Chemeketa Community College

Chemeketa Community College is a public community college in Salem, Oregon, with a campus in McMinnville, and education centers in Dallas, Brooks, and Woodburn. In addition, the college has a Center for Business and Industry in downtown Salem that houses the Small Business Development Center. It operates classes and programs benefiting area businesses.

Chemeketa Community College
TypePublic community college
Established1969
PresidentJessica Howard[1]
Academic staff
207[1]
Administrative staff
493[1]
Location, ,
United States
NicknameStorm
Sporting affiliations
Northwest Athletic Conference
MascotBolt
Websitewww.chemeketa.edu
image of students sitting in lobby of Chemeketa Yamhill Velley Campus
Chemeketa, Yamhill Valley Campus Lobby
Vineyard at Chemeketa Eola
Working vineyard at Northwest Wine Studies Program at Chemeketa Eola

Chemeketa serves nearly 30,000 students each year in a district that covers 2,600 square miles (6,700 km2) in Marion, Polk, most of Yamhill, and part of Linn counties.

History

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Chemeketa's history can be traced to 1952, when the Salem School District started the Salem Technical-Vocational School to provide training for the unemployed. It offered two programs, Nursing and Electronics, which took place in the school at the corner of 3rd and Gerth St. NW. In 1957, student records were lost in a fire at the district office.

In 1969 the college district was formed, and a competition was held to name the new college. The winning entry came from student Susan Blum, whose submission said that the term "Chemeketa" means "a peaceful gathering place" in the language of the regional Kalapuya tribe. In December 1969, the Board of Education approved the name Chemeketa Community College. Property was purchased near Lancaster Street, and current Building 22 was constructed as the first official building.

Academics

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Exterior of Chemeketa's Woodburn Center
 
Exterior of Chemeketa's Center for Business and Industry
 
Dallas campus

In the early 21st century, Chemeketa offers Associate of Applied Science degrees and certificates in more than 90 professional-technical programs, as well as Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer Degrees, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Science, Associate of Science - Oregon Transfer Business, Associate of Science - Oregon Transfer Computer Science, and an Associate of General Studies degrees.

The Northwest Wine Studies Center in Eola, west of Salem,[2] includes a working vineyard. This is the site of the college's winemaking and vineyard management programs. This program was the first of its kind in Oregon and was developed because of the growth of the Willamette Valley as the center of wine industry.[3]

Notable alumni

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Chemeketa, Salem Campus

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "About Chemeketa: Facts & Figures". Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  2. ^ "Northwest Viticulture Center". Chemeketa Community College. Archived from the original on 2010-10-10. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  3. ^ Tims, Dana (September 9, 2010). "Construction begins on long-awaited teaching winery in Roseburg". The Oregonian. Portland, Ore. Archived from the original on 10 September 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
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44°58′41″N 122°58′37″W / 44.97806°N 122.97694°W / 44.97806; -122.97694