January 23, 2026 3:40 a.m.
Wednesday evening, Umpqua Community College hosted a community open house to celebrate the opening of its newly renovated Advanced Manufacturing and Forestry Hub.
A college release said the event showcased a reimagined learning space designed to support high-demand workforce training in advanced manufacturing, forestry and emerging technologies.
The milestone represents the culmination of a multi-year effort that began in 2023, when UCC undertook a comprehensive review of its academic programs related to advanced manufacturing, the forest products industry and forestry. That process was guided by extensive input from major manufacturing and forestry employers across Douglas County, as well as smaller businesses that regularly hire UCC graduates.
The result was a bold re-envisioning of how these programs are delivered – placing greater emphasis on cross-curricular collaboration, alignment with industry needs, and future-focused skill development. As part of this effort, UCC launched two new programs: Mechatronics and Artificial Intelligence, expanding opportunities for students to prepare for highly technical, well-paying careers.
Industry partners consistently emphasized the need for high-skilled workers who can design, maintain, program, and service automated machinery that drives modern manufacturing facilities, along with highly competent foresters equipped to support the management and long-term health of forest lands. While Douglas County’s manufacturing sector remains anchored in wood products and mill operations, it is increasingly shaped by automation, advanced software, and AI-enabled systems – requiring a workforce with a strong mechanical, engineering and digital competencies.
The release said to meet this demand, UCC aligned its Computer Science, Forestry, Virtual Welding, and Engineering programs through shared curricula and collaborative instruction. With the addition of Mechatronics and a certificate in Expert Systems; Artificial Intelligence, the college now offers a suite of programs designed to serve the evolving needs of the regional workforce.
More than 350 students are currently enrolled in these program pathways, and the newly renovated facility represents the final stage of this transformative initiative.
The project was made possible through the generous support and partnership of industry leaders, and donors.