WWCC Clarkston Campus Information
Thank you for visiting the WWCC Clarkston Campus Information Page. We created this page to provide our students, employees, and community members with clear, current information about the Clarkston campus and WWCC’s continued service to the Lewis-Clark Valley. Here, you can explore answers to frequently asked questions, submit your own question, and listen to radio interviews featuring WWCC faculty and staff discussing programs, student support, educational opportunities, and what’s ahead.
WWCC is open. We are accepting students. The Walla Walla campus is not closing, and the Clarkston campus remains open during a phased transition through June 2028. We know there are many questions about what that transition means for individual students, programs, and Clarkston. We encourage students to talk with us before assuming WWCC is no longer an option. Our commitment is to help each student understand the educational pathway available to them.
Questions? Reach out to our Advisors.
“Walla Walla Community College is committed to serving our entire service area – including Clarkston.”
President Chad Hickox
Clarkston Q & A
No. The WWCC Clarkston campus is open and serving students. The college is currently planning for a phased transition of in-person operations, but the campus has not closed.
The WWCC Board of Trustees approved a phased transition of in-person operations at the Clarkston campus, with the current plan of teaching classes on campus through June 2028. WWCC will continue serving the Lewis-Clark Valley beyond that date through online education and other student support and community-based options. College leaders are also continuing conversations with community partners about ways to maintain educational opportunities in Clarkston.
That is not correct. WWCC is accepting new students. If you are interested in attending WWCC, we encourage you to apply and talk with us about the program you are considering. We can help you understand what is available in Clarkston, online, and at the Walla Walla campus.
Yes. Both the Walla Walla and Clarkston campuses are open, and WWCC continues to also offer online education.
WWCC has had to make significant budget reductions because of a combination of factors, including changes to the state allocation model, state funding reductions, rising operating costs and a structural budget deficit that the college can no longer cover with reserves. For the 2026-27 fiscal year, the college identified approximately $1.8 million in reductions. Those reductions affected positions and operating budgets across the college. The work is intended to put WWCC on more sustainable financial footing while protecting its ability to provide quality education and student services.
No. There are no plans to close the Walla Walla campus. It remains WWCC’s main campus and will continue offering in-person education and student services. However, the college’s financial challenges affect the entire institution, not just Clarkston. Budget reductions have also occurred in Walla Walla and across college operations.
The college’s budget reductions were institution wide. For 2026-27, 10 full-time positions were eliminated, seven vacant positions were not filled, 11 employees had their hours reduced, and eight part-time or temporary positions were not renewed. The majority of the cuts for 2026- 27 were realized on Walla Walla’s campus because it is larger and employs more people. Departments have also had to reduce operating expenses. The Clarkston transition is one part of a broader effort to address the college’s financial challenges.
Yes. Students will continue to have access to support while the campus remains open. WWCC is also working to determine what student support should look like in Clarkston if the transition of the physical campus comes to fruition in 2028. Maintaining connections to advising, enrollment, financial aid and other student services is an important part of that planning.
No. Nursing is an important part of the conversation about Clarkston’s future, but WWCC is accepting nursing as well as all other students. Students should talk with a WWCC advisor about the program they are interested in so we can help identify the appropriate in-person, online, or Walla Walla option.
Yes. WWCC serves traditional college students, adult learners, Running Start students, and others. All new students can still apply to WWCC.
We understand how important WWCC is to Clarkston. The decision was driven by the college’s financial situation, not by a lack of commitment to the community. WWCC is facing significant ongoing budget challenges, and maintaining the Clarkston campus in its current form is not financially sustainable without additional resources. That is why the college is continuing to work with elected officials, healthcare providers, and other community partners to explore sustainable ways to preserve educational opportunities in Clarkston.
WWCC is not leaving Clarkston. Students will continue to have access to WWCC through online programs and courses, and the Walla Walla campus will remain available for in-person education. The college is also exploring what local student support and community-based services could look like after a physical campus transition. Those plans are still being developed, and we will share them as they develop.
Please talk with one of our academic advisors before assuming WWCC is no longer an option. Depending on the program and when you begin, there may be classes available in Clarkston, online options, or a combination that can work for you.
Our goal is to help students make an informed choice before they begin. The answer will depend on the program you choose and how long it takes to complete. The Clarkston transition includes a teach-out period through June 2028, and students considering programs in Clarkston should work with WWCC staff to understand their individual pathway before enrolling.
Please talk with a WWCC advisor about your specific educational goals. Depending on what you want to study, there may be Clarkston courses available during the transition, fully online programs, online courses, or other pathways that allow you to continue your education through WWCC without relocating or regularly traveling to Walla Walla.