20 years and counting—symbiotic relationship between WSU Vancouver and Southwest Washington leads to success all around

Around the world, some academic institutions can trace their history back as far as 5,000 years. In comparison, the 20-year history of WSU Vancouver is miniscule. But the impact of WSU Vancouver on the community is much greater than the duration of its existence.

The residents of Southwest Washington have been concerned with the lack of higher education in this region for more than 100 years. Reportedly, the territorial government designated 1,500 acres near the "Fred Meyer Flats," for a Land Grant institution only to find that the Morrill Act of 1862 applied to states and not to territories. The successful development of Clark College in the first half of the 20th century went a long way toward addressing the community's education needs, but still left it without a four-year or graduate solution. In the 1960s, this corner of the state participated in a process to create the next four-year school in Washington, but lost out to Olympia, which is now home to Evergreen State College.

The need for a four-year and graduate institution became more important with the expansion of the high-tech industry in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. The high-tech companies, along with economic development leaders, made three very clear points:

One, the high-tech industry needed employees with appropriate degrees to fill positions. Without a qualified local population, businesses were recruiting from outside the area and often paying for relocation.

Two, this high-tech expansion was the only one in the country developing without a higher education research partner.

Three, continued growth was dependent on a generally well-educated population, and Southwest Washington was behind the curve. The percentage of the population with a bachelor's degree in Southwest Washington was in the high teens to low 20s—behind the US average (high 20s), Portland (mid 30s) and King County (high 40s).

For a short time, the Southwest Washington Joint Center for Education attempted to fill the gap. This center had WSU to provide graduate degrees, Evergreen State College to provide upper division education and Clark College to provide the lower division. Then in 1989, WSU Vancouver became one of five official branch campuses in Washington State—all of which were limited to upper division courses of study and expected to provide follow-on opportunities for graduates of the community colleges.

Initially WSU Vancouver operated from a building (Bauer Hall) on the Clark College campus. In 1996 it moved to the new campus at Salmon Creek.

In 2004, the Washington State Legislature asked for a complete evaluation of the branch campuses and the policies associated with their creation. That study concluded that the campuses were having a major impact on local communities. The percentage of students pursuing bachelor's or master's degrees in Southwest Washington had increased by approximately 85 percent and the percentage of the population with such a degree was rising. The impact of those graduates on the local community was even greater since more than 75 percent of them stayed in the community after graduation. Furthermore, local employers were benefitting from a better educated workforce, and local industries were beginning to benefit from research partnerships with WSU Vancouver.

At the same time, it was apparent that for some students, especially those who were interested in pursuing degrees in engineering and science, a full four-year option was an important one. As a result, the legislature gave WSU Vancouver permission to begin admitting freshmen in 2006, while retaining its partnership with the local community colleges.

This history emphasizes a symbiotic relationship between the campus and the community. It is a partnership that has been mutually beneficial and will continue to be so. The prospects for WSU Vancouver and for all of Southwest Washington are extremely bright because we are all moving and pulling in the same direction.