UPDATE 2/9: SCC has decided not to move forward with plans to relocate the college’s dental hygiene program to the Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Read more about the decision here.

SCC plans to move its dental hygiene program to the Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWIT) and “teach out” current students before placing the program on hiatus. 

Program Director Maryrose Bellert said that the program is no longer accepting new applicants, but will finish educating current students in accordance with the teach out. Instructors who teach first year students will be laid off in July.

Officially, the program will then be placed on hiatus, but instructors and students believe it will not be revived.

“We’re not talking about closing (the dental hygiene) program,” Vice President for Student Learning Philip King said at a Jan. 23 budget meeting. “That question is coming up, but that program is not on the list right now.”

The decision to relocate and teach out comes as SCC attempts to cut $2.38 million from its budget. Dental hygiene is the most expensive program on campus, and LWIT will provide access to their facilities to SCC students free of charge to the college.

“Once we spend time teaching out,” Bellert said, “will they spend time finding a permanent location for us?”

Despite budget cuts, SCC plans to move forward with the demolition of the 2500 building and construction of a new Allied Health, Science and Advanced Manufacturing building without space to accommodate the program. Bellert is calling on SCC to postpone the construction of the new building and for the college to consider other options.

Roberts has said that construction cannot be postponed, as state grants for the construction will expire this year. With rising construction prices, the college had to downsize the initial plan, which included space for the dental hygiene clinic.

At the Jan. 23 budget meeting, Roberts emphasized that the school is still looking into other options, but the LWIT facility is the most developed option.

Four representatives in the Washington State Legislature signed onto a letter declaring they were “not inclined to authorize (the grant to build the building) until the College agrees to and makes real efforts … to preserve the Dental Hygiene program for the long term.” That letter was circulated at and read into the minutes of a Jan. 22 SCC Board of Trustees meeting.

As recently as last year, things were looking up for the dental hygiene program at SCC. Plans were in place to offer a bachelor’s of applied science degree in dental hygiene, and faculty were telling students of a new building being built, The Ebbtide reported at the time.

“It’s been really stressful,” said Michelle Davidson, a student in the program. “I got into other dental hygiene programs, and (the plan for a bachelor’s program) was one of the draws here … Shoreline has a great reputation, it’s one of the best schools in the state.”

Logistical Dilemma

Another issue raised is the new operating schedule of the LWIT facility, which would only be available to SCC students from around 5-10 p.m., after LWIT students are done using it for the day. 

“It’s hard to find patients willing to see you that late,” Davidson said, adding that potential new patients are more likely to seek dental services from LWIT dental hygiene students, due to their program’s more conventional operating hours. 

Given the new schedule, Davidson said she would not make it home until 1 a.m. the day after class. She has to take a ferry to school and selected SCC in part because it offered the shortest commute.

“I kind of worry about having to walk on to the ferry at that time of night,” she said.

In a meeting, Davidson and other students pressed administrators about the commute adjustment. She said that other students in the program had uprooted families to move to Shoreline to be closer to school. 

Bellert said that staff have similar concerns about being able to make evening work hours while taking care of their families.

“We have dedicated faculty who want to be able to teach the students,” she said. “But when their future in teaching is being threatened, I would not blame them if they left for more secure positions.”

Email Joshua Groom at [email protected] if you have any information or comments relating to this story.

News Editor Juan Páez contributed additional reporting.

Correction: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect name for the Allied Health, Science and Advanced Manufacturing complex.