
With architectural work for a new health sciences complex underway, Chemeketa Community College and Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) officials have laid the foundation for a new program to be housed in the building.
On Friday, Nov. 7, the presidents of both colleges signed documents joining the schools in a dual enrollment agreement and offering OIT’s dental hygiene program at Chemeketa. The signing ceremony was held at Chemeketa’s Salem Campus.
“We’ve built a bridge spanning distance and time for students that might otherwise see those two elements as obstacles to education,” said Cheryl Roberts, Chemeketa president. “The agreement also creates more opportunities for a trained workforce.”
Dual enrollment will allow Chemeketa students to be jointly admitted and enrolled at both OIT and Chemeketa, to benefit from one financial aid package, and to have access to both Chemeketa and OIT services and support. Chemeketa’s Health Sciences Center will add dental hygiene to its cluster of nursing and allied health programs.
The bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene will be offered on Chemeketa’s Salem campus and supported by both institutions. In short, students will receive all the benefits of Chemeketa’s small classes and support services while earning a higher level degree than those typically offered at a community college.
“This agreement feels good,” said Dr. Christopher Maples, president of OIT. “We’re streamlining opportunities for success to students increasingly concerned about accessibility to education.”
The new program will be instituted shortly after the completion of Chemeketa new health sciences building in 2011. OIT will be the fourth college Chemeketa holds dual enrollment agreements with, joining Western Oregon University, Oregon State University and Portland State University.

Photos: (Top) Dental assisting student Melissa Del Real practices rinsing and drying teeth on student Ayla Duyn. (Bottom) Cheryl Roberts, president of Chemeketa Community College, and Dr. Christopher Maples, president of the Oregon Institute of Technology, joke as they sign documents joining the two schools in a dual enrollment agreement.