Chemeketa Community College is a community college located in Salem, Oregon, United States, with a campus in McMinnville and education centers in Dallas, Brooks, and Woodburn, and the Northwest Wine Studies Center in Eola. Chemeketa serves over 30,000 students each year in a district that covers 2,600 square miles (6,700Â km2) in Marion, Polk, most of Yamhill, and part of Linn counties.
History
Chemeketa's history began in 1952, when the Salem School District started the Salem Technical-Vocational School to provide training for the unemployed. Two programs, Nursing and Electronics, were offered and were occupied in the school at the corner of 3rd and Gerth St. NW. In 1957, student records were lost in a fire at the district office. In 1969 the college district was formed, and a competition was held to name the new college. The winning entry came from dental assisting student Susan Blum, who wrote in her submission that the term "Chemeketa" means "a peaceful gathering place." In December 1969, the Board of Education approved the name Chemeketa Community College. Property was purchased off Lancaster Street and the current Building 22 was the first official building.
Programs
In addition to the campuses and centers listed above, the college's Center for Business and Industry in downtown Salem houses the Small Business Development Center and operates classes and programs benefiting area businesses. The college also operates the Wine Studies Center which includes a working vineyard and houses its winemaking and vineyard management programs. This program was the first of its kind in Oregon.
Chemeketa offers Associate of Applied Science degrees and certificates in more than 40 professional-technical programs, as well as an Associate of Artsâ€"Oregon Transfer and a General Education degree. Chemeketa Community College is well known for its nursing, fire science, viticulture, and electronics programs.
Notable alumni
- Grayson Boucher, better known by his nickname "The Professor", professional streetball basketball player
- Rick Adelman, from 1977 through to 1983, Adelman coached at Chemeketa Community College
See also
- List of Oregon community colleges
References
External links
- Chemeketa Community College (official website)