The Seattle Community Colleges serve all of metropolitan Seattle and its surrounding communities, and comprise the largest community college district in the state, educating more than 50,000 students each year.
The first classes were held in the Edison Vocational Technical Institute on Capitol Hill, when "Seattle Community College" — now Seattle Central Community College — opened in 1966 as part of the public school system.
The State Community College Act of 1967 established college districts apart from the public schools, with a mandate to provide "an open door to education" for all who seek it. A long-range plan called for three campuses in the city, and planning began immediately for North Seattle Community College and South Seattle Community College.
By September 1970, all three colleges opened together for the first time as a multi-campus district. Seattle Vocational Institute, affiliated with Central, joined the district in 1991 under the state’s Work Force Training and Education Act. The district also includes four specialized training centers located throughout the city:
Students choose from an array of more than 135 academic and career-technical programs, the largest number in the state. The curriculum has led the way as the Puget Sound area moved from a manufacturing and resource-based economy to information-based industries.
Like the region, the college population is dynamic. The student body is the most diverse in the Northwest, reflecting nearly 80 different languages spoken in homes throughout the city.
By design, each of the colleges reflects its community. While the colleges are an integral part of their neighborhoods and offer certain unique educational programs, all are comprehensive and offer programs in college transfer, professional-technical training, adult basic education, and continuing education.
Contact the District Public Information Office regarding information present on this page.
Green for the 21st Century in Seattle
Innovations in curriculum and operations have earned the 2009 Green Washington Award for the Seattle Community Colleges – Central, North and South. All three colleges are active members of the Seattle Climate Partnership and North was an early signer of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. A district-wide Chancellor’s Sustainability Initiative provides energy, focus and a forum for emerging training and initiatives.
Sustainability is infused into programs ranging from urban agriculture at Central to environmental science, real estate and building management across the district. Students have funded a sustainability coordinator. Campus activities include reducing the carbon footprint and promoting recycling and energy conservation, which earned a “Recycler of the Year” award for South. Last year, the college culinary operations diverted 31 tons of materials to a regional composting facility – which returned the compost to “green” the college landscape.
For more information visit www.seattlecolleges.edu/green
Helping displaced workers to ‘Start Next Quarter’
During the economic downturn, thousands of displaced workers turned to the Seattle Community Colleges at the same time regional employers reported a need for skilled workers to fill jobs in the new economy. To help both potential workers and employers, the Seattle Community Colleges developed Start Next Quarter (SNQ), a two-part initiative designed to improve the success of dislocated workers who enroll in technical education programs. SNQ invites prospective students to assess their eligibility for workforce funding online and connects them to a comprehensive two-day college success workshop held at each campus. The workshops are based on a model developed at one of the district campuses. Students who complete the workshop are more likely to complete their training programs and to obtain jobs using their new skills. The project was developed in part through a grant from the League for Innovation, funded by the Walmart Foundation Bright Futures project to serve displaced workers.
Visit www.startnextquarter.org
A Model for the Region
The Opportunity Center for Employment and Education at North Seattle Community College is a regional resource and the first integrated service center of its kind in Washington state. Since the OCE&E opened its doors in spring 2011, more than 40,000 people have come for one-stop help in finding a new job, career retraining or to sign up for public assistance benefits. Founding partners were the state Departments of Social and Health Services and Employment Security, the college, and the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County. The campus and the new LEED Gold Certified 45,000-square foot facility are in the heart of Seattle’s north end and close to a major transit hub. House Speaker Frank Chopp and Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (sponsor of the legislation and a former Seattle District trustee) championed the OCE&E in the state legislature. The center aims to provide streamlined services in a positive environment, helping clients succeed in the next stage of their lives.