I created this sideshow for our scholarship applicants to watch during their pre-departure orientation.

1. Northwest Community College Initiative
Pre-Departure Orientation
Spring 2011

2. Congratulations!
NWCCI is pleased to welcome you to our
community college campuses for the 2011-2012
Northwest Community College Initiative program.
Our mission is to facilitate your success in all
programmatic components: cultural learning and
sharing; academics, unpaid internships, and
community service.
You will be getting a welcome packet shortly. Please
review it and keep it for your reference. When you
arrive on campus you will attend an orientation
which will include tours of the campus and
immediate community, as well as information on NWCCI will provide calling cards and snacks for
banking, local transportation, school registration, the first day so that you can call your family and
and more. have something to eat after your long trip. After
your adviser helps you set up a bank account she
will take you food shopping where you can also
purchase sundries and a cell phone.

3. What is a Community College?
The term "community college" is used to describe publicly funded two-year
institutions. The name derives from the fact that community colleges primarily attract
and accept students from the local community and are often supported by local tax
revenue.
Community colleges typically issue certificates, associate degrees, and high school
diplomas. After graduating from a community college, some students transfer to a four-
year college or university for two to three years to complete a bachelors degree.
*To find out more about Washington state community and technical colleges, visit the Washington
State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

4. What is NWCCI?
NWCCI, or the Northwest Community College Initiative program, is a
special scholarship program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. It is a consortia of 3 schools in
the Northwest region of Washington State: Pierce, Edmonds, and
Whatcom Community Colleges are all located with in one hundred and
fifty miles of each other.
Each campus has a unique campus culture with a diverse student body. As
such, students at different campuses are sure to have different experiences.
It’s important to remember that no matter where you are placed, all
participants are part of a bigger program with the same set of goals and
expectations.

5. NWCCI Certificates
The Northwest Community College Initiative provides participants with
the opportunity to earn 2 different certificates – an academic certificate
and a NWCCI program certificate.
Earning an academic certificate is dependent on the attainment of English
proficiency as well as completing the academic requirements set by the
college.
Earning a NWCCI program certificate is dependent on successful completion
and participation in all the components of the program, including academics,
internships, community and cultural programs.

6. Important NWCCI Facts
The following is covered in more detail in the Terms and Conditions document
introduced in your pre-departure orientation. Details will be further
communicated upon your arrival during each college’s orientation and in the
student handbook provided.
Regarding funding, please be aware that:
 Every student in the NWCCI program will receive a $650 monthly allowance,
which we call a stipend, to use for living expenses.
 The administrative teams at your respective colleges will purchase your books
and tuition each quarter.
 You will receive a student bus pass to use for local transportation.
 You will receive a monthly stipend for phone/internet services.
 You will be covered under the ASPE Accident and Sickness Health Benefit
program.

7. NWCCI Resources
Each campus will have its own International Student Services department that
will be your go-to source for campus-specific information.
The following links are a good way to familiarize yourself with the bigger
NWCCI program. They are your roadmap to understanding the “bigger picture”
of what we do, plus why and how we do it.
 Website
 Facebook
 Newsletter
 NWCCI Ning

8. NWCCI Cultural Program
As part of the program goal to experience the U.S. culture, students at all 3 campuses will
have the chance to experience important landmarks and activities in Washington State.
Additionally students will be expected to share information about their own cultures
through activities and presentations.
In the past, students on the NWCCI program visited Microsoft, Boeing, the state capitol
in Olympia, local Native American tribal lands, the Pike Place Market and the Space
Needle in Seattle, local police and fire stations, and much, much more. Students are
expected to attend all the planned excursions unless it is a break and you have pre-
approved travel.
Boeing Future of Flight Museum
State capitol building in Olympia

9. NWCCI Internship Program
Academically successful students will have the opportunity to seek an unpaid
internship for which they will earn credit during their studies.
Students have enjoyed their practical experiences with hotels, travel agencies,
college IT and marketing departments. They’ve also worked for small local
businesses, such as Candela Technologies and VMC Media Management, and
international non-profit agencies like the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and the
Starlight Foundation.

10. NWCCI Community Service
Another component of the NWCCI program is community engagement. With
your campus adviser, you will create a personal program to share your culture
and serve the community.
Examples of past student experiences include: presenting about your culture at
local elementary schools; giving speeches at community rotary clubs;
volunteering at the food bank; community development with the fire
department; and participation in International Education Week on campus.
Pierce students work with the Fire
Department to deliver pumpkins for Whatcom students present on their culture to
children to carve for Halloween. young children at a local Elementary school.

11. NWCCI Academics
As outlined in the Terms and Conditions, participants will be placed in the field of
study for which they applied and cannot change their field of study.
As a requirement of the J-1 visa students must be enrolled in at least twelve credits
per quarter. Students will take no more than fifteen credits per quarter.
Every student will take an English placement test to determine appropriate class
placement. Students may need additional ESL classes before they are ready to take
classes for their their certificates.
Ability to earn an academic certificate is dependent on English proficiency, class
attendance, completing assignments and passing all courses.

12. Introducing Washington State

13. Where are the 3 Colleges located?
Whatcom Community College is located in
Bellingham, about 90 miles north of Seattle. It is
part of Whatcom County.
Edmonds Community College is located halfway
between Everett and Seattle, approximately 20
miles North of Seattle. It is part of Snohomish
County.
Pierce Community College is located halfway
between Tacoma and Olympia, approximately 45
miles south of Seattle. It is part of Pierce County.

14. Western Washington
Washington state is known for its natural
beauty and comfortable climate. Washington
has a mostly marine west coast climate with
moderately mild temperatures, wet winters, and
dry summers. Known as the “Evergreen state,”
Washington is home to dense conifer forests ,
which are full of trees that keep their leaves
year-round.
People in the Northwest enjoy local features
like the ferry boat system, which carries
passengers and vehicles across the Puget
Sound region; Mount Rainier, the highest
mountain in Washington and the Cascade
mountain range; and the city of Seattle, home
to sports teams like the Mariners (baseball),
Seahawks (American football) and the
Sounders (soccer).

15. WA Economy – Industry and Agriculture
Washington state is known for its business in aerospace, software development, food
processing, lumber and wood products, chemical products, and tourism.
A magazine survey recently indicated that Washington has 4 of the top 20 most
admired companies in the United States: Starbucks (coffee), Microsoft (computer
software), Costco (wholesale retail) and Nordstrom (clothing retail).
Washington is a lead agricultural state. The apple industry is of particular importance
to Washington because of its favorable climate of dry, warm summers and cold
winters. In fact, the state has led the U.S. in apple production since the 1920s. Other
products Washington is known for are seafood, dairy products, cattle, wheat, potatoes
and nursery stock.

16. Local culture
Washingtonians have diverse backgrounds and enjoy a variety of activities and
hobbies. Generally, people from the “Northwest” are proud of their rich native
American history as well as their knowledge of the natural elements like rivers,
oceans, mountains and wildlife. They are definitely known for their obsession with
really good coffee. It rains a lot in Seattle, but strangely, no one carries an umbrella!
Washingtonians love to share
their interests with visitors. A
particular highlight is eating
local cuisine like wild salmon
and fresh produce. For leisure,
people take day hikes in nearby
mountains, sail in the Puget
Sound, and shop in downtown
Seattle.
Seattle’s Pike Place Market
Locally crafted Totem poles

17. Edmonds Community College
www.edcc.edu/international
Edmonds Community College is a 50-acre campus situated minutes away from the
downtown Edmonds waterfront. It is located 20 miles north of Seattle in the city of
Lynnwood, Washington. Edmonds Community College, know as EDCC, offers fifty-
three certificate programs and boasts brand new on-site dormitories. Edmonds
hosts an average of 1,100 international students each year representing
approximately 60 different countries.
Highlights on campus include twenty-eight
computer labs, 9 science labs, 3 eateries, 2
greenhouses, a digital recording studio, an art
gallery, a theater, a childcare center, a gym, a
baseball field, a transit center, an on-campus
residence hall, and a university satellite center for
Central Washington University.

18. Edmonds Student Demographics
Edmonds Community College has on average:
12,000 Students per quarter
1,280 ESL students per quarter
29 Average student age
44% Full-time students
58% Female students
34% Students of color
70% Day students
48% Work either part-time or full-time

19. Edmonds Contact Information
 Your campus adviser is Shirley Goudard-Reyes. She will be in touch with you soon. She
is your main contact during your participation with the NWCCI program. Her email
address is: shirley.goudard-reyes@edcc.edu Please note that Shirley will be out of the
office for the month of May. If you need to contact someone before then, please email
NWCCI Assistant Coordinator, Sarah Kishpaugh at sarah.kishpaugh@edcc.edu.
 Edmonds Community College’s website page for International Student Services is an
invaluable tool for understanding the culture of that campus. There you can join
Edmonds’ ISS facebook page, read blogs, and watch videos.
 You can research your certificate program by visiting the Edmonds home page and
clicking the Catalog/Programs option at the top of the page. Scroll down until you reach
the 4th option down – Career Degrees & Certificates – and click that. Scroll over to the
green box on the right and click on “Explore List…” You should be able to find your
program’s curriculum (the one you’ve applied for) among that list.
 Watch a video about international study at Edmonds.
 Get connected through Edmonds’ International Student Services blog and Facebook
sites.

20. An Edmonds Experience
In fall 2010, Edmonds students observed a Students visited the Microsoft Visitor Center
traditional Homecoming football game at a over winter break. Then in the evening they
local high school. went aboard the Argosy Christmas ship for a
festive boat tour of the Puget Sound.

21. Whatcom Community College
www.whatcom.ctc.edu/degrees-and-programs/international-programs
Whatcom Community College is located in Bellingham, Washington, a town 90
miles north of Seattle with a population of 67,000. It is in an area of small towns,
farms and scenic wilderness. The college enjoys immediate access to the nearby
islands in the Puget Sound and the neighboring Cascade Mountains. The college
serves approximately 7,000 students per quarter, 162 of which are international
students representing 28 different countries.
Whatcom Community College offers a variety of
international activities throughout the year:
International Education Week; student-organized
International Night; Global Awareness Project
coordinated by the World Languages Department; and
the International Friendship Club. All students are
always encouraged to join clubs and engage in the
community.

22. Whatcom Student Demographics
Whatcom Community College has on average:
7,644 Students per quarter
55% Female students
45% Male students
71% Between the ages 16-24
22% Students of color
42% Full-time students
550 Running Start students (high school completion)

23. Whatcom Contact Information
 Your adviser at Whatcom is Iris Metzgen-Ohlswager . She will be in touch with you soon.
She will be your main contact during your participation with the NWCCI program.
Iris’s email: imetzgen@whatcom.ctc.edu
 Whatcom Community College’s website page for International Programs is an
invaluable tool for understanding the culture of that campus.
 You can research the certificate programs at Whatcom by visiting the Whatcom home
page and clicking on the Degrees and Programs tab. From there, scroll down and click
the Professional Technical Degrees tab. You should be able to find information on
certificates for Business and Tourism on this page.
 Watch a video about the International Programs at Whatcom CC.
 Get connected by joining Whatcom’s Facebook site.

24. A Whatcom Experience
Students took a trip to Mt. Baker, a popular Students braved the weather to float down
recreational area and mountain in the North the Skagit river on river rafts on the lookout
Cascades, where they tried skiing for the first for bald eagles.
time.

25. Pierce College
www.pierce.ctc.edu/international
The Pierce College District is location in Pierce County, Washington,
approximately 30 miles south of Seattle. There are two colleges in the
Pierce College District – as students in the NWCCI program you will attend
the Fort Steilacoom campus. Approximately 250 international students
from over 30 different countries enroll each quarter.
Pierce College Fort Steilacoom is located on 140 acres in the city of
Lakewood, which is 10 miles southwest of Tacoma. The campus is just one
mile from the waters of the Puget Sound, with snow-covered mountain
ranges visible in both directions.

26. Pierce Student Demographics
Pierce Community College has on average:
27,362 Students per year
34% Enrolled in professional/ technical programs
29.3 Average age
32% Students of color
52% Female students
60% Part-time students
1,196 Running Start students (high school completion)

27. Pierce College – Contact Information
 The current contact person at Pierce is the Director of International Programs, Pat
Cavendish. He will be in touch with you soon. His email address is:
pcavendi@pierce.ctc.edu.
 Pierce College’s website page for International Education is an invaluable tool for
understanding the culture of that campus.
 To find out more about a specific certificate program, go to Pierce College’s
home page and click on the Academics tab. Scroll down and click on the
Professional/Technical Programs. From there, click Program List located in the left-
hand column.
 Get connected and join Pierce College’s Facebook site.

28. A Pierce Experience
Pierce’s program adviser organized a food
sampling tour at the famous Pike Place
Pierce students presented a report about the
Market during spring break. They also visited
Lakewood International Festival at a
the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center,
Lakewood city council meeting .
Aquarium, and Experience Music Project.

29. Housing
• At all 3 colleges students will share apartments on or nearby the campus with other
students.
• Students may share bedrooms, bathrooms, living and kitchen areas.
• All apartments are furnished with basic furnishings, but students may wish to
purchase or bring additional items to make the spaces more personal. Basic
furnishings include bed linens, towels, a desk, a bed and a set of drawers.
• Every student will be paired with a local family for support and as another way to
become familiar with the culture.

30. Tips For Packing & Traveling
 Temperatures range from 5-10 degrees Celsius in the winter to the low-20s Celsius in
the summer. It rains a lot and you will definitely need warm clothing. Chances are
we will take you to visit the mountains so be advised that gloves and hats are
necessary for such an outing.
 You will do presentations throughout the year on campus and in the community. It
is helpful to bring things to share from your country, such as maps, traditional
clothing, recipes, and/or pictures.
 Please research and follow your assigned airline’s luggage regulations. Pack lightly,
but carefully.
 Yours will be a long flight. It’s wise to bring snacks and something to read
or entertain you.

31. Next Steps
 You will be given a campus assignment. Students will be assigned to either Edmonds,
Pierce or Whatcom Community Colleges.
 You will receive an informational packet in the mail. In it will be your DS-2019. The will
also be a housing application. Please follow instructions to fill it out and return it. Please
also review your certificate program information.
 You will need to apply for a visa.
 You can contact your adviser with questions; however, many of them can only be
answered upon your arrival, such as details around specific classes, roommates, etc.
 NWCCI places heavy emphasis on connecting alumni. You will receive an email
introduction from a current NWCCI participant whose expertise will serve as peer
guidance should you have specific program questions before you arrive. NWCCI will also
register you to receive our monthly e-newsletter.

32. Congratulations, and good luck!
Pierce College students enjoy their visit to the renown
Tulip Festival in the beautiful Skagit Valley in April.

33. References Links
1. NWCCI website:
http://www.edcc.edu/International/Northwest%20CCI/
2. NWCCI Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Northwest-CCI/151406598210371?ref=ts
3. NWCCI e-newsletter
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=22884318783ebf37ff1995d20&id=0bc4ce95b4
4. NWCCI Ning site:
http://edmondscc.ning.com/group/northwestcci
5. Edmonds CC webpage:
http://www.edcc.edu/international/
6. Whatcom CC webpage:
http://www.whatcom.ctc.edu/degrees-and-programs/international-programs/
7. Pierce CC webpage:
http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/international/
8. ASPE Insurance: http://usdos.sevencorners.com/docs/ASPEHealthBenefitGuide.pdf