College transforms its East Side location into a hub for business education, also expanding its Running Start offerings      

As Clark County’s demographics and economics change, Clark College is ready to adapt to serve its community’s needs. Responding to feedback from employers and residents in East Vancouver, the college is transforming its facility at Columbia Tech Center into a hub for business and technical education.

The college has worked to create a series of course offerings this fall that will allow students to pursue career-oriented higher education in subjects that include business, information technology, computer support, and supervisory management—all without having to travel to the college’s main campus near downtown Vancouver. Most classes are scheduled to run just two days a week (Tuesday and Thursday), allowing students to plan their studies around work and/or life obligations.

Additionally, Clark College Economic and Community Development, which provides non-credit continuing education and customized training, is relocating to the CTC location. CTC is already the home of the college’s popular mechatronics program, which teaches students the skills they need to work in automated manufacturing.

“As more and more employers establish facilities in East Vancouver, they’ve expressed a need for additional training for their employees,” said Associate Vice President of Instruction Genevieve Howard. “We want Clark College at Columbia Tech Center to be the hub for career-oriented education in East Vancouver, while also opening opportunities for students on the eastern side of Clark County to take advantage of the state’s Running Start program.”

Clark College at CTC is located at 18700 SE Mill Plain Blvd. in Vancouver. Opened in 2009, the location will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on October 14 with an official ribbon-cutting.  

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley