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Accreditation
Grays Harbor College is accredited as a community college by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, 8060 165 Avenue NE, Suite 100, Redmond, WA 98052. College-level credits earned by students at Grays Harbor College are accepted by colleges and universities throughout the United States.

The college is a member of the Association of Community College Trustees, the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges, the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the Northwest Association of Community and Junior Colleges.

Equal Opportunity
Grays Harbor College provides equal opportunities and equal access in education and employment for all persons. The college is committed to ensuring freedom from discrimination based on gender, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, marital status, sexual preference, disabled and veterans status, or the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability, in accordance with current state and federal laws.

Inquiries regarding compliance with equal opportunity/affirmative action should be directed to the Chief Human Resource Officer, Grays Harbor College, Aberdeen, WA 98520 or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2815 Second Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98121.

For questions or concerns on matters affecting women or persons with handicaps, contact the Chief Human Resource Officer, Title IX and 504 Officer,Jewell C. Manspeaker Instructional Building, (360) 538-4234.

History
Grays Harbor College, a community college, was conceived in 1929 by a group of Aberdeen citizens under the leadership of Mr. W.O. McCaw and on August 7, 1930, was incorporated under the laws of the state of Washington. The college operated as a private institution from 1930 to 1945. In 1945, the Aberdeen School District assumed control of the college and provided much needed financial stability. Since that time Grays Harbor College has continued to serve the men and women of this area, offering them academic, professional and technical courses at a low cost and giving them the opportunity to live at home.

At the time of its founding, the college occupied the Franklin School building on Market Street, but in 1934 moved to the A.D. Wood Schoolhouse on Terrace Heights, where it remained until 1945 when it occupied the Samuel Benn School building. In 1955, the State Board of Education approved funds for the construction of new college facilities, and the Aberdeen Board of Education purchased a forty-acre tract on a hill overlooking Aberdeen, Hoquiam, and Chehalis River, and the bay.

The construction of the buildings - classrooms, science laboratories, library, gymnasium, administrative offices, and student union - began during the summer of 1956. Classes opened in the completed buildings on January 6, 1958.

In May, 1961, the Choker Union Building was renamed the A. J. Hillier Union Building in memory of Alfred J. Hillier, late professor of history and forensics coach. In order to provide for an increase in enrollment, a new classroom building, an administration building, and additions to the science building, the music building, the gymnasium, and the A.J. Hillier Building were completed in September, 1964.

A new library opened in the fall of 1966, named after John Spellman, long-time librarian at the college. Most recently, The John Spellman Library was extensively renovated, reopening for students in fall 2003. Major changes to campus landscaping, walkways, and traffic patterns also took place at that time.

On July 1, 1967, Grays Harbor College was separated from the local school district by legislative act and became a part of the state higher education system.

The continued growth of the college again demanded expansion of the physical facilities, and two additional new buildings were completed in April, 1972. The Physical Science Building (Building 800) is used by chemistry, physics, earth science and engineering classes. The Vocational Building houses automotive mechanics, carpentry, and welding technology classes. The Bishop Center for the Performing Arts was completed in the spring of 1974 and was renovated in 2003.

The John M. Smith Aquaculture Center, a fish rearing facility, was dedicated in 1987. It was completed with donated funding, materials and labor.

Following a tradition of honoring long-time and well-respected administrators, the Grays Harbor College Board of Trustees renamed Building 700 the Jon V. Krug Industrial Technology Building. The Jewell C. Manspeaker Instructional Building, a dramatic 4-story facility, opened in January, 2007. Also opening in 2007 were the Craig Wellington Rehearsal Hall, and the Joseph P. Malik Commons.

In keeping with the college’s commitment to distance learning and accessibility, four community education centers have been opened in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. The Columbia Education Center opened in in 2006, after operating for nine years in a rented facility, located several blocks from its present home. The Whiteside Education Center in downtown Aberdeen and the Simpson Education Center in Elma both opened in 1998, and the Riverview Education Center in Raymond was purchased in 1999 and completely renovated in 2001.

Grays Harbor College Foundation
The Grays Harbor College Foundation is among the oldest of the community college foundations in the Northwest, founded more than 40 years ago with proceeds raised from Gala Starlight Ball events. Since that time, the Foundation has continued to award scholarships for deserving students and identify other ways to be supportive of the College. The Foundation Board of Directors, which meets monthly on the main campus, includes more than 25 community leaders from Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties.

In addition to funding ten full-tuition scholarships each year, the Foundation also sponsors the World Class Scholars program. Through this outreach program, the Foundation makes a promise of a partial tuition scholarship to every seventh grader in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties who signs a contract with the college and qualifies for World Class Scholars status by the time they graduate from high school. Students must attend GHC to receive the partial tuition scholarship. Thus far, more than 205 young people have qualified and received funding as World Class Scholars.

Recent efforts of the Foundation also include funding for College staff excellence awards, contributions towards capital projects, management of many endowed scholarship funds, plus the scholarships given annually ever since the first Starlight Ball.

The GHC Foundation Office is located on our main campus. For further information about donations to the Foundation or creating scholarship endowments, contact the office at (360) 538-4243.

Students’ Right to Know
Federal and state laws require higher education institutions like Grays Harbor College to provide students, prospective students and student employees information regarding:

For more information, send an e-mail message to: Jane Goldberg (jgoldber@ghc.edu), or call (360) 538-4005.

Related Link: Grays Harbor College Board of Trustees

GHC Main Campus, Aberdeen
(360) 538-4026 or toll-free (in WA state) 1-(800) 562-4830

Columbia Education Center, Ilwaco: (360) 642-9433
Riverview Education Center, Raymond: (360) 875-9466
Simpson Education Center, Elma: (360) 533-9733
Whiteside Education Center, Aberdeen (360) 533-9733