Switch Your Trips – Reminder!

Event flyer featuring photos of people using various forms of transit.

There’s still time to participate in Switch Your Trips! This is a really fun promotion to encourage other methods of transportation (carpooling, public transportation, biking, etc.) during the month of October. You can also enter to win some great prizes!

Minimum of 10 trips is required to qualify for a prize drawing. Rewards include a $1,500 Cash Prize, $500 – plus numerous other gift card prizes.

How do I sign up? Go here: Switch Your Trips WA-Sign Up

Sign up with your Shoreline e-mail. Under ‘Profile’ click on ‘My Networks’ then click ‘+Join Network’. Type in Shoreline Community College, then your work e-mail address. All employees are encouraged to participate! 

Please reach out to Mary Lou Ames with any questions: mames@shoreline.edu

For more info, please visit: Switch Your Trips WA

BECU and Coastal Community Bank Invest in Shoreline College Foundation’s Basic Needs Support Program

Three people working on a laptop computer.

Too many college students today are being forced to make impossible choices, often choosing between paying for food and rent, or staying in school. The lack of reliable access to housing, food, and other essentials has become a growing crisis, making it harder for students to complete their education and secure living-wage jobs.

The Shoreline College Foundation is raising funds to ensure students have access to the essentials they need to succeed. To that end, the Foundation is proud to announce generous contributions from BECU (Boeing Employees Credit Union) and Coastal Community Bank, with each institution awarding $10,000 to support Shoreline’s Basic Needs Support program. These investments will help ensure Shoreline students have access to food, housing assistance, tuition support, and other critical resources, helping to remove financial barriers to education.

“We are deeply grateful for BECU and Coastal Community Bank’s commitment to our students,” said Wendy Coates, Associate Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the Shoreline College Foundation. “Their generosity reflects the power of partnership, and their support will directly impact students who are working hard to achieve their goals while also facing financial challenges.”

BECU is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative guided by the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” Putting people over profit drives BECU’s everyday business decisions. Unlike many financial institutions, BECU is owned by its members, not private shareholders, which enables the credit union to reinvest in community well-being through programs like Shoreline’s Basic Needs Support program.

Coastal Community Bank has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the communities it serves. In alignment with the Community Reinvestment Act, Coastal supports nonprofit organizations that strengthen communities, particularly those serving low- and moderate-income individuals and families. Their focus areas include affordable housing, financial education, workforce development, neighborhood revitalization, health and social services, and youth programs.

“We believe that your work contributes significantly to the community, and we are excited to support your efforts,” said Colleen Temple, Vice President and Community Impact Manager at Coastal Community Bank.

The need for student support is urgent. According to the Fall 2024 Washington Student Experience Survey:

  • 52% of students reported experiencing food and housing insecurity
  • 44% reported food insecurity alone
  • Students at two-year colleges, especially parents, first-generation students, and those from low-income households are disproportionately affected

One student shared, “Pursuing higher education is challenging enough, but dealing with food insecurity and housing instability makes the journey even tougher. These basic needs become constant distractions, making it hard to focus on school. I often find myself sitting in class thinking about how I’m going to make ends meet, whether I’ll have enough money for food, or how I’ll pay rent.”

The Shoreline College Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to growing philanthropy in support of the students and programs of Shoreline College. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference in the lives of students.

With the partnership of BECU and Coastal Community Bank, the Foundation can continue building a future where all students feel safe, supported, and equipped to thrive.

To learn more about how you can support Shoreline students, visit: Foundation Home | Shoreline Community College

BECU and Coastal Community Bank logos.

Financial Aid Office Closed Oct. 8 – 17

In order to process financial aid files and other tasks, the Financial Aid office will close to in-person services Wednesday, October 8 through Friday, October 17. We ask that students and staff please limit email and phone calls to our office during this time.

Students who were recently notified to appear in person to complete V4 or V5 verification should check in at the Welcome Desk in Foss for assistance during our closure.

If you have already emailed or left a voicemail, we are working as quickly as we can to get back to you.

We thank you for your patience and support.

Message from the President’s Office: Monitoring Federal Government Shutdown and Shoreline Impacts

Dear Campus Community, 

As I’m sure you are aware, the federal budget deadline is tonight, September 30. If Congress does not reach an agreement, the federal government will shut down beginning at 11:59pm. While we remain hopeful that an agreement will be reached, we are preparing for possible impacts on our college community. 

In past shutdowns, federal funding for colleges and students was ultimately restored, though there were sometimes temporary disruptions. At this time, Shoreline plans to continue all federally funded programs and grant activities, including Pell Grants, Federal Work Study, Basic Education for Adults (BEdA), BFET, SEOG, and Perkins.  Based on guidance from the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), we do not anticipate immediate impacts to our federally funded employees or programs. If a shutdown continues for an extended period, we may need to reassess and will update students and employees accordingly. 

It’s important to note that some students and employees could be affected in other ways, particularly those who rely on federal programs such as SNAP, WIC, or military tuition assistance. Please be mindful that some in our community may be experiencing stress or hardship during this time, and we ask that you help connect individuals to resources as needed. Shoreline offers support through: 

We will continue to monitor developments closely and provide updates as new information becomes available. Thank you for all that you do here at Shoreline to support our students, and each other. 

Best, 

Jack

Jack S. Kahn Ph.D.
President
Shoreline Community College

Message from the President’s Office: Leadership Updates for the 2025–26 Academic Year

Dear Colleagues, 

As we begin the academic year, I want to share some important leadership updates. Our priority remains in maintaining consistent leadership to support our staff, faculty, and students through this time of transition. 

Due to the current hiring freeze, the permanent Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Enrollment and Access positions will remain unfilled and frozen for this fiscal year. To ensure stability and continuity: 

  • Ryan Aiello will continue in his role as Vice President of Student Affairs and serve as Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs through the academic year. This arrangement will be reevaluated in the spring. Ryan is eager to continue focusing on strategic priorities and supporting our teams in this dual role, with the goal of advancing student success and completion. 
  • Belle Lamb will serve as Acting Dean of Enrollment and Access for the academic year, with this arrangement also up for reevaluation in the spring. Belle will continue leading our Guided Pathways work and will also oversee Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, Advising, and Running Start.  
  • Ryan will also continue to receive additional Academic Affairs support from Shanon Ehmke-Reedy, Dean of Communications and Social Sciences, and Lucas Rucks, Associate Vice President of Business Programs and Strategic Partnerships. 

These interim assignments demonstrate our commitment to stability during these challenging times, and to keeping students at the center of our work, while also providing consistent support for faculty and staff. Their leadership, along with your continued care and collaboration will help us better serve our students throughout the year. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Best,

Jack

Jack S. Kahn Ph.D.
President
Shoreline Community College