In keeping with the ‘good news’ mission of The Community Cyber News, I would like to focus on positive news happening at Grays Harbor College and throughout our State’s community and technical college system.
When times are tough, statistics prove, people and communities look to community colleges for solutions. At Grays Harbor College, we learned this in the 1990s with the initial wave of harsh job losses in the timber industry. Our county’s jobless rate soared, much like it is now, and simultaneously, enrollment at GHC broke records. Unemployed timber workers came back to the College for retraining, for skills assessment, and to find answers for their lives.
Fast forward almost two decades, to 2009. Enrollment at the College again is breaking recent numbers, while the community deals with rampant layoffs and closures. Echoing the mission of all community colleges, the doors are open for all at Grays Harbor College. Current enrollment is 10 per cent higher than last year for Fall and Winter, and we expect Spring numbers to be even higher.
Why is Grays Harbor College considered the solution to these tough times? People recognize that classes at GHC are high quality at a low cost; students can stay close to home and learn a new career, one that in most cases will result in a job with wages to support a family. Attending Grays Harbor College is a great investment — for the students and the community — in the future.
I cannot paint an entirely rosy picture. While businesses’ doors are closing and ours are open to new students, the College and the entire community college system simultaneously face serious budget cuts. Our current budget has already been reduced by more than 4 per cent and we are diligently complying with freezes on hiring, travel, equipment purchases and other cost-savings mandates. The extent of further cuts will not be known until later this month. Still our faculty and staff have made the sincere commitment to help as many students as possible, by increasing class sizes, taking on additional assignments and generally working together to help students be successful. Our Coastal Caucus legislators solidly are in support of the GHC and the community college system, yet are struggling with the enormous budget deficits that will likely further impact the community colleges.
Experts tell us that we must keep looking forward in times like these. Things will improve and we need to be ready. Enrollment for our Spring Quarter is underway and classes are filling quickly. If you are thinking about coming to the College, now is the time to take action. Call our Counseling Center today (360-538-4099) to begin the process. Your future starts with that phone call!
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