Clark College is a community college

Community college

A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...

 located in Vancouver

Vancouver, Washington

Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...

, Washington.

The college, which celebrated its 75th anniversary on October 1, 2008, was founded as a private, two-year, junior college

Junior college

The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...

 in 1933. Originally known as Vancouver Junior College, the college was located at the old Hidden House at 100 W 13th Street in downtown Vancouver from 1933-1937, moving several times within the city. The main campus was formerly part of the Vancouver Barracks, which extended from Fourth Plain to the Columbia River

Columbia River

The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...

 but were ceded by the U.S. Army to the city to become Central Park. In 1951 the Applied Arts Center became its first building at the current location (its sixth), when the college first offered evening classes. After the Kaiser Shipyards

Kaiser Shipyards

The Kaiser Shipyards were seven major shipbuilding yards located mostly on the U.S. west coast during World War II. They were owned by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, a creation of American industrialist Henry J...

 boom of World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, Clark College rapidly grew to meet the educational needs of the expanded population, the 1944 Serviceman's Readjustment Act and the baby boom

Post-World War II baby boom

The end of World War II brought a baby boom to many countries, especially Western ones. There is some disagreement as to the precise beginning and ending dates of the post-war baby boom, but it is most often agreed to begin in the years immediately after the war, ending more than a decade later;...

.

The school is currently headed by President Bob Knight

Robert K. Knight

Robert K. Knight began serving as the president of Clark College in Vancouver, Washington in August 2007. Knight previously served as interim president from September 2006 after serving as acting president of the college from July-September 2006...

, a former commander of the Vancouver Barracks and graduate of West Point who also holds an Executive MBA from Golden Gate University

Golden Gate University

Golden Gate University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in the South of Market district, immediately south of the Financial District of downtown San Francisco, California...

.

The college first received state support in 1941, being supervised by the State Board of Education in 1946 with the Vancouver School Board serving as its policy-making body until it was reorganized as a public institution in 1958 and incorporated into the statewide community college system in 1967.

The college's main campus sits on an 101 acre (0.409 km²) site in Vancouver's Central Park, southwest of Water Works Park and north of Hudson's Bay High School

Hudson's Bay High School

Hudson's Bay High School is located in Vancouver, Washington, USA, in the Central Park area of Vancouver. Hudson's Bay is known for having two strong magnet programs, as well as a children's day care and district-wide mothers transportation program. It is located across from Clark College, where...

. The college's signature carillon

Carillon

A carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...

 Chime Tower was designed by Richard Stensrude, begun in 1964, and incorporates materials from the local Hidden Brick Company and the nearby Alcoa

Alcoa

Alcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...

 plant. The main campus has generally expanded from the southeast northward and other structures include an equatorial bow-style sun dial

Sun Dial

Sun Dial is a British space rock band formed in 1990 by Gary Ramon.-History:The precursor to Sun Dial was Ramon's the Modern Art, formed in the mid-'80s with a loose lineup that never played gigs but did see the release of two studio albums...

 near the science buildings. As part of the college's 75th anniversary celebration, the sundial was refurbished to provide more accurate time.

In addition to providing a variety of associate degrees, general adult education

Adult education

Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...

 and preparation for four-year university

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

 degrees, Clark College has programs in nursing

Nursing

Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....

, dental hygiene

Dental hygienist

thumb|right|300px|Dental hygienist holding a scalerA dental hygienist is a licensed dental professional who specializes in preventive oral health, typically focusing on techniques in oral hygiene. Local dental regulations determine the scope of practice of dental hygienists...

 and industrial arts such as welding

Welding

Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. This is often done by melting the workpieces and adding a filler material to form a pool of molten material that cools to become a strong joint, with pressure sometimes...

 and auto maintenance

Auto mechanic

An auto mechanic is a mechanic with a variety of car makes or either in a specific area or in a specific make of car. In repairing cars, their main role is to diagnose the problem accurately and quickly...

. New programs including medical radiography have expanded the college curriculum.

Clark College's mascot

Mascot

The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...

 is a Galapagon penguin

Penguin

Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...

 named Oswald. He appears at many college events and is acknowledged through the college's Healthy Penguin Nation and Sustainable Penguin Nation initiatives.

Clark's Board of Trustees is led by Rhona Sen Hoss. In 2009, fall enrollment reached a record as the college welcomed more than 16,000 students (full and part-time). Clark now has more than 1,600 Running Start students, making it the largest "Running Start

Running Start

The Running Start program in Washington state allows high school juniors and seniors to attend college courses numbered 100 or above, tuition-free, while completing high school. It is similar to dual enrollment programs common at public and private colleges and universities in other states...

" program in the state.

Clark College at Washington State University Vancouver is home to the college’s nursing program as well as general education classes. Classes in adult basic education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) are available at Clark College at Town Plaza. Clark College at Columbia Tech Center opened in fall 2009, offering general education classes, professional and technical training, basic skills classes, workforce development and personal enrichment courses.

More than 50 chartered student clubs offer a wide array of opportunities for personal growth, development and enjoyment. A student newspaper, The Independent, covers college news. Phoenix is the student literary and art magazine. Students on campus are represented by the Associated Students of Clark College (ASCC).

The college has co-admission partnerships with Concordia University, Marylhurst University, Portland State University and Washington State University Vancouver. In addition, Eastern Washington University (EWU) offers bachelor's degrees in technology, dental hygiene and social work at Clark College. EWU also offers a three-year, two-night per week master's degree in social work (MSW) program at Clark College.

Notable alumni

• Al Bauer
  Al Bauer
  Albert Bauer was a professional baseball player. A pitcher, he played in two seasons in Major League Baseball for the Columbus Buckeyes and the St. Louis Maroons.-Columbus Buckeyes:...
  
   - former Washington State legislator
• Sam Elliott
  Sam Elliott
  Samuel Pack "Sam" Elliott is an American actor. His rangy physique, thick horseshoe moustache, and deep, resonant voice match the iconic image of a cowboy or rancher, and he has often been cast in such roles.-Early life:Sam Elliott was born in Sacramento, California, to a physical training...
  
   - actor (Thank You For Smoking
  Thank You for Smoking
  Thank You for Smoking is a 2005 black comedy film written and directed by Jason Reitman and starring Aaron Eckhart, based on the 1994 satirical novel of the same name by Christopher Buckley...
  
  , Tombstone
  Tombstone (film)
  Tombstone is a 1993 American action film set in the Old West directed by George P. Cosmatos, along with uncredited directorial efforts by actor Kurt Russell and writer Kevin Jarre. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Jarre....
  
  , Mask
  Mask (film)
  Mask is a 1985 American biographical drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Cher, Sam Elliott, and Eric Stoltz. Dennis Burkley and Laura Dern are featured in supporting roles. Cher received the 1985 Cannes Film Festival award for Best Actress....
  
  )
• Jess Hartley
  Jess Hartley
  Christina K. Hartley is an American novelist, writer, game creator, and editor.Hartley is the author of the novel Exalted: In Northern Twilight published by White Wolf Publishing, and Little Yoshida, a novel published as an electronic serial, by Mind Storm Labs...
  
   - novelist and Role playing game developer
• Denis Hayes
  Denis Hayes
  Denis Hayes is an environmental activist and proponent of solar power. He rose to prominence in 1970 as the coordinator for the first Earth Day.Hayes founded the Earth Day Network and expanded it to more than 180 nations...
  
   (1964) - environmental activist, coordinator of the first Earth Day
  Earth Day
  Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
  
  .
• Ron Larson
  Ron Larson (mathematician)
  Roland "Ron" Edwin Larson is a professor of mathematics at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, Pennsylvania. He is best known for being the author of a series of widely-used mathematics textbooks ranging from middle school through the second year of college.-Early life:Ron Larson was born in...
  
   - mathematician, author
• Tim Leavitt
  Tim Leavitt
  -Personal life, education and career:Leavitt was born in Yakima, Washington and has lived in Clark County since 1980. He graduated from Fort Vancouver High School, then attended Clark College and Washington State University, where he received a masters degree in environmental engineering...
  
   - politician, mayor of Vancouver
• Randy Myers
  Randy Myers
  Randall Kirk Myers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During a 14-year baseball career, he pitched from 1985-1998 for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays.-Career:Myers first began his major league career with...
  
   - baseball pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
  Cincinnati Reds
  The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
  
  

External links

• Clark College website
• Clark College Student Newspaper Collection (The Penguin Progress 1959-1962)