By Tove Tupper
 
November 5, 2009
 
ASHLAND, Ore. - After a year of trying, the Reserve Officer's Training Program is now at Southern Oregon University.
 
ROTC was previously at the college, before being cut in 1992. Since then, a state run officer cadet school has been used. SOU's Military Science Department will now be allowed to use the ROTC curriculum, as well as offer benefits such as scholarships to its students. Those scholarships can range from four to $13,000.
 
"Our previous program really wasn't well adapted for the university setting. So ROTC is a way better officer training at the University," said Lieutenant Col. Keith Ensley, Department of Military Science Director.
 
12 students are currently in the contract process of becoming ROTC cadets at the school. SOU's new ROTC program aims to have between 40 and 50 cadets over the next three years.