register:
https://www.enrole.com/cocc/jsp/index.jsp?categoryId=10184

Space may be limited, so early registration is encouraged.

Thank you, Roundhouse Foundation, for helping make youth enrichment more accessible across rural Central Oregon.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!🎓🎉

You all worked incredibly hard, overcame numerous obstacles, and today, we finally got to celebrate your academic achievement. Words can hardly describe how proud we are of each and every one of you. We at COCC wish you the very best in your future endeavors!

Tomorrow, our graduates will cross the stage and celebrate years of hard work, determination and growth.

For some, the journey to commencement wasn't a straight path. It took courage, support and a community that believed in them along the way.

As we prepare to celebrate the Class of 2026, we're sharing this story about just a few of our incredible graduates.

Read their story: https://cocc.edu/news/a-home-along-the-way

To all of our graduates: We see your hard work. We celebrate your accomplishments. And we can't wait to cheer you on tomorrow. 🎓