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 Would
Ray W. Howard recognize the Shoreline Community College
that he helped found in 1964? Dr. Howard, one of
Shoreline's greatest education leaders, was the
Superintendent of the Shoreline School District at the
time the College opened its doors. The Shoreline School
District had already begun to develop a strong
reputation for excellence in the K-12 system, thanks in
part to the work of Dr. Howard. At the same time, he was
also looking beyond K-12 and knew that higher education
should be available to anyone who desired it and was
willing to work for it.
In 1948, the Washington State Legislature passed a
law that prevented community colleges from establishing
their operations any place where a state four-year
institution existed. This measure was intended to
restrain institutions from competing with one another or
from duplicating their efforts. As a result, community
colleges in the Puget Sound region did not come into
existence until around the mid 60s when that law was
repealed. Dr. Howard was a key proponent of such a
measure and actively worked with other school districts
in the area to convince legislators of the needs of
"non-traditional" students who could not attend the
University of Washington or other four-year
institutions.
  
Photos from the SCC 40th Anniversary Celebration -
January 2004
These non-traditional students, many of whom were
working adults, were part of a growing population of
those who desired a college degree, but because of
economic circumstances, were forced to work and support
families. Many of these students also could not afford
the tuition and room and board of a four-year
university.
The mission of community colleges in this state has
always been to provide access to higher education to
students such as these and to offer them the chance to
build skills to take them to higher wage levels.
Dr. Howard and many other community college advocates
saw this need and the long term benefits to our state
economy. With the repeal of the law, the door was opened
to found Shoreline Community College.
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