In a unanimous vote, the Board of Trustees of Cascadia Community College has voted to change the institution’s name to Cascadia College. The new name has the broad support of the college’s students, alumni, staff, the leadership of University of Washington Bothell and regional industry.

“We have not altered our mission. Cascadia will still provide the same accessible, affordable, high quality programs on which our community has come to depend,” said Louis Mendoza, Chair of the Board of Cascadia College. “The name change is purely a reflection of how community colleges have evolved over the past few decades.”

There are 34 institutions in the State Board of Technical and Community College system, several of which now offer bachelor’s degrees in addition to two-year degrees, professional technical degrees and certificates, adult basic education, corporate and continuing education and programs for high school and international students. Cascadia will be launching its first bachelor’s degree fall quarter of 2015.

Students who began their college education at Cascadia College went on to earn four-year degrees at more than twice the state and national average according to the National Student Clearinghouse. Cascadia was established to serve residents of northeast King County and southeast Snohomish County. It first opened its doors to students in 2000 and currently enrolls approximately 4,000 students a year.