The William A. Grant Water & Environmental Center at Walla Walla Community College is committed to contributing to the well-being of our regional community by… 

• Providing a place for collaborative dialogue
• Fostering and modeling the use of innovative practices
• Promoting and practicing the use of effective partnerships
• Offering educational programs that address 21^st Century water and environmental challenges
• Achieving heightened awareness and use of environmentally sustainable practices
• Supporting environmental protection and restoration efforts throughout the region

OUR VISION FOR THE REGION

Motivating us in our efforts is a vision of the future in which the well-being of the communities we serve is reflected by a healthy environment, a vibrant economy and diverse cultures working together in collaboration and cooperation.

We envision a region…

• Characterized by thriving natural ecosystems and thriving local economies.
• Where diverse cultural values are respected and nurtured in rural, urban and tribal communities.
• Whose public institutions, nonprofit organizations, agricultural and business communities use collaborative dialogue to address pressing public policy issues and build pathways for problem solving and partnerships.

OUR MISSION

Our updated mission reflects our commitment to be a place where individuals and organizations with diverse views and values feel comfortable and empowered to work together in seeking solutions to pressing natural resource policy issues.  We recognize the intrinsic relationship between healthy, sustainable ecosystems and prosperous communities, and dedicate ourselves to supporting the environmental protection and restoration work of others through our education and community outreach programs. 

The mission of the William A. Grant Water & Environmental Center is to provide a welcoming and supportive place where people with diverse interests and values can learn, share knowledge and work together to create a healthy and sustainable natural environment that enhances the economic well-being of our region.

OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE COMING FOUR YEARS

The six priorities listed below were used to guide the development of goals and strategies for the Center for the strategic planning period.   * In non-ranked/alphabetical order 

Develop a model campus-wide sustainability program and foster greater use of sustainable practices within the regional community.

Enhance the existing relationship with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to support environmental restoration, cultural awareness and economic development.

Establish a Watershed Ecology degree program for workforce development.

Expand the Water and Environmental Center to provide enhanced workforce training.

Support the Walla Walla Watershed Alliance in its regional advocacy role.

Support the Walla Walla Watershed Management Partnership in achieving success.

OUR STRATEGIC GOALS

Using the College’s strategic plan as a guide, we have focused our efforts on identifying both outcome and process goals as a means to achieve our priorities during the span of our planning period.   The goals we have developed are a reflection of what we heard from our key stakeholders and the current strategic plan for Walla Walla Community College.  We believe these goals will allow the Center to align its efforts with the mission and goals of the College, the interests and needs of the community and the ongoing environmental work of our basin partners.

OUTCOME GOALS

We will use our available resources to:

• Serve as a Center of Innovation for environmental and collaborative leadership.
• Enhance awareness and understanding of water management and watershed processes within the regional community.
• Foster awareness and adoption of sustainable environmental practices.
• Prepare students for careers in the 21^st Century water and environmental workforce.

PROCESS GOALS

We will work diligently to:

• Build partnerships that enhance environmental stewardship and foster collaborative dialogue.
• Embrace relevant and emerging technologies that enhance learning and communication.
• Value and promote diversity and multiculturalism.
• Pursue development of human and financial resources necessary to sustain Center operations.
• Provide and maintain high quality facilities.

OUR HISTORY

Faced with the challenges of restoring the watershed, recovering fish runs, and better managing limited water resources, organizations in the Walla Walla Valley came together in a spirit of collaboration and cooperation to create the Walla Walla Community College William A. Grant Water & Environmental Center.

The William A. Grant Water & Environmental Center (WEC) opened on October 12^th, 2007.  The WEC stands as an example of the region’s commitment of conserving, managing, and enhancing the Walla Walla Watershed.  The building itself is evidence of a milestone in progress towards addressing water management and environmental restoration issues.