South Seattle College
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

In 2014, the college developed the first Bachelor’s of Applied Science degree focused on sustainable building science technology in Washington state- it is unique within the Pacific NW region and nationally as well. Since classes were first offered in fall of 2014, we have had 51 students in the degree and graduated 11 students so far. In addition, the sustainable building science technology department was awarded a National Science Foundation grant, Expanding Lifelong STEM Career Pathways in Sustainable Building Science Technology. Our grant work brings together education, industry, and community partners to develop the program and expand the pipeline with targeted recruiting.

Unique aspects to the program:
Industry Need
- Construction of commercial and multi-family buildings is quite literally exploding in the Puget Sound area. The need for skilled technicians/managers who can manage and operate these buildings for maximum comfort and efficiency has never been greater. Prior to this degree, there were few options (if any) in this field for bachelor degrees in this area.
-Industry developed the outcomes for the degree and continue to monitor and advise through the program’s Technical Advisory Board.
- 9 credits of internship woven throughout the program.
- Use of community buildings as learning labs for the students.

Bachelor’s of Applied Science at a Community College
- The field of building science/building engineering has long had a cap on it in terms of field-specific education at the associate degree level, so many incumbent workers find themselves locked out of higher positions due to a lack of a bachelor’s degree. Many of our students have expressed being in this position and are now breaking through that ceiling in new positions and promotions in the field.
- 2+2 degree, articulating with 13 different associate-level programs and 2 master-level programs.
- Good value - a bachelor’s program at a community college rate.
- Providing a bachelor’s level option for those populations more community-bound.

Program Delivery
- Appeals to a wide range of diverse students with an innovative, hybrid schedule accessible to working professionals and those in need of alternative schedules.
- Institutionalized use of prior-learning assessment for credit.
- Integrated delivery - projects and assignments often span multiple classes, increasing synthesis of concepts/applications and efficiency of workload.

In 2018, South Seattle College welcomed Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap as our newest president, and the first woman of color to lead our institution. In 2019, South celebrated 50 years in operation and in her campus-wide speech on President’s Day of that year, President Rimando-Chareunsap reflected on South’s first 50 years and issued a call to action for our next 50, with a steadfast focus on becoming an anti-racist college and eliminating achievement gaps based on race. From her speech:

"In order to improve student outcomes, in order to improve student retention, in order to fulfill our mission and make whole-system improvements that guarantee that our legacy for the next 50 years will survive and thrive, we must confront our institutionalized racism, and work together to create racial equity. In so doing, we will be better able to address the many other forms of inequities that also exist. Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Being willing is not enough, we must do. We must do. And my hope is that we lean into this work together, making connections, and remembering that these are the things that we love about our college: to be kind, to be inclusive, to be student-centered, to be advocates, and to be connected.”