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News Release

UCC Opens Newly Renovated Advanced Manufacturing And Forestry Hub (Photo) - 01/22/26

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Umpqua Community College (UCC) hosted a community open house on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., celebrating the opening of its newly renovated Advanced Manufacturing & Forestry Hub. The event showcased a reimagined learning space designed to support high-demand workforce training in advanced manufacturing, forestry, and emerging technologies.

 

This 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 forestersequipped 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 strong mechanical, engineering, and digital competencies.

 

At the open house, Allyn Ford, Roseburg Forest Products former CEO and president addressed the guests, “We’re looking to the future. Our industry and everything we’re doing is becoming increasingly complex. The change is taking place so quickly.”

 

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 comprehensive suite of programs designed to serve the evolving needs of the regional workforce.

 

“Growing a workforce here has been a challenge in the last thirty years, but Umpqua Community College has really helped out with that challenge,” said Dave Larecy, Con-Vey CEO at the open house event.  “Having programs and facilities like this so you can graduate, continue your education locally and get exciting career opportunities all in your hometown is amazing.” 

 

More than 350 students are currently enrolled in these program pathways, and the newly renovated facility represents the final stage of this transformative initiative. By repurposing one of the college’s original campus buildings, UCC created state-of-the-art laboratory spaces, a multi-purpose advanced manufacturing learning lab, lecture-theater capacity, and a maker and innovation space open to the entire college community and beyond. The facility was upgraded to meet the significant power and data demands of modern manufacturing education and to inspire students to pursue careers in high-tech industries with strong local employment opportunities.

 

“This project reflects what’s possible when education and industry work together,” said UCC leadership. “The Advanced Manufacturing & Forestry Hub positions our students—and our region—for long-term success.”

 

The project was made possible through the generous support and partnership of industry leaders and donors, including:

 

Nordic Veneer; Roseburg Forest Products; Murphy Company; D.R. Johnson Lumber Company; Lone Rock Resources; Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians; Sierra Pacific Foundation; Con-Vey; FCC Commercial Furniture; The Ford Family Foundation; Great Northern Trailer Works; Douglas County Forest Products; Hal & Paula Ball; Swanson Group; and Lynn Engle.

 

For more information about UCC’s Advanced Manufacturing & Forestry programs, visit umpqua.edu.

Attached Media Files: A second-year welding student demonstrates an augmented reality welding simulator., Students demonstrate the forestry simulators., Donors and students come together to experience the Hub's technology such as this robotic arm., Welding students (front row) who created the donor wall with donors.,

UCC Opens Newly Renovated Advanced Manufacturing And Forestry Hub (Photo) - 01/22/26

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Umpqua Community College (UCC) hosted a community open house on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., celebrating the opening of its newly renovated Advanced Manufacturing & Forestry Hub. The event showcased a reimagined learning space designed to support high-demand workforce training in advanced manufacturing, forestry, and emerging technologies.

 

This 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 forestersequipped 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 strong mechanical, engineering, and digital competencies.

 

At the open house, Allyn Ford, Roseburg Forest Products former CEO and president addressed the guests, “We’re looking to the future. Our industry and everything we’re doing is becoming increasingly complex. The change is taking place so quickly.”

 

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 comprehensive suite of programs designed to serve the evolving needs of the regional workforce.

 

“Growing a workforce here has been a challenge in the last thirty years, but Umpqua Community College has really helped out with that challenge,” said Dave Larecy, Con-Vey CEO at the open house event.  “Having programs and facilities like this so you can graduate, continue your education locally and get exciting career opportunities all in your hometown is amazing.” 

 

More than 350 students are currently enrolled in these program pathways, and the newly renovated facility represents the final stage of this transformative initiative. By repurposing one of the college’s original campus buildings, UCC created state-of-the-art laboratory spaces, a multi-purpose advanced manufacturing learning lab, lecture-theater capacity, and a maker and innovation space open to the entire college community and beyond. The facility was upgraded to meet the significant power and data demands of modern manufacturing education and to inspire students to pursue careers in high-tech industries with strong local employment opportunities.

 

“This project reflects what’s possible when education and industry work together,” said UCC leadership. “The Advanced Manufacturing & Forestry Hub positions our students—and our region—for long-term success.”

 

The project was made possible through the generous support and partnership of industry leaders and donors, including:

 

Nordic Veneer; Roseburg Forest Products; Murphy Company; D.R. Johnson Lumber Company; Lone Rock Resources; Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians; Sierra Pacific Foundation; Con-Vey; FCC Commercial Furniture; The Ford Family Foundation; Great Northern Trailer Works; Douglas County Forest Products; Hal & Paula Ball; Swanson Group; and Lynn Engle.

 

For more information about UCC’s Advanced Manufacturing & Forestry programs, visit umpqua.edu.

Attached Media Files: A second-year welding student demonstrates an augmented reality welding simulator., Students demonstrate the forestry simulators., Donors and students come together to experience the Hub's technology such as this robotic arm., Welding students (front row) who created the donor wall with donors.,