COCC: Being a strong force in the workforce

A barrel-thick ponderosa pine towers over the woods west of the Deschutes River near Pringle Falls, its trunk spiraled with gouges, looking like a half-ton housecat has used it as a scratching post. The marks are the work of a lightning bolt — some years back it struck the crown and traced the twisted grain down, instantly turning the water in the tree’s tissue into steam and leaving the “pondo” upright but otherwise fried. Then the beetles moved in.

Bret Michalski, a forest resources technology professor at Central Oregon Community College, walks around the base of the copper-colored tree, pointing out several small oozing wounds to his class of nine students. He plucks a resin blob from one of the holes, holding it up on his finger for the class to assess.

“Red turpentine beetle,” a student quickly deduces. “Dendroctonus valens,” adds another. “Very good, very good,” replies Michalski, happy for the one-two punch of common and scientific names.

Several clues have helped the students collar the culprit. The raisin-sized beetle typically infests larger pine species, particularly stressed-out trees. They also initiate their pitchy tubes several feet off the ground. Case closed, the class hikes on.

Climbing over downed trees and picking their way through the woods, the students are like a roaming forensics team, stopping periodically to peer into rotted stumps or pull apart sheets of bark litter, looking for cases to solve. From sprouting seeds to decaying trees, the big and small stories of the forest’s health — the full narrative — are all part of the class.

It’s the kind of well-rounded, immersive learning that industry professionals and employers take note of. “COCC’s forestry program provides students with opportunities to learn from both academics and professionals in the field and to build knowledge of forestry concepts through direct experience,” says Lauren Monk, monitoring program manager at Upper Deschutes Watershed Council. “The program produces graduates with exceptional ecological understanding and knowledge, who can think critically about ecological questions.”

From forestry technicians to pilots to health care workers, COCC connects its grads with numerous in-demand fields across Central Oregon — and ensures they’re workforce-ready.

“We strongly believe in COCC’s allied health programs,” says Joan Ching, vice president and chief nurse executive at St. Charles Health System. “Not only do we at St. Charles humbly host students from COCC’s health career programs, we also proudly employ a good number of its graduates.”

Those health care paths — and career options — are diverse. In all, COCC offers degrees and certificates in 12 different health career disciplines, including dental assistant, massage therapy, medical assistant, pharmacy technician, veterinary technician, health information management, registered nursing, nursing assistant and paramedicine, as well as degrees and certificates in public health.

For dental assistant graduate Amberena Fairlee, her time at COCC inspired further learning. She went on to become a dentist, now practicing in Central Oregon — and has frequently worked with fellow COCC dental assistant grads.

“I personally love working with them because they are very well prepared for the dynamic days we can have,” she says. It’s a good time and place to be a dental assistant, too: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oregon ranks third in the nation for highest-paying annual mean salary, at $55,960; Central Oregon is fifth in the country for the highest concentration of dental assistant jobs in nonmetropolitan areas.

The impact that COCC grads have on their community is far-reaching, with training that can change the course of their own lives — and that of others.

“Compassionate care and being in the helping profession can be both challenging and gratifying. The addiction studies program really prepares students for working in the field of behavioral health and addictions treatment,” says Kelli Huntington, program director for BestCare’s Redmond Residential Treatment Center. “If this is your career choice, you will have a great start at COCC to helping people and being an effective counselor or treatment specialist.”

Discover how you can be a strong force in the workforce. COCC’s fall term application window is now open; the deadline is Sept. 15. Visit cocc.edu to envision your future.