How We Work

Our programs are grounded in local partnerships and a statewide presence. Our coordinators live and work within the communities they serve—partnering with schools, community colleges, universities, businesses, foundations, and local organizations to design programming that reflects each community’s unique needs. Our coordinators bring shared lived experiences and cultural understanding to their roles, ensuring every student and family feels welcomed, supported, and seen. We also work intentionally to remove common barriers—such as cost, language, timing, or location—so community members can fully engage in programming regardless of background or geography.

Our History and Evolution

Open Campus began in 2009 as a pilot in Crook and Tillamook Counties, created to address unmet local educational needs and strengthen OSU’s land-grant mission through innovative community partnerships. Juntos soon followed in 2012, starting with a single pilot school in Jefferson County.

From these early efforts, Open Campus and Juntos expanded across Oregon and became a fully supported program area within OSU Extension Service. What began as an expanded way for communities to access the university’s resources, has grown into a dynamic and unique community-based program, impacting students and adult learners of all ages.

Today, Open Campus and Juntos form a statewide network of coordinators and partners—working alongside community colleges, regional economic development groups, K-12 education systems, universities, businesses, community organizations, and local government—to serve and support all Oregonians.