Lower Columbia College

Lower Columbia College
Established	1934
Type	Public community college
President	Chris Bailey
Academic staff	69 Full-time, 153 Part-time
Students	8,465 (2,728 Full-Time)[1][2]
Location	Longview, Washington, United States
Main campus location	1600 Maple Street, Longview, WA
Nickname	LCC
Mascot	Red Devils
Website	http://www.lowercolumbia.edu/

Lower Columbia College (LCC) is a public, two-year institution of higher education located in Longview, Washington. The college offers degrees in vocational and technical education as well as worker retraining. It also offers university transfer programs. It is a member of the Washington Community and Technical Colleges system created by the Community College Act of 1967.

History

Lower Columbia College was established in 1934 as Lower Columbia Junior College. Students registered for classes at Korten’s Music Store in Longview, Dahlman Hardware in Castle Rock, and the Orr Furniture Store in Kelso. Classes were held at R.A. Long High School. The first class to graduate with an Associate degree was in 1936; the class consisted of seven students.

The second class, with ninety-six students, graduated in 1937. As the number of students increased, instruction expanded into the Myklebust building in downtown Longview and the Moose Hall. The Moose Hall continued to house classes until 1949, when damage from an earthquake caused the building to be condemned. Classes were also held on the first floor of the Longview Public Library.

Enrollment was 149 students in 1939, 200 students in 1950, and 300 students in 1954. The student population consisted of both male and female students. In 1948, the college received its first accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

In 1942, twenty-six acres were purchased from the Longview Company to build a campus. In 1950, construction began on Old Main, LCC’s first permanent building. The original building had thirteen classrooms and cost a quarter of a million dollars. The Lower Columbia College League, an association of friends of the college, used fundraising to pay for the construction.

Lower Columbia Junior College became part of the Longview School District and changed from a junior college to a community college in 1961. LCC joined the state-supported community college system in 1967. Today, the college includes twenty-seven buildings on 38.75 acres (15.68 ha).^[3]

Current president

Christopher Bailey was appointed President of LCC on September 1, 2011. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Western Washington University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Washington School of Law. Bailey was a former Vice President of Human Resources and Legal Affairs at Centralia College. He had taught business and law courses at Centralia since 1989. Before joining the college full time, he was president and general manager for Martin Sand and Gravel Company in south Thurston County and also worked previously as an attorney.^[4]

Trustees

Michael Heuer, Chair – Appointed March 2003. He is the Training and Safety Lead for Weyerhaeuser, the President of Woodworkers in Longview, and is a Kelso resident.

Steve Vincent, Vice-Chair – Appointed September 2011. He is a co-founder and director of Columbia Analytical Services in Kelso and resides in Longview.

Heidi Heywood – Appointed October 2008. She is a private-practice attorney, a part-time Superior Court commission and District Court Judge Pro Tem in Wahkiakum County, and resides in Wahkiakum County.

Max Anderson – Appointed June 2006. He is a registered investment advisor and resides in Longview.

Thuy Vo – Appointed December 2004. He is the owner of VO Printers in Longview and is also a Longview resident.^[5]

University partnerships

Students can earn an associate degree and complete their first two years of a bachelor's degree at Lower Columbia College.^[6] LCC has partnered with several colleges and universities, including:

• Capella University
• Central Washington University
• City University of Seattle
• DeVry University
• Evergreen State College
• Franklin University
• Montana State University - Northern
• North Central University
• Portland State University
• University of Oregon
• University of Phoenix
• Washington State University Vancouver
• Washington State University
• Western Governors University

Academics

Lower Columbia College offers a selection of degree and certificate programs designed to prepare students for advanced studies or to move directly into the workforce. Working with baccalaureate institutions and industry partners, programs have been created to serve the community.

Examples of degrees at LCC:^[7]

• Associate in Applied Science – Transfer – Registered Nurse
• Associate in Arts – Direct Transfer Agreement Degree
• Associate in Arts – Direct Transfer Economics degree
• Associate in Business – Direct Transfer Agreement / Major Related Program Degree
• Associate in Math Education – Direct Transfer Agreement / Major Related Program
• Associate in Physics Education – Transfer Option 1 / Major Related Program Degree
• Associate in Sciences – Transfer Biology Degree
• Associate in Sciences – Transfer Chemistry Degree
• Chemistry Education – Transfer Option 1 / Major Related Program
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering Technology – Associate in Sciences – Transfer Option 2 / Major Related Program Degree

Examples of Professional/Technical degrees and certificates at LCC:

• Associate in Applied Science – Accounting Technician Degree
• Associate in Applied Science – Fire Science Technology Degree
• Associate in Applied Science – Welding Degree
• Certificate of Completion – Nursing Assistant
• Certificate of Completion – Public Education Specialist
• Certificate of Proficiency – Fire Prevention Specialist

Activities and events

The Associated Students of Lower Columbia College (ASLCC), along with faculty and staff at the college, plans student events throughout the year. Students participate in events, activities, clubs and organizations on and off campus. Activities and event dates are posted on the Events Calendar and the Student Activities web page.^[8]

Athletics

Lower Columbia College participates in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC). Prior to the formation of the NWAACC, LCC was one of the charter members of the original Washington State Junior College Athletic Conference.^[9]

LCC competes in six intercollegiate sports: two men's teams and four women's teams.

Men – NWAACC Champions^[10][11]

• Baseball – 1970, 1981, 1984, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2010
• Basketball – 1954*, 2004, 2005

Women – NWAACC Champions^[12][13]

• Basketball – None
• Soccer – None
• Softball – 1994, 1999–2004, 2006–2008.
• Volleyball – 1991

* As part of the WSJCAC.

David Story Field, home of the Red Devils baseball team, is also home to the Cowlitz Black Bears of the West Coast League, a summer collegiate and professional prospect league.^[14]

Notable alumni

• Bud Black - Major League Baseball manager for San Diego Padres
• Joe Kraemer - Former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
• Krist Novoselic - Musician, former Nirvana bassist
• Rick Sweet - Minor League Baseball manager for the Louisville Bats, the top Cincinnati Reds farm club
• Pim Walsma - Baseball player for the Dutch National Team

External links

• Official Website
• Maps & Directions
• College History

References

Coordinates: 46°08′35″N 122°56′15″W / 46.14306°N 122.93750°W / 46.14306; -122.93750