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COCC Program at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution
The Oregon Department of Corrections has contracted with Central Oregon Community College to provide educational services for the current biennium. Deer Ridge Correctional Institution (DRCI) and COCC have created the DRCI Education team to offer an education program for inmates.
COCC provides Adult Basic Education classes and General Educational Development test preparation instruction as well as computer keyboarding and welding training.
As of Fall Term 2009, there are more than 170 students enrolled and are proud to report a 100% pass rate on GED testing. The program includes monthly placement testing and V.A. Rep. visits as well as weekly visits from a college resource coordinator.
COCC Welding Program at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution
The welding program at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution is a collaboration between the Oregon Department of Corrections, the DRCI Physical Plant, and Central Oregon Community College. COCC’s director of welding at Deer Ridge is Mr. Tucker Bauman.
  
Mr. Bauman is completing his associate of applied science degree this year and has designed the DRCI welding program so that it is closely aligned with the manufacturing technology program at COCC’s Redmond campus.
The DRCI welding shop at DRCI is approximately 2,500 square feet and features state of the art equipment. The shop took nearly one year to design and complete. Our inaugural welding program enrolled its first class of ten students in August, 2009. These students were carefully selected and had to meet stringent standards of conduct, as well as educational requirements. We looked for students who would foster a spirit of collaboration and teamwork.
  
Students are in class five days a week and learn shield metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, and flux core arc welding. Each student had to complete a rigorous safety course before beginning the hands on portion of the class. The curriculum involves video, textbooks, many quizzes and tests, as well as in class welding projects. The students have built most of the equipment cages and storage facilities for the program.The welding program is self paced and very outcome focused. It is designed to prepare graduates for employment in an industry in which they should be able to expect continuous employment and job security. There is a demand for well trained and versatile welders. Students who complete the program at DRCI will then test for American Welding Society welding certification, which is recognized nationwide a step which will increase their employability even more.
  
The DRCI educational team
Cody Yeager, director of corrections education, is responsible for inmate assessment, evaluation, advising and counseling. She has worked for COCC as an adjunct instructor, as director of the Native American Program, and as education coordinator for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. She has also provided a variety of training opportunities for the U.S. military.
JoAnn McDaniel, administrative assistant, provides clerical support. She earned an associate's degree in business office management and has worked for COCC in Warm Springs, Madras, and Bend.
Butch Flathers, full-time instructor, earned an AA in Liberal Arts at COCC, a bachelor's degree in education at EOU, and a master's degree from WOU. He has previously taught both public high school and middle school classes as well as adults at Snake River Correctional Institute. Butch provides basic skills instruction necessary for literacy in reading, writing, mathematics through elementary algebra, listening and speaking.
Laurie Korner, instructor, earned a bachelor's degree in Behavioral and Social Sciences from Linfield College, an AA from Florida Keys Community College, and an AAOT from COCC. She has previously facilitated ESL GED, ABE, ESL, and GED classes at COCC and Deschutes County Jail for the Redmond ABE Program and worked in education with special populations for over 20 years. Laurie provides basic skills instruction necessary for literacy in reading, writing, mathematics, listening and speaking.
Tucker Bauman, welding program director, is building a welding shop and developing a work-based welding program that will meet industry standards and provide training for employment. Bauman worked at Brightwood Industries for many years and is completing his Associate's degree at the Manufacturing and Training Center at the Redmond COCC campus.
Diana Weeks is a COCC graduate with an AAS degree in CIS and a certificate in CADD. Diana runs the computer lab that supports the ABE and GED classes, instructs the Keyboarding class, and is the Test Administrator for Deer Ridge.
Volunteers are an important and valued part of the E-Team. We are fortunate to have three dedicated community members who work with us: Minda Morton, Harold Moore, & Mike Gardner.
Please visit the DRCI Education Team Directory for contact information.
Rules of Engagement
"Integrity first. Service before self. Excellence in all we do."
Mission Statement
The Deer Ridge E Team is comprised of the finest staff available. We are intensely proud of our work. Dedication to student experiential learning is paramount. Everything we do, whether it is GED or welding training, is designed with one goal in mind: to prepare our incarcerated students for success upon release. My role as director of education means that I am not the team leader, but their cheerleader. At every orientation, I tell students COCC has brought them not just the best instructors available, but the best instructors there are. Our staff works tirelessly, above and beyond the confines of our contracted obligation, so that students have every opportunity to progress. Our mission is to make use of every available means to this end. Our GED success rate is unparalleled and our response time to all inmate notes is 48 hours. As a result of dedication to our mission, the DRCI E-Team has never had a grievance filed by an inmate. Our students care how much we know because they know how much we care. - Cody Yeager
We will:
Enroll 10 students in our welding program every 6-8 months.
Provide keyboarding class for the general population.
Provide college placement testing every month.
Offer one on one college resource coordination.
Provide excellent ABSD instruction, including evening classes.
Serve over 360 inmates within our contract period.
55% of those students will complete one or more skill levels.
70% of our enrolled GED students will complete at least one test.
60% of those will earn their GED certificate.
Constantly model pro-social behavior, treating all people with respect.
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