About Highline

Highline College is nationally and internationally recognized as a premier community college, a reputation earned through the development of an institutional culture that values innovation, globalization of curriculum and community participation. It is one of 34 community and technical colleges in Washington state.

The college’s main campus is located on an 80-acre wooded site overlooking Puget Sound, 20 minutes south of downtown Seattle. Classes are also provided at the Marine Science and Technology Center at Redondo Beach, and additional service-area locations such as Burien and White Center.

Highline was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. It serves approximately 16,900 students and has in excess of 350,000 alumni.

While the majority of Highline’s students live in southwest King County, the number of students who come to Highline from other states and countries from around the world has grown significantly in recent years. More than half of students enroll in daytime classes; the rest attend evening classes.

Accreditation

Highline College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the secretary of the United States Department of Education. The commission’s offices are located at 8060 165^th Ave. N.E., Suite 200, Redmond, WA 98052-3981. More information related to Highline’s accreditation can be found here.

The Nursing program AAS degree at Highline College is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Graduates qualify to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

The Respiratory Care program AAS degree at Highline College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care. CoARC (www.CoARC.com). Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, 264 Precision Blvd., Telford, TN 37690 USA, (817) 354-8519.

The Medical Assistant Certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (MAERBAAMAE), 9355 - 113th Street N #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, (727) 210-2350.

The Paralegal program is approved by the American Bar Association.

Mission Statement

As a South King County college striving for social justice, Highline College partners with global students as they envision, plan and achieve their educational and professional goals. Adopted October 2022.

Vision

Highline College creates anti-racist, equitable pathways in higher education to close opportunity gaps experienced by our students. We support employees to foster the conditions for student and workplace equity. We accept people as they are and honor the life experience they bring. We are cultivating a collaborative learning community that centers the well-being of the whole person and provides a sense of belonging. We highly regard the families and support systems that enable our success and acknowledge that by working together we are limitless.

Values

Highline College seeks to live out these values in everyday practice:

Accessibility
Accountability
Cultural Responsiveness and Agency
Environmental Sustainability
Equity-First Focus
Life-Long Learning
Partnership with local and global communities
Respect
Social Justice
Student-Centered Approaches
Transparency

Strategic Plan and Core Themes

Highline’s strategic plan includes four core themes:

Core Theme 1: Reduce barriers and close equity gaps to access for all community members

Core Theme 2: Increase educational success and close equity gaps; collaborate to improve

Core Theme 3: Create a more inclusive working and learning environment and a more valued, visible relationship with communities we serve

Core Theme 4: Promote a campus culture which fosters equity and inclusivity supporting employee growth and development, and institutional capacity for transformation.

For more information on Highline’s strategic plan, visit https://www.highline.edu/about-us/.

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