CWU To Help Open New Higher Education Center

October 13, 2005

Contact: Robert Lowery (509-963-1847/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: loweryr@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG , Wash. - Central Washington University, in partnership with Highline Community College (HCC), will host the public dedication of their new higher education center on the HCC campus on Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre and HCC President Priscilla J. Bell will preside at the grand opening.

"This shared state-of-the-art facility is a wise investment of state tax dollars because it provides an economical approach to improving access to higher education and responding to increasing enrollment demands for both institutions," McIntyre says.

Graduates of CWU and HCC will also share success stories, while guests will be invited to participate in a tour of the new facility and to share refreshments with dignitaries, students and alumni.

The $33 million center, which is the new home for CWU-Des Moines, allows students to earn their two-year associate's degree from Highline and then directly transfer to the Central center to earn a bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, early childhood education, elementary education, general studies or law and justice, or master's degrees in educational administration or engineering technology. A master teacher program is also available. Additional degree offerings will be added in the future.

The coordinated, expanded articulation of lower-division Highline courses to upper-division CWU courses provides "2+2" programs that address the economic development needs of the South King County area.

The new center, which allows students to balance their family and career commitments through its convenient location and class schedules, accommodates 1,275 full-time students, 675 from Highline and 600 from CWU-Des Moines.

The 83,900-square-foot facility includes expanded, cutting-edge science laboratories for students in the engineering and computer science fields, and additional office space for both CWU and Highline programs. Distance learning is also available in seven of its 26 classrooms.

The center is the fifth new facility involving CWU and a partner community college, following on the heels of CWU-Lynnwood, at Edmonds Community College; CWU-Moses Lake, at Big Bend Community College; CWU-Pierce County, at Fort Steilacoom Community College; and CWU-Yakima, at Yakima Valley Community College.

Groundbreaking recently took place on a similar higher education center for CWU-Wenatchee, at Wenatchee Valley College, which will be open for fall quarter 2006.

More than 20 percent of university graduates earn their degrees through CWU university centers.