Welcome to Chemeketa

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Chemeketa’s Land Acknowledgement

We are gathered today on the land of the Kalapuya, who today are represented by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, whose relationship with this land continues to this day. We offer gratitude for the land itself, for those who have stewarded it for generations, and for the opportunity to study, learn, work, and be in community on this land. We acknowledge that our College’s history, like many others, is fundamentally tied to the first colonial developments in the Willamette Valley. Finally, we respectfully acknowledge and honor past, present, and future Indigenous students of Chemeketa Community College.

Chemeketa is your community college. It is a place where you can accomplish almost any educational goal you have in mind.

At Chemeketa, you can finish your first two years of college, take the career and technical education training you need to qualify for a job, or finish your high school education. You can also explore career paths, retain or add job skills, get professional help on how to run a business, pursue a special interest, or broaden your education.

You can pursue your educational goals in a format that fits your needs. As a full-time student, you can finish a one- or two-year program. As a part-time student, you can take the perfect amount of classes to match your
own schedule.

You can attend classes and special events on the Salem or Yamhill Valley campuses, or at the College’s Brooks, Polk County (Dallas), Eola, or Woodburn locations. We also offer classes in schools and other community
locations throughout the College district. You can even stay home and take remote, online, or hybrid classes that will fit your needs and schedule.

Whatever your goals and interests, we are committed to help you enhance the quality of your life through education.

The Meaning of Chemeketa

The name Chemeketa is a Kalapuya word meaning “place of peace.” Long before settlers came to this area, Willamette Valley Native Americans would gather at a place they called Chemeketa, today known as Salem.

There, they conducted their councils, renewed friendships, shared old ideas, and cultivated new ones. It is hoped that those who come to Chemeketa today will do just the same. The meaning of Chemeketa is illustrated on the sculptured wall panels (pictured here), which appear on Building 3 on our Salem Campus. Designed by graphic artist Arvid Orbeck, the panels symbolize the territorial divisions of the tribes and the movement of the tribes toward the established meeting place.

As the tribes move through the territorial divisions, the carved designs become less aggressive and less linear.

Softer curves start to enter into the forms, showing more peaceful attitudes. The final points of the arrow shapes become completely calm upon reaching the center, where the individual chiefs, each indicated with his own form of dress, decoration, and behavior, sit down in a formal circle for peaceful work.

Programs

Chemeketa has three areas of study:

• Career and technical education prepare you to qualify for work in specific fields. You can enroll in more than 95 career and technical training programs. In some of these, you can earn a certificate of completion in one year or less. Many programs have other certificates that credential you to work in jobs in your field while attending the College. In most programs, you can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree. It usually takes two years to meet the requirements; it may take longer if you attend part time or don’t have the prerequisite skills.
  In addition to vocational classes, Chemeketa’s career and technical education programs include general education courses. The aim of these courses is to help you become more competent in writing and mathematics and gain knowledge of the humanities, communications, sciences, and social sciences. See Associate of General Studies Degree Requirements (AGS)  for general education information.
• College transfer courses prepare you to continue your education at a four-year college or university. You can complete the one-year Oregon Transfer Module (see Oregon Transfer Module (OTM) ) or the two-year college transfer program (see Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) Degree Requirements ). If you successfully complete the two-year program, you can earn an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree.
  Some career and technical education programs also include courses that may be transferred for college credit. For more specific information, consult with a Chemeketa counselor or advisor or with an advisor at the four-year institution you wish to attend. Generally, transfer courses are numbered 100 or above.
• Developmental skill building classes are offered for you to learn basic reading, writing, mathematics, and study skills, finish high school, or learn English.

Chemeketa schedules classes during the day, evenings, and on weekends.

Chemeketa Community College Guiding Principles

Vision Chemeketa will be a catalyst for individuals, businesses, and communities to excel in diverse and changing environments.

Mission Chemeketa provides opportunities for students to explore, learn, and succeed through quality educational experiences and workforce training.

Values

Core Themes/Promises The areas of work that express essential elements of the mission and collectively encompass our role.

Academic Quality - Quality programs, instruction, and support services are provided to students.
Access - A broad range of educational opportunities and workforce training is provided to students in pursuit of their goals.
Community Collaborations - Instruction, training, and workforce development are provided through collaboration with education partners, businesses, and community groups.
Student Success - Students progress and complete their educational goals.

Faculty

Chemeketa employs over 200 full-time faculty members. In general, faculty who teach college transfer courses have at least a master’s degree; some have doctoral degrees. Faculty members in career and technical programs generally have a rich background that combines education with practical, on-the-job experience. In addition, hundreds of experienced, professional, part-time faculty members teach day, evening, and weekend classes on subjects directly related to their area of expertise.

History

Chemeketa’s roots were established in 1955 when the local school district approved Salem Technical Vocational School. The Chemeketa Community College district was formed in September 1969. The College began operation on July 1, 1970.

As a public institution, most of the College’s financial support comes from local property taxes, state school support funds, tuition, and fees.

Accreditation

Chemeketa Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one that has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.

Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities applies to the institution as a whole, not to individual programs. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.

For more information on accreditation, contact the Accreditation Liaison Officer in Building 9, Rm.104 on the Salem Campus at 503.399.6531.

Teaching and Learning Values We Are a College That:

• Creates a learning climate of mutual respect and fairness
• Encourages creative and critical thinking
• Engages participants in an active learning process
• Facilitates learning that applies to and enriches lives
• Encourages student responsibility for learning
• Promotes learning as a lifelong process

The Teaching and Learning Values are a shared responsibility at the college and are considered in decision- and policy-making arenas. We encourage and promote these values in college programs, courses, services, and activities.

Location

The Chemeketa Community College district covers more than 2,600 square miles in Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley, including Marion, Polk, most of Yamhill, and part of Linn counties.

The largest campus is located at 4000 Lancaster Drive NE in Salem, with an additional campus located at 288 Norton Lane NE in McMinnville. The College also has academic outreach centers in Polk County (Dallas) and Woodburn; and specialized centers at three other locations, which provide specialized education and training services to employers and the community:

• Chemeketa’s Center for Business and Industry (CCBI), located at 626 High Street NE in Salem, provides training programs and resources to help create high-performing employees, managers, and organizations.
• Brooks Regional Training Center (Chemeketa Brooks), located at 4910 Brooklake Road NE, Brooks, provides training for fire districts and law enforcement throughout the region and is home to the College’s Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Fire Science, and EMT/Paramedic programs.
• The Northwest Wine Studies Center (Chemeketa Eola), located at 215 Doaks Ferry Road NW in Salem, provides instruction and hands-on training required for successful employment in the wine industry. Credit and noncredit classes, workshops, seminars, and special programs are also scheduled in more than 25 locations throughout the College district. These classes meet days, evenings, and weekends, in schools, businesses, churches, and homes.

Chemeketa’s campuses and centers all include classrooms, meeting spaces, student resources, and administrative offices; most also have computer labs, resource centers, and technical classrooms.

Facilities

Chemeketa’s Salem Campus is comprised of two primary zones: North and South campus.

The north campus zone, comprised of buildings in the 1-14 number series, contains many of the College’s administrative and academic support services, as well as the bulk of the College’s academic spaces.

Building 2 is home to the College’s primary administrative functions, including: Academic Advising, Counseling Services, Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, Cashier’s Office, Tutoring Services Center, Student Center, Public Safety, Food Services, and the Planetarium.

Building 6 houses the bulk of the College’s computer lab and training resources, as well as a 440-seat auditorium where conferences, lectures, and performances are scheduled throughout the year.

Building 7, often referred to as the College’s Health and Wellness Center, is home to the Physical Education and Human Development programs, the Chemeketa Storm Athletics program, as well as a gymnasium, workout and weight rooms, and other multi-use activity spaces.

Building 8, often referred to as the Health and Science Complex, is equipped with specialized laboratories, including a working dental hygiene clinic that serves the local community.

Building 9 is home to the College’s library, equipped with a computer lab for support of research and study activities. It also houses a television studio and other facilities for multimedia production and communications.

The North Campus Zone is located north of Satter Drive and is anchored by the Applied Technology Complex, which was completed in 2015. The Complex is home to the College’s Engineering, Drafting, Machining, Welding, and Apprenticeship programs. This zone is comprised of buildings in the 20 and 30 number series and also includes facilities for Early Childhood Development, Student Opportunity for Achieving Results (SOAR) program, faculty offices, and classrooms.

The South Campus Zone is located at Winema Place near Lancaster, and is comprised of buildings in the 48-58 number series, which is home to the College’s High School Partnership programs as well as offices and partner facilities.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity

Chemeketa Community College prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, whistleblowing, genetic information, domestic abuse victim, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law in any area, activity or operation of the College. The College also prohibits retaliation against an individual for engaging in activity protected under this policy, and interfering with rights or privileges granted under federal, state or local laws.

Under College policies, equal opportunity for employment, admission, and participation in the College’s programs, services, and activities will be extended to all persons, and the College will promote equal opportunity and treatment through application of its policies and other College efforts designed for that purpose.

Persons having questions or concerns about Title IX, which includes gender based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual violence, interpersonal violence, and stalking, contact the Title IX coordinator at 503-584-7323, 4000 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem, OR 97305, or http://go.chemeketa.edu/titleix. Individuals may also contact the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), 810 3rd Avenue #750, Seattle, WA 98104, 206.607.1600.

Persons having questions or concerns related to Equal Employment Opportunity or Affirmative Action should contact the Affirmative Action Officer at 503.399.2537, 4000 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem OR 97305.

To request this publication in an alternative format, please call 503.399.5192.

Non-Harassment Policies

College policy also prohibits unlawful harassment. Conduct relating to the protected classes listed above is prohibited when:

1. Submission to such conduct is made, either implicitly or explicitly, a term or condition of employment or academic performance; or
2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for employment or academic performance; or
3. Such conduct is severe or pervasive and has the purpose or effect of the following:
   • Unreasonably interfering with any individual’s work or academic performance; or
   • Creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or academic environment.

Questions or complaints may be directed to Alice Sprague, Affirmative Action Officer, 4000 Lancaster Dr NE, P.O. Box 14007, Salem, Oregon 97309, 503.399.5009.

Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Statement

Chemeketa is also committed to providing support, resources, and accountability for reports of sexual harassment, gender based discrimination, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking. students are encouraged to contact the Title IX Coordinator, Jon Mathis, at 503.584.7323 to file a report and may also choose to inform the Public Safety Office and/or local law enforcement.

For more information on Chemeketa’s sexual misconduct process, please visit chemeketa.edu/complaints-and-concerns/report.