Grays Harbor College

Grays Harbor College, http://www.ghc.edu/, is a community college located in Aberdeen, Washington. It was founded in 1930. The college sits on an convert|120|acre|km2|sing=on campus in Aberdeen with "learning centers" in Elma, Raymond, Ilwaco, North Aberdeen and Southside Aberdeen. Located on a picturesque convert|120|acre|km2|sing=on site overlooking the town of Aberdeen and its seaport on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, Grays Harbor College offers a beautiful setting and challenging programs for learners of all ages and interests.

HistoryGrays Harbor College, a community college, was conceived in 1929 by a group of Aberdeen citizens under the leadership of Mr. W.O. McCaw and on August 7, 1930, was incorporated under the laws of the state of Washington. The college operated as a private institution from 1930 to 1945. In 1945, the Aberdeen School District assumed control of the college and provided much needed financial stability. Since that time Grays Harbor College has continued to serve the men and women of this area, offering them academic, professional and technical courses at a low cost and giving them the opportunity to live at home.

At the time of its founding, the college occupied the Franklin School building on Market Street, but in 1934 moved to the A.D. Wood Schoolhouse on Terrace Heights, where it remained until 1945 when it occupied the Samuel Benn School building. In 1955, the State Board of Education approved funds for the construction of new college facilities, and the Aberdeen Board of Education purchased a forty-acre tract on a hill overlooking Aberdeen, Hoquiam, the Chehalis River and the bay.

The construction of the buildings - classrooms, science laboratories, library, gymnasium, administrative offices, and student union - began during the summer of 1956. Classes opened in the completed buildings on January 6, 1958.

In May, 1961, the Choker Union Building was renamed the A. J. Hillier Union Building in memory of Alfred J. Hillier, late professor of history and forensics coach. In order to provide for an increase in enrollment, a new classroom building, an administration building, and additions to the science building, the music building, the gymnasium, and the A.J. Hillier Building were completed in September, 1964.

A new library opened in the fall of 1966, named after John Spellman, long-time librarian at the college. Most recently, The John Spellman Library was extensively renovated, reopening for students in fall 2003. Major changes to campus landscaping, walkways, and traffic patterns also took place at that time.

On July 1, 1967, Grays Harbor College was separated from the local school district by legislative act and became a part of the state higher education system.

The continued growth of the college again demanded expansion of the physical facilities, and two additional new buildings were completed in April, 1972. The Physical Science Building (Building 800) is used by chemistry, physics, earth science and engineering classes. The Bishop Center for the Performing Arts was completed in the spring of 1974 and was renovated in 2003.

The John M. Smith Aquaculture Center, a fish rearing facility, was dedicated in 1987. It was completed with donated funding, materials and labor. The welding and automotive technology building, which opened in Winter 2008, houses automotive mechanics, welding technology and faculty offices.

Following a tradition of honoring long-time and well-respected administrators, the Grays Harbor College Board of Trustees renamed Building 700 the Jon V. Krug Industrial Technology Building. The Jewell C. Manspeaker Instructional Building, a dramatic 4-story facility, opened in January, 2007. Also opening in 2007 were the Craig Wellington Rehearsal Hall, and the Joseph P. Malik Commons.

Learning Centers

In keeping with the college’s commitment to distance learning and accessibility, four community education centers have been opened in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. The Columbia Education Center opened in in 2006, after operating for nine years in a rented facility, located several blocks from its present home. The Whiteside Education Center in downtown Aberdeen and the Simpson Education Center in Elma both opened in 1998, and the Riverview Education Center in Raymond was purchased in 1999 and completely renovated in 2001.

Course Descriptions

http://www.ghc.edu/catalog/2007/25-Course%20Descriptions.pdf

External links

* [http://www.ghc.edu/ College website]