PORT TOWNSEND — Peninsula College will close its Fort Worden campus in Port Townsend at the end of the current academic year, as part of efforts to address a projected $2.2 million budget shortfall for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
The closure comes as community colleges across Washington face several financial challenges, including reduced state funding, a budgeting mistake by the Washington Office of Financial Management, and unfunded cost-of-living increases for staff.
Enrollment at the Port Townsend location has dropped sharply over the years, even before the pandemic, with fewer than half the students it used to serve.
Peninsula College President Suzy Ames said in a news release, the decision was difficult but necessary. She says it gives the college a chance to reach more students in Jefferson County “in different ways”.
Although in-person classes at Fort Worden will end, the college plans to expand online, hybrid, and mobile learning options. Ames also said the college is looking into new opportunities in nearby areas like Port Hadlock and Chimacum.
Student services such as academic advising, financial aid, and other support will remain available remotely for students in East Jefferson County. The college says it also plans to establish a more permanent presence in the county in the future.
Students currently enrolled—or planning to attend in-person classes in Port Townsend this fall—should contact Anna Forrestal, Director, Port Townsend, at AForrestal@pencol.edu or (360) 417-6317 to plan for the upcoming quarter.