SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE — ONE OF THE SEATTLE COLLEGES
6000 16th Avenue SW • Seattle, WA 98106 • www.southseattle.edu
Chancellor: Dr. Jill Wakefield, 206-934-3872, jill.wakefield@seattlecolleges.edu
President: Gary Oertli, 206-934-5311, gary.oertli@seattlecolleges.edu
Trustees: Steve Hill, chair; Teresita Batayola, Jorge Carrasco, Louise Chernin, Carmen Gayton
KEY FACTS (Data from 2014-2015 academic year unless otherwise noted)
Year Founded: 1970
Service Area: west and south Seattle,
King County
Legislative Districts: 11, 32, 33, 34,
36, 37, 43, 46
Programs: 3 bachelor of applied
science degrees, 4 associate transfer
degrees (with multiple areas of study),
44 associate degrees, 76 professional
certificates.
Highest Enrolled Programs:
• Associate of Arts – Transfer
• Aeronautical Technology
• Apprenticeships/Welding
Technology
• Medical Terminology/Healthcare
• Culinary Arts/Wine Technology
Enrollment:
Headcount (all sources)
FTES (all sources)
Headcount (state-funded)
FTES (state-funded)
14,851
5,729
10,856
4,450
Students in Selected Programs
(Headcount):
Applied Bachelor’s Degree
144
I-BEST22
International Students
938
Running Start
309
Worker Retraining
480
STUDENT PROFILE — STATE FUNDED
Enrollment by course intent
Attendance
5+48+2621 60+40
5%
pre-college
21%
basic
skills
26%
academic/
transfer
48%
workforce
education
Ethnicity:*
Asian/Pacific Islander
18%
African American
18%
Native American
2%
Hispanic11%
Other, Multiracial
4%
White/Caucasian49%
Gender:
Female41%
Male59%
40%
full-time
60%
57%
part-time
Median Age:29
Family and Finances:
Students receiving
need-based financial aid in
eligible programs
33%
Students who work
54%
Students with children
33%
* May not add up to 100% because
students may be counted in more
than one race.
POINTS OF INTEREST
From Student to South’s Diesel and Heavy Equipment Program, in collaboration with some of the Puget Sound’s largest
Professional in Seven diesel employers, launched the Diesel Industrial Sector Cohort (DISC) program. The program will give
Quarters students the skills that are in high demand in the diesel industry. Students interview with the employers, and
those selected are sponsored for a seven quarter program where they learn from South’s instructors with
an end goal of becoming full-time employees for their sponsors.
South Academic In his final year at South, biology student David Yama left an indelible impression. In addition to being named
Student Shines on the the top student on the All-Washington Academic Team, Yama was also named the number one student on
National Stage the All-USA Community College Academic Team. In the past four years, two of the Number One scholars in
Washington state have come from South.
Yama also earned the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, the largest privately funded community college
scholarship in the country. Yama became the third South student in the past four years to earn this
prestigious scholarship. Yama’s achievements were recognized by Congressman Jim McDermott on the
congressional floor.
America’s College In his 2015 State of the Union address, President Obama unveiled his “America’s College Promise,” plan
Promise Already in to grant community college to students tuition-free. South has been running a similar program since 2008
Place at South called the “13th Year Promise Scholarship.” The headline-grabbing scholarship provides one full year at South
tuition-free to all graduates from three local high schools. In addition to removing the stressful financial
barrier, the program also provides academic support to ensure their success in their 13th year and beyond.
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