News in brief

The South County Spotlight, Nov 11, 2009, Updated Nov 11, 2009

PCC rolls out class offerings

Portland Community College is offering two classes starting the week of Jan. 4, 2010, at St. Helens High School. Deadline for registration is Nov. 20. The classes are Math 65 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:50 p.m. with instructor Roger Patterson and Writing 121 on Monday evenings from 5:30 to 9:20 p.m. with instructor Chris Murray

The offerings come on the heels of a public forum last month in St. Helens where PCC’s Rock Creek Campus President David Rule gave a presentation on the college’s involvement in Columbia County, past, present and future.

Around 1,600 Columbia County students have attended PCC classes every year for the last three years.

Rule said that residents have reported concerns regarding the accessibility of the Rock Creek Campus, the difficulty of weeding through course offerings for classes in Columbia County, and the lack of a county-based campus.

But within two years, Rule said, Columbia County residents will have increased opportunities to benefit from PCC. Currently, Rule’s office is working with stakeholders in Columbia County on a strategic plan for consistent PCC involvement in the county.

Columbia County Commissioner Rita Bernhard thanked Rule at the forum for what she said were the biggest efforts she’s seen from PCC in recent decades to engage the community.

“I think it’s going to be a huge benefit for the people in this community because it has been very long overdue,” she said.