Learning is a lifelong process, and Pierce College, a comprehensive, public two-year community college, is able to help soldiers and their family members achieve their educational goals.

The college has two campuses, the Pierce College Fort Steilacoom site and the Pierce College Puyallup site.  Moreover, the college has a Fort Lewis extended learning site in the Stone Education Center.

The five core abilities of critical thinking, effective communication, information competency, multiculturalism and responsibility form the philosophic basis for instruction.

"I've taken a number of classes at the Fort Steilacoom campus," said Staff Sgt. John Bower, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.  "All of them have been excellent and are preparing me for transfer to the University of Washington," he added.

The college offers an Associate of Arts degree for general transfer to a four-year school, an Associate of Science degree for transfer to a four-year school, and direct transfer degrees in subjects such as business, pre-nursing, and the education areas of chemistry, physics and general science.

If time is tight or the distance is far, the institution offers distance-learning courses. These courses give students the freedom to learn at their convenience.

The school is also an institutional member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, a group of more than 1,800 colleges and university providing voluntary postsecondary education to military members worldwide.  As such, Pierce College recognizes the unique nature of the military and has committed to easing the transfer of relevant course credits, providing flexible academic residency requirements and crediting learning from appropriate military training and experiences.

"It's good that the college recognized some of the training I have received in the Army," said Spc. Helen Montgomery, 2nd Armored Cavalry.

In line with working around busy schedules, Pierce College is one of 29 institutions that offers online college-level courses to Army personnel throughout the world via eArmyU, the Army's largest e-learning virtual university program.

Two degrees are offered - an Associate in Technology - General and an Associate of Arts. A new term starts on the 13th of every month to accommodate military schedules.

"My experience at Pierce has been positive," said Sgt. Paul Rubens, Madigan Army Medical Center.

"The college has a lot to offer in a lot of different ways," he added.

Contact information is as follows: Fort Steilacoom Campus (253) 964-6501; Puyallup Campus (253) 840-8400; Pierce College at Fort Lewis (253) 964-6564; and Distance Learning (253) 964-6244.