Lower Columbia College (LCC) is a public
community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an "open enrollment" for students who have graduated from high school (also known as senior sec ...
in
Longview, Washington
Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 37,818 at the time of the 2 ...
.
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
An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation, and below a bachelor's degree.
The fi ...
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 the
1949 Olympia earthquake
The 1949 Olympia earthquake occurred on April 13 at with a moment magnitude of 6.7 and a maximum Mercalli Intensity of VIII (''Severe''). The shock was located in the area between Olympia and Tacoma, and was felt throughout the state, as well ...
, when damage 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
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) is an independent, non-profit membership organization recognized by the United States Department of Education since 1952 as an institutional accreditor for 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-six buildings on 38.75 acres and enrolls between 4,000 and 5,000 students each quarter.
Foundation
The Lower Columbia College Foundation was formed in 1976 with the help of Phillip and Jeanne Wertheimer.
University partnerships
Students can earn bachelor's and master's degrees through the Lower Columbia Regional University Center located on the Lower Columbia College campus. Partner universities include:
*
City University of Seattle
City University of Seattle (CityU) is a private university in Seattle, Washington. In 2016–17, CityU enrolled 6,755 students worldwide. The university consists of the School of Business and Management, The School of Education and Leadership, ...
*
Warner Pacific University
Warner Pacific University is a Private university, private Christianity, Christian university in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1937, the university is Higher education accreditation in the United States, accredited by the Northwest Commission on ...
*
Washington State University Vancouver
Washington State University Vancouver also known as WSU Vancouver is a campus of Washington State University. WSU Vancouver is located on a campus outside of Vancouver, Washington, approximately eight miles (13 km) north of the Columbia Riv ...
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.
Activities and events
The Associated Students of Lower Columbia College (ASLCC), along with faculty and staff at the college, plan student and community events throughout the year. Students participate in events, activities, clubs and organizations both on and off campus. Activities and event dates are posted on the Events Calendar and the Student Activities web page.
Athletics
Lower Columbia College participates in the
Northwest Athletic Conference
The Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC), formerly the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC), is a sports association for community colleges in the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho, along with the Canadian prov ...
(NWAC). Prior to the formation of the NWAACC, LCC was one of the charter members of the original Washington State Junior College Athletic Conference *(WSJCAC).
LCC competes in six