Two-year degree program begins at Clark’s new Advanced Manufacturing Center at Boschma Farms in Ridgefield

VANCOUVER — Clark College will launch a new Associate in Applied Technology program, the first of its kind in Southwest Washington. The first cohort will begin taking classes in the 2025 fall term, with most classes taking place at Clark’s new Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) at Boschma Farms, 7000 E. Pioneer Street in Ridgefield. The expected graduation for this first cohort is in spring 2027.

Clark’s Advanced Manufacturing program offers one degree and two embedded and/or stackable certificates—educational pathways designed to integrate practical training within a degree and/or build credentials over time, allowing for flexibility and career advancement:

• Degree: Associate in Applied Technology (AAT): Integrated Technician, 98 credits
• Certificate of Achievement: Intro to Manufacturing, 31 credits
• Certificate of Proficiency: Manufacturing Operator, 44 credits

The AAT degree can be completed in two years, requiring 98 credits, and includes 19 Advanced Manufacturing specialized courses.

The planned curriculum list a range of classes in areas of programming, material science, robotics, metrology, systems integration, CAD/CAM, manual manufacturing, welding, blueprints and schematics. See Advanced Manufacturing program map here.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Advanced Manufacturing program will be prepared to:

• Function effectively as members of professional teams in advanced manufacturing environments.
• Safely operate manufacturing tools and equipment applying Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Apply skills in Computer Aided Drafting (CAD), Computer Aided Machining (CAM), Geometric Dimensioning Tolerance (GDT), mathematic principles, precision measurement, and Quality Assurance (QA) practices in manufacturing assemblies.
• Identify materials and apply knowledge of material properties to advanced manufacturing processes.
• Use specific software programs for Robotics, Additive Manufacturing (AM) and Subtractive Manufacturing (SM) processes.

The Advanced Manufacturing Center and new degree program represent the culmination of years of planning and collaboration by regional employers, industry representatives, workforce development, and faculty—past and present—who shared a vision “to expand opportunities for students and support regional workshop needs.”

“With support from the state, the Clark College Foundation, and countless volunteers who generously contributed their time and expertise, we’re proud to launch this new pathway,” said Theo Koupelis, Dean of Workforce, Professional & Technical Education and STEM. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this possible and look forward to welcoming our first cohort in Fall 2025.”

“This advanced manufacturing center is a big step forward for Clark College and our region,” said Clark College President Karin Edwards. “By investing in high-demand workforce education, we’re empowering students to build meaningful careers while supporting the economic vitality of Southwest Washington. This is the kind of innovation that defines our mission and our future.” 

Other Washington community colleges offering Advanced Manufacturing programs include Bellingham Technical College, Edmonds College, Everett Community College, Skagit Valley College and Renton Technical College.

Clark’s Advanced Manufacturing program

Manufacturing is one of the largest industries in Southwest Washington. Higher than-average growth is projected in advanced manufacturing companies in the United States (source: EMSI), and the region has been facing shortage of entry-level and skilled advanced manufacturing workers as jobs created is double that of students graduating with relevant degrees (see chart). 

The broad Advanced Manufacturing sector provides an array of job opportunities in hundreds of occupations encompassing material science, computer-assisted drafting and design, subtractive and additive manufacturing, mechatronics, rapid prototyping, programming, robotics, welding/fabrication, renewable energy, composites, and reverse engineering. 

Clark College’s Advanced Manufacturing Center at Boschma Farms in Ridgefield will help students acquire skills for family-wage jobs in these high-demand fields, offering both credit and non-credit workforce education and training tailored to current and future labor market demands. The program provides pathways through stackable degrees and certificates with multiple entry and exit points. The program currently includes a Certificate of Achievement, a Certificate of Proficiency, and an Associate of Applied Technology degree. 

With the support of our Washington State legislators, Clark College received $1.5 million in federal earmark funding for advanced manufacturing. This supports high-quality, hands-on learning with a focus on the manufacturing “high bay” for hands-on learning that replicates a work environment. The AMC includes integrated manufacturing cells, subtractive manufacturing lab, and material science lab which will host new welding, cutting, fabrication, measurement and testing equipment.

Fall Classes at the Ridgefield location

Fall classes will include an expanded selection of general education classes, along with the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing program. 

Available classes include:

·      Advanced Manufacturing Career Exploration

·      Manual Manufacturing

·      OSHA 10 Safety

·      College Essentials: Introduction to Clark

·      College Trigonometry

·      English Composition 1

·      Environmental Biology

·      Introduction to Economics

·      General Psychology

Community and Continuing Education classes at AMC at Boschma Farms are listed here.

About the Advanced Manufacturing Center at Boschma Farms

Located on a 10-acre property due east of the Ridgefield Junction, the 49,000 square foot Advanced Manufacturing Center features a vast open manufacturing floor, collaboration zones, satellite instructional facilities, classrooms, laboratories, offices and more. The 35,000 square feet dedicated to manufacturing training includes three industry-specific classrooms, four labs, five manufacturing cells and a vast open manufacturing floor. The remaining 14,000 square feet features five general education classrooms and one computer lab, with a future capacity to serve up to 1,200 students per term.

Information provided by Clark College Communications.