ROSEBURG, Ore. -- The small Oregon college rocked by the latest campus shooting, was a relatively young community college committed to providing an intimate learning experience.
Umpqua Community College had just celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The college offers a variety of two-year degrees and certificates from nursing and dental assistant programs to degrees for students interested in the wine industry.
UCC sits just north Roseburg about 180 miles south of Portland. It's situated on nearly 100 acres of former pasture land adjacent to the North Umpqua River.
The school itself is made up of about 16 buildings and includes a track, tennis courts, an outdoor pool and a vineyard.
The college has roughly 20,000 students, just over 3,000 fulltime and another 16,000 part-time. The interim president said the student body ranges in age from 16-60.
UCC's Facebook pages portrays the college as one committed to community. One post celebrates the school's small class sizes, averaging just 17 students.
In an online video, one student praised the school for its commitment to fostering success.
"UCC is a really great college, and it's helped me overcome my fear of coming back to school," said Kip Gneiting.
A UCC instructor in Automotive Technology had recently been named technician of the year.
The school also posted a picture of the recent blood moon online captured by an astronomy professor from the school's new observatory.
UCC had also recently constructed a new state of the art wine production and teaching facility known as the Southern Oregon Wine Institute.
Classes had just started Monday. A Facebook post announces registration would continue through October 2.
In addition to academics the school also offered an athletics program.
Last fall the school celebrated a strong performance by their girls' volleyball team.
Locals say the college is more than a school.
"It's a college but it's also a community center," said Justin Myers, who remembers learning to swim at UCC.
