Highline College

Highline College
Type Public
Established 1961
President Jack Bermingham
Students 17,134[1]
Location Des Moines, Washington, United States
Campus 80 acres (320,000 m2)
Mascot Thunderbirds
Website highline.edu

Highline College is an institution of higher education located in Des Moines, Washington, south of Seattle, Washington. Highline was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County, Washington. The main campus is located on 80 acres (320,000 m2) of hilltop land that overlook Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains to the west.[2] As of 2015, there were approximately 17,000 students and 350,000 alumni of the college.[3]

History

Highline College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. The current campus in Des Moines was built in 1964 with additional buildings added in following years to meet student and technology needs. In June 2014, Highline's board of trustees voted to change the name back to Highline College. Starting in the fall of 2014, Highline planned to begin four Bachelor of Applied Science degree programs.[4] Classes are also offered at the Marine Science and Technology (MaST) Center at Redondo Beach and additional service-area locations such as Burien and White Center.[5]

Demographics

The demographics of Highline are diverse due to both the local population and the acceptance of international students. As of 2015, 26% of all students are categorized as White, 20% are Asian/Pacific Islander, 17% African American, 19% Hispanic/Latino, and 1% Native American. The total number credit and non-credit students is 16,917, while 65% of those are credit students. The student body is 59% female and 41% male.[6]

Accreditation

Highline has several nationally accredited programs of study. The college itself is accredited by the Commission on Colleges and Universities of the Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities. The Nursing program is accredited by National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission. The Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. The Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment. The Paralegal program is also approved by the American Bar Association.[7]

Foundation

The Highline College Foundation was established in 1972 as a non-profit organization to help raise funds to improve the quality of education at Highline College.[8][8] The Foundation often holds events and allows donations to be made in an effort to raise funds. With a donation of $500 the Foundation allows individuals or groups to create their own fund that others may donate to. Both students and faculty members can take advantage of the Foundation, through scholarships and grants respectively.

MaST

The Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST) is located approximately ten minutes south of the Highline College campus at Redondo Beach Park. The goal of the MaST is to promote understanding, appreciation, and preservation of the marine environment through hands-on research, education, and community activities that highlight the beauty, complexity, and importance of the South Puget Sound ecosystem.[9] The MaST is a unique research facility in the region and has the potential to help both the community and students through a unique learning process. About 400 students per-year participate in monitoring the water quality of the Puget Sound. There is also a station available to track weather data in real-time.

The MaST Center, which closed down in fall 2006 for reconstruction, reopened summer quarter 2008. The grand opening celebration on Monday, June 16, 2008, had over 300 attendees and included remarks by US Representative Adam Smith, Des Moines City Mayor Bob Sheckler, and capital campaign co-manager Dan Altmayer. The new facility is 2,500 square feet (230 m2) and situated on a 260-foot (79 m) pier.[10]

Community education

Water Weekends allow the local community to interact with the underwater communities of the Puget Sound. Visitors can see and touch animals from Puget Sound in 11 large flow-through tanks.

Summer on the Sound, a week-long day camp, is offered for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders interested in science, Puget Sound and the environment.

Athletics

Highline College competes in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) as the Thunderbirds, fielding men's teams for wrestling, women's teams for golf, softball, tennis and volleyball and men's and women's teams for basketball and soccer.[11]

Library

CWU-Des Moines

Central Washington University has a campus facility located on Highline College's campus. There is a partnership between the schools that allows students to take classes from both Highline and CWU concurrently. Both bachelor's and master's degrees programs are available along with certification programs.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "Communications & Marketing". Communications.highline.edu. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  2. ↑ "Foundation About Highline College". 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  3. ↑ "Highline Facts". Highline College. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  4. ↑ http://communications.highline.edu/news/NRs/13-14_NRs/Highline_will_revert_to_original_name_061314.php
  5. ↑ "Communications & Marketing". Communications.highline.edu. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  6. ↑ "Highline Facts". 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  7. ↑ "Accreditation". Highline College. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  8. 1 2 "Highline College Foundation". 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-23.
  9. ↑ "About the MaST Center - Highline College". 2007-11-21. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  10. ↑ "Highline College's Marine Science and Technology Center". 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  11. ↑ "Highline College Thunderbird Athletics". Highline College. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  12. ↑ http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8283
  13. ↑ "Alexis Denisof Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  14. ↑ "Trevor Smith UFC Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  15. ↑ "Brian Scalabrine NBA Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.

External links

Coordinates: 47°23′19″N 122°18′03″W / 47.38861°N 122.30083°W / 47.38861; -122.30083

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