The future site of the Eastern Oregon University Collaborative Center is across from the Blue Mountain Community College branch campus and state office buildings. The 6.8 acres were donated by the city of Hermiston.

By Sara Shepherd

Staff writer

HERMISTON The collaboration between Blue Mountain Community College, the City of Hermiston and Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande is taking form during its initial stage.

The Eastern Oregon University Collaboration Center now has a site it will be located on 6.8 acres that was donated by the city of Hermiston. The property is located across the street from the current BMCC Extension Center in Hermiston.

“The city of Hermiston has been very cooperative of this idea (the new facility),” said John Turner, BMCC President.

James Sager, Education Workforce and Revenue Policy adviser from Salem, was among the first to visit the site during an advisory meeting on Thursday.

“To have a joint effort between community college and university is right in line with what the governor wants,” said Sager.

The collaborative center is a regional center, says Fred Ziari, president of IRZ EZ Wireless in Hermiston.

“It is beneficial to the region as an economical development,” he said.

“This is something that other cities and counties should be included in,” said Hermiston Mayor Bob Severson.

BMCC currently has limited ability for lab sciences, said Turner. The new facility will cater to those science courses, in addition to four-year degree seekers as well as Master’s degree seekers all without having to leave Hermiston.

Essentially, says Turner, BMCC will be teaching the majority of freshmen and sophomores, while EOU teaches the upper classman at the new university center.

The complete learning center will be approximately 30,000 to 40,000 square feet in size, and designed to accommodate 500 to 700 students. The center will provide courses in business, technology, science, education and the liberal arts. The facility will also include space for student services, conference areas, staff offices and partner institution space as necessary.

The estimated capital cost for the center is between $8 million and $12 million.

Funding for the university center, Turner says, will potentially come from state capital construction monies, industries and businesses in Western Umatilla County and North Morrow County, and from the federal government.

“I hope that they (federal government) will continue to see the value and effort of this center,” he said. “We have promises from Senator Smith and Wyden to earmark federal money for the project.”

The collaboration center is an attempt to increase the enrollment and involvement rate for Eastern Oregon University, as well as college enrollment in general, for Eastern Oregon.

For additional information, contact Turner at 541-567-1800.