Pioneer Pacific College
Encyclopedia
Pioneer Pacific College is an American
private, post-secondary school in Oregon
. Primarily offering Associate's degree
s and certificate programs
, the for profit
school operates four campuses with the main branch in Wilsonville
. Founded in 1981, academic programs include health care, business, criminal justice, information technology, and culinary arts. As of 2007, the school had an enrollment
of 1,287 students.
, named Skilltronics. Founded by Irene and James Childers, the training school was moved to Wilsonville in 1983. Pacific Education Corporation purchased Skilltronics in 1989 and changed the name to Pioneer Pacific College with accreditation
coming in 1995. Former Oregon legislator Kelly Clark co-owned the college in the early 1990s.
In 1999, the college added a campus in Clackamas
and the next year moved the main campus to a larger facility. For the 2001 to 2002 academic year the school granted 108 associates degrees. Pioneer Pacific started a criminal justice program in 2002 that offered an associates degree at its Wilsonville campus. Also in 2002, the school established a campus in Lane County
adjacent to the University of Oregon
, with the campus relocating the next year to Springfield
.
Bachelors degrees were added in 2004, first with information technology and then others in 2005. In 2004, the college added the Health Career Institute, followed by a culinary arts program in 2006. For the 2005 to 2006 academic year the school's criminal justice
program ranked 41st in the United States for most associates degrees granted in that field. As of 2007, the school had 1,287 students with 250 graduating each year.
Pioneer Pacific’s main campus is in Wilsonville
and includes the 21000 square feet (1,951 m²) Health Career Institute. This includes a library with 2,500 volumes. The Lane County campus is located in Springfield's Gateway District on Sports Way and is housed in a two-story building with 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) of space. Culinary arts are taught at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Downtown Portland
, while the Clackamas Campus is on Portland’s eastside on Sunnyside Road. Seventy-three percent of students attend full-time and the school employs 119 teachers, of which 41% are full-time faculty members.
Academic programs at the college include associates degrees in accounting, marketing, information services, medical assisting with a limited x-ray option, website management, paralegal
, and culinary arts among others. Bachelors degrees are offered in business administration, information technology, health systems administration, and criminal justice. Other programs include certificates in culinary arts, massage therapy, nursing, pharmacy assistant, medical billing, and medical assistance. The school has been accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
since 1995.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
private, post-secondary school in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Primarily offering Associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
s and certificate programs
Academic certificate
An academic certificate is a document that certifies that a person has received specific education or has passed a test or series of tests.In many countries, certificate is a qualification attained in secondary education. For instance, students in the Republic of Ireland sit the Junior Certificate...
, the for profit
For-Profit School
For-profit education refers to educational institutions operated by private, profit-seeking businesses....
school operates four campuses with the main branch in Wilsonville
Wilsonville, Oregon
Wilsonville is a city primarily in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A portion of the northern section of the city is in Washington County. Originally founded as Boones Landing due to the Boones Ferry which crossed the Willamette River at the location, the community became Wilsonville in...
. Founded in 1981, academic programs include health care, business, criminal justice, information technology, and culinary arts. As of 2007, the school had an enrollment
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
of 1,287 students.
History
Pioneer Pacific College began in 1981 as an electronics school in Corvallis, OregonCorvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
, named Skilltronics. Founded by Irene and James Childers, the training school was moved to Wilsonville in 1983. Pacific Education Corporation purchased Skilltronics in 1989 and changed the name to Pioneer Pacific College with accreditation
Accreditation
Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.Organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies ; hence they are sometimes known as "accredited...
coming in 1995. Former Oregon legislator Kelly Clark co-owned the college in the early 1990s.
In 1999, the college added a campus in Clackamas
Clackamas, Oregon
Clackamas was a census-designated place in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 5,177 at the 2000 census. It is a suburb of Portland, Oregon.It is the location of Camp Withycombe, a military base...
and the next year moved the main campus to a larger facility. For the 2001 to 2002 academic year the school granted 108 associates degrees. Pioneer Pacific started a criminal justice program in 2002 that offered an associates degree at its Wilsonville campus. Also in 2002, the school established a campus in Lane County
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
adjacent to the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, with the campus relocating the next year to Springfield
Springfield, Oregon
Springfield is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Located in the Southern Willamette Valley, it is within the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. Separated from Eugene to the west, mainly by Interstate 5, Springfield is the second-most populous city in the metropolitan area...
.
Bachelors degrees were added in 2004, first with information technology and then others in 2005. In 2004, the college added the Health Career Institute, followed by a culinary arts program in 2006. For the 2005 to 2006 academic year the school's criminal justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
program ranked 41st in the United States for most associates degrees granted in that field. As of 2007, the school had 1,287 students with 250 graduating each year.
Campuses and programs
Wilsonville, Oregon
Wilsonville is a city primarily in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A portion of the northern section of the city is in Washington County. Originally founded as Boones Landing due to the Boones Ferry which crossed the Willamette River at the location, the community became Wilsonville in...
and includes the 21000 square feet (1,951 m²) Health Career Institute. This includes a library with 2,500 volumes. The Lane County campus is located in Springfield's Gateway District on Sports Way and is housed in a two-story building with 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) of space. Culinary arts are taught at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Downtown Portland
Downtown Portland
Downtown Portland, the city center of Portland, Oregon, United States, is located on the west bank of the Willamette River. It is in the northeastern corner of the southwest section of the city and is where most of the city's high-rise buildings are found....
, while the Clackamas Campus is on Portland’s eastside on Sunnyside Road. Seventy-three percent of students attend full-time and the school employs 119 teachers, of which 41% are full-time faculty members.
Academic programs at the college include associates degrees in accounting, marketing, information services, medical assisting with a limited x-ray option, website management, paralegal
Paralegal
Paralegal is used in most jurisdictions to describe a paraprofessional who assists qualified lawyers in their legal work. This is true in the United States and many other countries. However, in Ontario, Canada, paralegals are licensed by the Law Society of Upper Canada, giving paralegals an...
, and culinary arts among others. Bachelors degrees are offered in business administration, information technology, health systems administration, and criminal justice. Other programs include certificates in culinary arts, massage therapy, nursing, pharmacy assistant, medical billing, and medical assistance. The school has been accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools is a non-profit education corporation recognized by both the United States Secretary of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation as an independent and autonomous national accrediting body that accredits institutions of...
since 1995.