August 19, 2025 3:40 a.m. 

Last week, Umpqua Community College officially launched construction of its new Welcome Center and Medical Careers Hub, with the demolition of the Del Blanchard Administration Building and a celebration ceremony.

A UCC release said the $21.5 million project will serve as both a new front door to campus and a vital hub for healthcare workforce training in Douglas County. The facility is scheduled for completion in December 2026, with a grand opening in early 2027.

UCC President Dr. Rachel Pokrandt said, “This is so much more than a building project – it’s a commitment to student success and to meeting critical workforce needs in Douglas County”. Pokrandt said, “When completed, the Welcome Center and Medical Careers Hub will open doors – literally and figuratively – for generations to come”.

The building’s first floor will house UCC’s new Welcome Center, a one-stop resource for prospective and incoming students. This welcoming “front door” will streamline enrollment, advising and support services.

The second floor will feature the Medical Careers Hub, expanding UCC’s medical training programs with state-of-the-art simulation labs, skills training rooms, and technology-rich classrooms. The release said this space will address the region’s shortage of trained healthcare professionals and create pathways to family-thriving wage careers. Equipment for the Medical Careers Hub is funded through Congressionally directed spending championed by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.

This investment is made possible through the generosity of lead donors and partners whose donations helped secure an $8 million matching grant from the Oregon Legislature, bringing fundraiser to more than $18 million. Fundraising efforts continue.