Cascade College

Cascade College

Former names	Columbia Christian College (1956 – 1993)
Type	Christian college
Active	1956–May 2009
Affiliation	Churches of Christ
Director	Dr. William Goad
Students	300+ undergraduate
Location	9101 E. Burnside Street Portland, Oregon 97216
Nickname	Thunderbirds
Website	www.oc.edu/cascade/

Cascade College was a private, four-year, liberal arts college associated with the Churches of Christ. Located in Portland, Oregon, United States, it was a branch campus of Oklahoma Christian University. Its mission was to emphasize spiritual growth and career preparation. Because of Cascade's ongoing financial problems, Oklahoma Christian University closed Cascade at the end of the 2009 academic year.

History

Cascade had been founded as Columbia Christian College in 1956. For several years, Columbia had serious financial difficulties. Partially as a consequence, its regional accreditation was revoked. The school's board sought help from other colleges affiliated with Churches of Christ. Oklahoma Christian University agreed to fund the college as a branch campus. The newly renamed Cascade College opened in 1993 after its acceptance as a branch by Oklahoma Christian University, with 143 students attending the first semester.

As a branch campus of Oklahoma Christian, Cascade College was accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and was authorized by the State of Oregon to offer and confer academic degrees. In October 2008, plans were announced to close Cascade, because of financial difficulties, at the end of the 2009 academic year.

Academics

The college operated on a semester calendar. It offered degree programs in pre-nursing, religion, business, marketing, English, interdisciplinary studies, elementary education, biology, communications and psychology. Cascade College also offered international study programs through its parent institution that created opportunities for students to experience other cultures.

Student life

Cascade College had a variety of activities, including service clubs (Delta Sigma Rho, Kappa Sigma Chi, Lambda Chi Omega, Phi Alpha Sigma, Phi Phi Phi, Alpha Kappa Sigma (a/k/a AXE established in 1997/98 school year)), SIFE, drama club (Grease Paint), psychology club (Psi Beta Sigma), diversity club (Naked Souls), instrumental groups, The Nature Society, Witness, campus ministry, academic clubs (Alpha Chi & Summit Society), theater (Visions/Second Story) and choir opportunities.

Athletics

Cascade College's athletics program was part of the Cascade Collegiate Conference, with teams in basketball, soccer, track, cross country, volleyball. The mascot was the Thunderbird.

Mission statement

The mission statement was as follows: "Cascade College is a higher learning community which transforms lives for Christian faith, leadership, and service."

Controversies

Many questioned the decision to close the college in light of several multimillion dollar projects which Oklahoma Christian had undertaken in recent years, including the erection of a clock tower estimated to cost $30 million.

External links

• Information about the College on Oklahoma Christian University's website