Pierce College

Working Toward

Key Messages

Feasibility Study Recommendations 1 & 2

I.  I. Conduct a public relations/marketing campaign that highlights the need and benefits of the proposed projects and encourages philanthropic support from targeted audiences and constituencies.

II. Expand and refine the Case for Support for the proposed projects and the campaign for their support.

Pierce County’s Colleges & UniversitiesTwo Technical Colleges Bates Clover Park

Two Community College Districts Pierce College

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom Pierce College Puyallup

Tacoma Community College

Four major B.A.-granting institutions Pacific Lutheran University (private) University of Puget Sound (private) The Evergreen State College, Tacoma Campus (public,

upper division) University of Washington Tacoma (public, upper division)

Yes! Percentage of Adults with 4-Year Degrees

Do We Need That Many?

40

28

20.6

05

1015202530354045

King County State Average PierceCounty

“Analysts have repeatedly identified the relative lack of education in Pierce County as an impediment to job creation.”

--News Tribune editorial, 7/30/02

What Are The Roles of Each Type of Institution?

Technical Colleges

Prepare People for JobsWorkforce EducationBasic Skills

Community CollegesBroader scope of services than any other type of higher ed

Prepare People for JobsWorkforce Education Basic Skills

Academic Transfer (First 2 years of a four-year degree)

Developmental Education

Public B.A.-Granting Colleges

Upper Division only (junior and senior standing) leading to a B.A.

UWT also has limited graduate programs

Private Four-Year Colleges

Both upper and lower division programs leading to a B.A. (i.e. all 4 years of a four-year degree)

Limited graduate degrees

Liberal Arts emphasis

Traditional residential settings

Traditional age bracket (18-23)

Pierce County’s Post-Secondary Institutions:

Other Comparisons

Accessibility Comparison: Cost

Yearly Tuition

$2,133$3,441 $4,560

$17,728

$21,270

$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

CommunityColleges

TESC Tacoma UWT PLU UPS

Accessibility Comparison: Academic Selectivity

Entrance Criteria Developmental courses?

Technical Colleges None Yes

Community Colleges

None Yes

Public B.A. –granting

* Varies—at least 2.5 GPA

*SAT scores considered

*College prep coursework

No

Private B.A. -granting

*Approx. 3.6 GPA

*Approx 1200 SAT scores

*College prep coursework

No

0100020003000400050006000700080009000

Bates Clover Park Pierce District Tacoma

Num

ber o

f Stu

dent

s

Basic Skills

Developmental

Workforce

Academic

Source: SBCTC Report, Annual FTES by Acaemic, Workforce, Basic Skills, & Developmental Studies, State Supported, Academic year 2000-

Community & Technical Colleges

FTEs By Purpose for Attending

CTCs: Number of Students Receiving Degrees, Certificates, GEDs & High

School Diplomas

1,2261,145

1,506

793

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

Bates Clover Park Pierce Tacoma

15,754

18,94716,860

200

3,426 2,848 1,998

25,387

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

Bates Clover Park PierceDistrict

Tacoma EvergreenTacoma

PLU UPS UWT

Community & Technical Colleges

B.A. - granting institutions

Number of Students: All Post-Secondary Institutions (Headcount)

Diversity of Community & Technical Colleges : Percent Students of Color

27.2

21.2

32.535.3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Bates Clover Park Pierce District Tacoma

Diversity of Community & Technical Colleges Percent Women Students

57.8 59.5

48.4

61.6

0

1 0

20

30

40

50

60

70

Bates Clover Park Pierce District Tacoma

Pierce College:

Some Key Points

Key Points

1. Highly Accessible

Affordable

“Open door” policy + an extensive developmental program to help students who are academically unprepared for college work

Key Points 2. Comprehensive Educational

Program

Critical stepping-stone to a B.A. High percent and number of students enrolled as

academic transfer (highest in county) High number of students who transfer to public 4-years

each year (highest in county and among highest in state)

Also strong programs in workforce education, basic skills, and developmental education.

Key Points

3. Largestwith more than 25,000 students, it is the largest by far of all post-secondary institutions in the county

serves almost 30% of all post-secondary students in Pierce County

Key Points

4. Most DiverseHighest % (and number) of students of color of all the county’s CTCs35.3% students of color

Highest % (and number) of women of all the county’s CTCs61.6% women

Pierce College: Pierce County’s “College of Opportunity”

Educates more people than any other institution of post-secondary education in the countyIs the county’s most heavily traveled pathway to a four-year degreeServes as the primary point of entry into higher education for women and people of color in Pierce County

Pierce College: Pierce County’s “College of Opportunity”

IS DOING MORE THAN ANY OTHER ENTITY IN THE COUNTY TO CORRECT THE COUNTY’S PROBLEM OF LOW EDUCATIONAL LEVELS.