Chemeketa Community College

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Chemeketa Community College is a community college located in Salem, Oregon, with smaller campuses in McMinnville, Dallas, Stayton, and Woodburn. Chemeketa serves more than 50,000 students each year^{[citation needed]} in a district that covers 2,600 square miles in Marion, Polk, most of Yamhill, and part of Linn counties.

Chemeketa’s history began in 1952, when the Salem School District started the Salem Technical-Vocational School to provide training for the unemployed. In 1969 the college district was formed, and a competition was held to name the new college. The winning entry came from a student, who wrote in her submission that Chemeketa means “place of peace.” In December 1969, the Board of Education approved the name Chemeketa, a name that seemed ideally suited to the new college.

In addition to the five campuses and centers listed above, the college's Training and Economic Development Center in downtown Salem houses the Small Business Development Center and operates classes and programs benefiting area businesses.

Chemeketa offers Associate of Applied Science degrees in more than 40 professional-technical programs, as well as an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer and a General Education degree. Chemeketa Community College is well-known for its nursing, fire science, viticulture, and electronics programs. In addition to day classes, classes are also offered evenings, weekends and online.