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Cascadia College president reports enrollment rebound, student supports and 25th anniversary progress
Summary
Cascadia College President Eric Murray reported enrollment up about 12% to pre‑pandemic levels, strong transfer and retention metrics, a growing running start cohort (about 1,100 students), and expansion of student supports including emergency grants, laptop loaner program and food pantry. He also noted enrollment and federal funding threats to
Bothell/Kirkland — Cascadia College President Eric Murray delivered the college’s annual State of the College address at the Oct. 21 council meeting, reporting improving enrollment, student success metrics and expanding student supports.
Lede: Murray said Cascadia’s overall enrollment is up roughly 12% following post‑pandemic declines, and the college recorded its highest pre‑pandemic enrollment level. The college serves more than 1,100 Running Start students (about one‑quarter of its headcount), launched a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and reported strong transfer and retention metrics.
Context and highlights: Murray told the council Cascadia ranks first among Washington community colleges on several performance metrics — highest retention and highest transfer rates into four‑year institutions and strong progression in math pathways. He said Cascadia’s Cascadia Scholars mentoring program, emergency grants (over $70,000 awarded this year), laptop checkout and food pantry have improved retention; 90% of students who received emergency grants stayed enrolled.
Challenges: Murray said federal changes affecting international student visas reduced international enrollment sharply — more than a million dollars of revenue lost to the college budget — and that changing federal agency assignments for grant funds had temporarily disrupted fund flows. He also said state‑level funding pressures may affect some community colleges in the region.
Community partnerships and requests: Murray thanked local partners and asked the city to continue supporting Cascadia’s capital and operational needs; staff noted Cascadia remains in active discussions for supplemental capital funding and legislative outreach. Murray also offered Cascadia’s equity and inclusion training as a potential community resource.
Who said what: President Murray framed the report with campus program highlights; city council members asked about services for students experiencing housing insecurity and about disaggregated outcomes for students with disabilities. Murray said Cascadia operates a basic needs navigator and emergency programs and will provide disaggregated data upon request.
Next steps: Murray will follow up with staff and the council on capital‑funding advocacy and data requests; city staff indicated ongoing contact with federal and legislative offices about Cascadia’s funding and visa impacts.
