Eastern Oregon University announced on Apr. 15 a new partnership with Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics aimed at expanding healthcare access for its students and strengthening connections with local medical providers.
The collaboration is intended to give EOU students broader access to comprehensive healthcare services, allowing them to establish care with local providers and request same-day appointments through the clinic’s patient portal. The move is seen as an effort to provide timely, convenient care while integrating students more closely into the La Grande community.
As part of this initiative, EOU will transition from its current on-campus Student Health Center model to a community-based approach. The university stated that the on-campus Student Health Center will permanently close on June 12, 2026, at the end of the Spring term. “This partnership represents an exciting evolution in how we support student health and well-being,” said Mollie Rockafellow, Vice President for Student Affairs at EOU. “By connecting students more directly with local healthcare providers, we are expanding access to a broader range of services while strengthening their connection to the La Grande community. We are proud to serve as a bridge, helping students navigate care, build relationships locally, and access support that extends beyond their time at EOU.”
EOU explained that this transition aims to increase student access to a wider network of healthcare providers in La Grande, provide continuity of care after graduation or leaving campus, and reduce costs by proposing a decrease in the student health services fee from $239 per term to $180 per term pending approval through university governance processes. Counseling Center services will remain unchanged during this transition; mental health support will continue without interruption through at least the 2026–27 academic year.
To help students navigate these changes and understand insurance coverage or find local providers, EOU plans continued investment in its Benefits Navigator Program as well as enhanced programming around health literacy and additional staffing such as a Health and Wellness Coordinator.
Grande Ronde Hospital welcomed the collaboration’s potential impact on rural communities. “We’re proud to work alongside Eastern Oregon University to help care for students close to where they live and learn,” said Jeremy Davis, President and CEO of Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics. “Partnerships like this matter in rural communities, and this one helps ensure students have access to quality care while strengthening the ties between our organizations.”
University leaders indicated they would continue evaluating student service needs moving forward.
