Page 14 - 2019-20 CAFR

The College was named for the Rogue River, which starts at Crater Lake and extends for 215 miles to the Pacific
Ocean. As the river leaves the Cascade Mountains, it winds its way through the Rogue Valley that comprises
Josephine and Jackson counties. The Rogue Valley is located midway between Seattle and San Francisco on the

Interstate 5 corridor and extends to the Oregon-California border.

The College was established in Josephine County in November of 1970 by the vote of the electorate. On May 21,
1996, voters in Jackson and Josephine counties approved the expansion of the College’s boundaries to

encompass both counties. The annexation was effective July 1, 1997.

An elected seven-member Board establishes the policies of the College. Each member of the Board is elected
to a four-year term. The Board has statutory charge and control of all activities, operations and programs of the

College, including its property, personnel and finances. The College President is the Chief Executive Officer of
the College and the administrative staff is responsible for the College’s daily operations.

The Oregon State Board of Education establishes state standards for educational programs and facilities,

approves courses of study, and adopts regulations for Oregon’s community college system. Additionally, the
Director of the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development serves as administrative officer

of the state of Oregon under the direction of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC).

Mission, Vision and Core Values

The College’s mission, as adopted by the Board, is to provide quality learning opportunities for students to

achieve their goals and support the vitality of our communities. The College’s vision is to be a premiere learning

college that transforms, strengthens and inspires.

The following institutional core values have been established and approved by the Board of Education to help

the College focus on achieving its mission:

Integrity requires us, as an institution and individuals, to be transparent, ethical and accountable.

Collaboration promotes an agile, responsive culture to creatively address the aspirations and needs of
our communities.

Inclusion creates a compassionate and safe environment that views all individuals and ideas fairly.

Stewardship commits us to responsible and thoughtful guardianship of our human, economic,
environmental, and cultural resources.

Courage frees the institution to find and pursue the best path in support of student learning and Rogue
excellence.

In addition to core values, the College has developed three (3) Wildly Important Goals (WIGS): Core Themes, to

further succeed in carrying out its mission:

1. Access to Educational Opportunities

• Objective 1: Improve access to educational and support systems for current and prospective
students.

Make entry to the College a smoother transition for all students. Make use of College support

systems more student-friendly, including course entry requirements and prerequisites.
3