Heritage moves out of Wenatchee college space

WENATCHEE -- Heritage University canceled its lease with Wenatchee Valley College and moved out of its office space in Wenatchi Hall this month.

WVC President Jim Richardson said he learned of the canceled lease Tuesday.

Richardson said he does not know if Heritage plans to still offer degree programs through WVC, but the university won't have a person on campus full time to answer questions about Heritage's programs.

Heritage University officials did not answer phone calls Wednesday to their offices in Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Tri-Cities or Yakima.

Heritage University, a private school based in Toppenish, offers evening and online courses for two kinds of degrees in Wenatchee:

* Bachelor of arts in education with endorsements in kindergarten to eighth grade and English as a second language

* Three master's of education degrees in teaching and learning, educational administration, counseling and a certificate program for principals and program administrators.

Heritage had an office at WVC's Omak campus, but pulled out about two years ago because it served too few students, Richardson said.

Last spring, a budget shortfall forced Washington State University to shut down its North Central Washington Learning Center on WVC's Wenatchee campus.

The NCW Learning Center served about 70 online students in Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties. Students could still carry on with their programs, but without the center's on-site help.

When WSU announced the closure in May, Heritage officials said they planned to keep their on-site office open.

Central Washington University is the only remaining four-year college with an extension campus in the area. Spokeswoman Becky Watson said Wednesday that CWU plans to keep its Wenatchee center open and may add to its courseload.

CWU Wenatchee offers three degrees: a bachelor's of elementary education; a bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies, social studies; and a master's in teaching. It also offers courses in accounting, business administration and a professional certificate in teaching.