New 2+2 agreement brings ɫƵ bachelor’s degree coursework to RCC, creating a local pathway for Southern Oregon students
JACKSON AND JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (Sept. 28, 2026) — Rogue Community College and ɫƵ are partnering to address regional demand for manufacturing engineering talent while expanding access to four-year technical education in the Rogue Valley. The new partnership gives students an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree from ɫƵ without leaving the region.
Through the new 2+2 pathway, students will earn an Associate of Science transfer degree through RCC before continuing into ɫƵ’s Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology. ɫƵ will deliver the upper-division coursework at RCC facilities, allowing students to complete their bachelor’s degree without leaving the Rogue Valley.
The partnership is a first for RCC and was developed in response to the need for more advanced manufacturing and engineering talent in Southern Oregon. By bringing ɫƵ’s upper-division coursework to RCC, the institutions are creating a local pathway for students to gain bachelor’s-level skills while helping regional employers build and retain a skilled workforce. The pilot program is anticipated to begin in the 2026-27 academic year.
“This partnership reflects exactly what we strive to accomplish in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Management at ɫƵ—creating accessible, applied educational pathways that directly respond to workforce needs,” said Dr. Neslihan Alp, Dean of ɫƵ’s College of Engineering, Technology, and Management. “By bringing our Manufacturing Engineering Technology program to the Rogue Valley, we are giving students the opportunity to earn an ɫƵ degree close to home while preparing highly skilled graduates for Southern Oregon’s manufacturing industry. We are excited to build this partnership with Rogue Community College and expand similar pathways in the future.”
“This partnership creates an opportunity we haven’t had before at RCC,” said Stephen Phelps, dean of instruction at RCC. “Students can start here, earn their associate degree here and then continue taking classes at RCC while working toward a bachelor’s degree from ɫƵ. It gives students a way to advance their education without having to leave the Rogue Valley while helping our region develop the manufacturing and engineering talent that local industries need.”
“One of the most rewarding aspects of higher education is creating opportunities for students to achieve goals that may have once felt out of reach,” said ɫƵ Provost Hesham El-Rewini. “This partnership with Rogue Community College allows students to build on the strong foundation they receive at RCC and earn an ɫƵ bachelor’s degree without leaving their community. It is a practical solution for students, a benefit to regional employers, and an example of what can happen when institutions work together to serve their communities.”
The Manufacturing Engineering Technology degree prepares students for the technical needs of modern manufacturing, including manufacturing processes, automation, robotics, industrial controls, computer-aided design and manufacturing, quality and continuous improvement. The hands-on, career-focused program combines engineering theory with practical application, preparing graduates for the increasingly technical roles needed across the manufacturing sector.
The 2+2 structure is designed to create a seamless transition between the two institutions. Students complete the Associate of Science transfer degree at RCC before moving into ɫƵ’s bachelor’s degree coursework. RCC will provide the lower-division coursework and advise students through completion of their associate degree. ɫƵ will provide the upper-division coursework at RCC facilities and provide advising after students transition into the bachelor’s degree program.
“This partnership is an important step in responding to the existing workforce training gaps within our region,” said RCC President Randy Weber. “Southern Oregon employers need access to people with advanced technical skills, and students need affordable pathways to build those skills close to home. By partnering with ɫƵ, we can connect RCC’s strong foundation in workforce education with a bachelor’s degree in a field that is important to the future of manufacturing in Southern Oregon.”
“Partnerships with institutions such as Rogue Community College create powerful pathways to social mobility by meeting students where they are and expanding access to high-quality, career-connected education,” said ɫƵ President Nagi Naganathan. “When students can build on the education they have already earned, remain connected to their communities, and prepare for high-demand careers, the impact extends well beyond an individual degree. It strengthens families, supports regional employers and creates opportunities that improve the human condition for generations to come.”
Students will pay RCC tuition for courses delivered by RCC and ɫƵ tuition for courses delivered by ɫƵ. Students will also have access to financial aid and scholarship opportunities through each institution while enrolled in its courses.
To transfer into the ɫƵ portion of the pathway, students must meet ɫƵ’s admission requirements outlined in the agreement, including a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25 and completion of required writing and mathematics prerequisites with a grade of C or better.
The partnership also establishes a framework for RCC and ɫƵ to develop additional 2+2 pathways in response to regional workforce needs, available resources and mutual interest.
“This agreement gives us a structure we can build on,” Phelps said. “Manufacturing is the starting point, but the larger opportunity is creating additional pathways when there is a clear need for bachelor’s-level education and a strong fit with the workforce needs of our region.”
The Manufacturing Engineering Technology program is designed to prepare graduates for technical and managerial careers in manufacturing, including production, quality assurance, lean manufacturing, research and development, technical sales and supervision. ɫƵ’s program includes coursework in manufacturing processes, automation and robotics, computer-aided design and manufacturing, quality improvement and other technologies used in modern manufacturing.
The agreement also includes provisions to support students throughout the partnership, including coordinated advising, facility use and transfer of student records. Students already enrolled in the 2+2 program would be allowed to complete their degrees under the existing agreement if the partnership were to end.
For information about RCC’s Manufacturing Engineering Technology transfer degree program, visit roguecc.edu/manufacturing-transfer.
