YAKIMA, Wash. — Washington State University will close its Yakima Academic Center in response to steep budget cuts.

University officials Wednesday confirmed the closure of the six-year-old center on the Yakima Valley Community College campus along with eight other learning centers around the state.

The cuts are in response to a 10 percent budget cut that will see the university pare 360 positions from its statewide staffing. The amount of the cut for the 2009-11 biennium is about $54 million.

An economic development official called the closure a blow to the community.

"It is a tough situation," said Dave McFadden, president and chief executive officer of the Yakima County Development Association. "We are certainly disappointed because we worked very hard to build that center and broaden the depth and access to higher education. My hope is it is temporary."

McFadden said he sympathized with the difficult decisions university officials had to make.

Yakima County Cooperative Extension fared better, facing elimination of mailing costs but no staff cuts, said Christine Jackson, county extension chair.

Extension positions that become vacant can be filled, she added.

Closure of the academic center, where 160 students took undergraduate and graduate courses, was first proposed last month.

The center is located in the Deccio Higher Education Center on the community college campus at South 16th Avenue and Nob Hill Boulevard.

It wasn't clear Wednesday when the center will close, but certainly before the end of 2009.

University spokesman James Tinney said WSU is working with community college leadership to find ways to lessen the impact on students.

"We acknowledge we are ending a program we'd rather not be ending. We are trying to work with the local administration to fill any gaps created as a result of the job cuts," he said.

The center has three employees.

Students attend the center because they have limited options due to employment or other limitations that prevent them from going to college in another city.

Kathy Barnard, spokeswoman for the WSU Cooperative Extension program, said place-
bound students will con-
tinue to be able to take
classes online. By expanding partnerships with community colleges, the university hopes to ease the impact on students, she said.

* David Lester can be reached at 509-577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.