WGU Washington Announces Partnership with Lower Columbia College

KENT— WGU Washington, the online, nonprofit university, officially announced today its partnership with Lower Columbia College (LCC) to create more opportunities for students to pursue higher education degrees without leaving Cowlitz County or making lengthy commutes.

By partnering with LCC, WGU Washington is aiming to bolster its ties with the community in Longview, Washington, while also helping more students – particularly those in underserved populations – pursue higher education and become better prepared for entering the labor market. WGU Washington joins three other universities in LCC’s Lower Columbia Regional University Center, an on-campus program that provides local opportunities for four-year degrees and beyond.

“With partner institutions across the state, we’ve established transfer pathways to help incoming students understand how prior coursework and experience may transfer into a degree program at WGU Washington,” said WGU Washington Chancellor Dr. Tonya Drake, who is an LCC graduate and Cowlitz County native. “Our partnership with LCC only broadens the educational opportunities our schools can provide to the students we serve. We couldn’t be more excited.”

WGU Washington, which has been a top transfer school for LCC students, will now have a regular, on-campus presence at LCC to provide students with an in-person resource focused on their advising needs to improve student success and program completion.

The partnership will allow LCC students to earn bachelor’s degrees in nursing, business, information technology and teaching. LCC students will also be able to enroll in WGU Washington master’s programs in those fields. Local WGU Washington students will have access to on-campus amenities at LCC such as use of the library, gym and fitness center.

To celebrate the partnership, WGU Washington Chancellor Drake and LCC President Chris Bailey hosted a ceremony Wednesday, April 17 in the LCC library lobby. Representatives from WGU Washington were on hand to answer questions and meet with prospective students.