LYNNWOOD — Edmonds Community College dropped a word from its name Monday, becoming Edmonds College. The change reflects a trend seen around the region.
The new name was approved by the Lynnwood-based institution’s Board of Trustees during a Monday meeting, with Edmonds College in place immediately.
“As Edmonds College, we remain committed to serving our community as an open-access institution, and that will stay central to our mission,” said Edmonds College President Amit Singh in a statement released Monday. “Our new name reflects our comprehensive offerings — from pre-college to an increasing number of four-year Bachelor of Applied Science degrees.”
Edmonds College now offers one bachelor of applied science degree in Child, Youth, and Family Studies and will launch a second in Information Technology–Application Development this fall.
Bachelor of applied science programs are approved and accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. A BAS degree is not the same as a bachelor’s degree granted by a four-year university associated with Edmonds College or Everett Community College.
Tuition and fees won’t change with the new name, said Marisa Pierce, Edmonds College’s director of marketing and public information. Spring quarter began Monday, with classes online due to the statewide coronavirus shutdown order.
Everett Community College isn’t planning to change its name.
“I have no intent to move in that direction,” EvCC President Daria Willis said Tuesday. “Community is our middle name,” said Willis, who took the helm of the Everett college in 2019 following the long tenure of David Beyer.
Willis notes the trend away from the “community” name and said EvCC is also moving toward offering bachelor of applied science degrees. Yet she discounts any stigma associated with the community label. “Community colleges are special places” with a function beyond just offering classes, she said. “We’re here to serve our community.”
In 2014, the Seattle Community Colleges District became the Seattle Colleges District, and its schools — all formerly called community colleges — became Seattle Central College, North Seattle College and South Seattle College. Adjacent to the UW Bothell campus, Cascadia College also dropped “community” in 2014.
Bellevue Community College changed its name to Bellevue College in 2009. Skagit Valley College dropped community from its name decades ago. Wenatchee Valley College and Peninsula College are among traditionally two-year schools that never used community in their names. Nearby, Shoreline Community College is like EvCC in keeping its middle name.
Zsofia Pasztor is one Edmonds Community College alumna who was not pleased with the change.
“I’m very saddened by it, taking community out of the name,” said Pasztor, a 2004 EdCC graduate who in 2016 was recognized with the college foundation’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
Pasztor is the founder of Farmer Frog, a nonprofit that helps local schools build and maintain food gardens. Five of her six children attended EdCC. She sees the change as a sign the college is putting less emphasis on its trades programs.
“The trades are so needed,” she said.
Soon, the Edmonds College website and social media pages will change. And in the months ahead, expect to see new signs and an updated logo.
Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; jmuhlstein@heraldnet.com.
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