What's missing from about 43,000 residents in the West Seattle area? It's something most of them would like to have. _The answer is a four-year college degree. The most recent census numbers show that more than 43,000 people in our area, 25 years and older, have "some college, no degree."

Most of those people would like to get that degree, according to community awareness and opinion research that South Seattle Community College conducted last summer. More than 55 per cent of the people interviewed said they need courses leading to a bachelor's degree, and 18 per cent said they would take those classes in the near term.

That kind of information tells us at South Seattle Community College that there's a need close to home for bachelor's degree coursework, and we're doing something to help.

We're beginning a new program for area residents - offering classes toward earning a BA degree at our main campus in West Seattle. Beginning this fall quarter we are offering upper level classes through these partners:

Heritage University

BA in Education, Teaching Residency Certificate and Endorsements in K-8 and ESL

Eastern Washington University

BS in Technology, Applied Technology Option

Heritage also will offer a masters in teaching program beginning in May 2007. South is working with other potential four-year partners to offer additional degree areas, such as business administration and accounting.

Classes will be held in South's new University Center building, taught by instructors from each institution. For more information about these classes and how to register, visit the college website at www.southseattle.edu or call 206-764-5387.

There will be even more advanced-degree opportunity in the near future. South was selected as one of just four community colleges in the state to offer its own four-year degree on a pilot basis. Beginning in Fall 2007 South will welcome students who want to earn a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Hospitality Management.

The new four-year degree builds upon South's well-regarded Culinary Arts program, which enjoys strong partnerships with the hospitality industry and other educational institutions. The BAS degree also is a good match with South's new Northwest Wine Academy, and our existing business courses.

The BAS degree program at South will prepare students for management, marketing and human resource positions in all facets of the hospitality industry, including tourism, hotel operations, restaurant management, catering, cruise ship operations, casino operations and travel. The degree also will serve emerging hospitality fields such as the growing number of assisted and independent living facilities in the Puget Sound region catering to the rising population of retirees and the elderly.

With this program, South will fill an important higher education niche in our state. The only other similar bachelor's degree program is at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, some 300 miles from Seattle. The Hospitality Business Management Program at WSU has increasing demand for students, and set a record seat-count request in the fall of 2005 of over 1,000 students. WSU has no plans to offer its program in the Seattle area, and has agreed to be our mentor university as South moves ahead to offer the new bachelor's degree program. WSU will offer four classes in the core curriculum by online distance learning.

We are very pleased to provide these new opportunities for area residents to take upper-division classes close to home. In addition to classes to earn your BA degree, at South you can find:

Career training for that first job, or retraining for a new job

The first two years of college close to home, with small classes and personal attention from outstanding instructors

Help with English language skills

Courses for adults who want to improve their reading, writing and math skills

Personal enrichment courses ranging from cooking to pottery, from computers to small business guidance

Online classes

Taking college-level courses as a high school student

Apprenticeship training

At South Seattle Community College we focus on the "community" part of our name. Our college exists to serve the educational needs of residents in our West Seattle and South Seattle service community. I know we have a place for you, and I hope you will visit us, either in person or on our website, www.southseattle,edu. It's never too late to get started.

Dr. Jill Wakefield is president of South Seattle Community College.