The Seattle Colleges District (previously Seattle Community Colleges District; also known simply as Seattle Colleges) is a group of public colleges in

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

. It nowadays consists of three colleges— North Seattle College,

Seattle Central College Seattle Central College is a public college in Seattle, Washington, United States. With North Seattle College and South Seattle College, it is one of the three colleges that comprise the Seattle Colleges District. The college has a substantial ...

, and South Seattle College. Together the colleges form the second largest institution of higher education in the state,Trustee Named for Seattle Community Colleges: Steven Hill, business and community leader
Seattle Community Colleges, 2013-01-10. Accessed online 2014-08-01. behind the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW and informally U-Dub or U Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast of the Uni ...

, to which many of their graduates transfer. The district's origins can be traced to 1902, with the opening of Broadway High School on

Capitol Hill Capitol Hill is a neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., neighborhood in Washington, D.C., located in both the Northeast, Washington, D.C., Northeast and Southeast, Washington, D.C., Southeast quadrants. It is bounded by 14th Street SE & NE, F S ...

. It operated as a traditional

high school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...

until the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, when it was converted to a

vocational A vocation () is an occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated in Christianity. A calling, in the reli ...

and

adult education Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained educating activities in order to gain new knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values. Merriam, Sharan B. & Brockett, Ralph G. ''The Pr ...

institution for the benefit of veterans who wanted to finish high school but no longer fit in at regular schools. As a result, in 1946, Broadway High School was renamed Edison Technical School. Edison started offering college-level courses 21 years later, and it was reconstituted as Seattle Community College in September 1966. North Seattle Community College and South Seattle Community College opened their doors in 1970, whereupon Seattle Community College was renamed Seattle Central Community College. Seattle Central Community College was named Time magazine's Community College of the Year in 2001. In March 2014, the board of trustees voted unanimously to change the name from ''Seattle Community Colleges District'' to ''Seattle Colleges District'' and to change the names of the colleges to ''Seattle Central College'', ''North Seattle College'' and ''South Seattle College''. In 2018 Seattle Colleges partnered with the city of

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

and

Seattle Public Schools Seattle Public Schools is the largest Public school (government funded), public school district in the state of Washington (state), Washington. The school district serves almost all of Seattle. Additionally it includes sections of Boulevard Par ...

to launch Seattle Promise, a tuition covering program that aims to expand college access, success, and completion. Seattle Promise was part of the Families and Education Levy passed by citizens of Seattle during the local election of November 2018. Seattle Promise offers graduating seniors of Seattle public schools paid tuition for up to two years or 90 credits as well as academic support and advising when they attend Seattle Colleges.

Leadership and Governance

The chief executive officer of Seattle Colleges District is the chancellor. Presidents of each of the three colleges comprising Seattle Colleges—North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, South Seattle College—report to the chancellor. Seattle Colleges is governed by a board of trustees appointed by the governor and approved by the state Senate.

Chancellors Since 2000

* 2022–present - Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap * 2016–2022 - Dr. Shouan Pan * 2009-2016 - Dr. Jill Wakefield * 2003-2008 - Dr. Charles Mitchell * 1998-2003 - Dr. Peter Ku

Programs of Study

Seattle Colleges offers more than 130 career and technical education programs and academic transfer programs organized by eight areas of study. These programs culminate in certificates and associate degrees, as well as a number of

Bachelor of Applied Science A Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS or BASc) is an undergraduate academic degree of applied sciences. Usage In Canada, the Netherlands and other places the Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) is equivalent to the Bachelor of Engineering, and is cl ...

degrees and college transfer options. The colleges also offer continuing education programs; concurrent high school enrollment and high school completion programs; and Adult Basic Education/English as a Second Language programs, and corporate and customized training.Other Program & Study Options
Seattle Colleges website. Accessed online 2020-04-04.

References

External links

Seattle Colleges
official website
Seattle Colleges Cable Television(SCCtv)
{{authority control Universities and colleges in Seattle Universities and colleges established in 1902 1902 establishments in Washington (state)

Leadership and Governance

Chancellors Since 2000

Programs of Study

See also

References

External links