News Links | Sept. 13, 2022

September 13, 2022 by Leave a Comment
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
Bob Mohrbacher commentary: Real solution to student debt is making college affordable
Student debt has been in the news a lot lately. … Centralia College does not participate in any federal student loan programs. We actively counsel students against taking out risky, high-interest private loans for their education.
Centralia Chronicle, Sept. 12, 2022

Funding roundup: Washington
Highline College will use a $1.38 million TRIO Talent Search grant to ensure low-income, first-generation students can enroll and succeed in college. …  Peninsula College secured a $201,278 Job Skills Program (JSP) grant to help McKinley Paper upskill entry-level employees at its Port Angeles mill. … More Spokane Community College (SCC) students will have access to emergency aid thanks to a $400,000 grant from the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges.
Community College Daily, Sept. 12, 2022

Ribbon cutting ceremony held for new Early Learning Center playground
On September 6, Bellevue College celebrated the renovation of Bellevue’s Early Learning Center (ELC) playground with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The renovation was made possible through a decades-long partnership with Costco.
Bellevue Reporter, Sept. 9, 2022

Big Bend receives $1.16 million EOC grant
Big Bend Community College will make use of a $1.16 million grant to open a TRIO Educational Opportunity Center, according to a press release from the college. Funds from the EOC grant will pay for outreach personnel in communities within the BBCC service district …
Columbia-Basin Herald, Sept. 8, 2022

Edmonds College to offer certification in data analytics starting in October
Edmonds College launched an affordable data analytics certification program that will start in October. No programming experience is necessary, and students can complete the program in as little as nine months.
My Edmonds News, Sept. 8, 2022
TRENDS | HORIZONS | EDUCATION
Report reveals pandemic caused continued transfer drops
… All transfer pathways experienced declines, but transfers into two-year institutions were particularly affected. Lateral transfers (two-year to two-year) declined by over 21% and reverse transfers (four-year to two-year) declined by 18%.
Diverse Education, Sept. 8, 2022
Filed Under: Announcements Tagged With: , ,

News Links | Sept. 8, 2022

September 9, 2022 by Leave a Comment
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
3 EC students receive pharmacy technician scholarships
… “The pharmacy technician certification exam is one of the final hurdles for our students before they enter the workforce,” said Edmonds College Dean of Health and Human Services Karen Townsend.
Edmonds Beacon, Sept. 8, 2022

Highline College to develop talent search program at local schools
… The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded Highline College the 5-year grant, which will fund a director and two advisor positions, and the development of the Talent Search program.
Waterland Blog, Sept. 6, 2022

Facing uncertainty, WA woodworkers highlight legacy of Seattle’s Wood Technology Center
There aren’t many places where you find high schoolers and college students building a boat together. But at the Wood Technology Center at Seattle Central College, that sort of thing is pretty common.
The Seattle Times, Sept. 4, 2022

Boeing donates $25,000 to support Big Bend’s aviation programs
… “Big Bend Community College is very grateful for Boeing’s continued support of the Aviation Maintenance and Commercial Pilot programs,” stated college Dean of Workforce Education Daneen Berry-Guerin.
iFiber One, Sept. 2, 2022

Swinomish tribe, Skagit Valley College partner on new dental therapy program
… Already having a relationship with Skagit Valley College, the tribe asked the college to explore with it the potential of building a dental therapy program closer to home, said Darren Greeno, executive dean for instruction at Skagit Valley College.
Skagit Valley Herald, August 31, 2022
TRENDS | HORIZONS | EDUCATION
FEMA and other bureaucracies
Editor’s note: This article is an excerpt from the book Overcoming Disaster: What Colleges Learned from Catastrophe and Recovery (Rowman & Littlefield), which provides lessons learned from the experiences of three community colleges … that faced tragedies, including hurricanes and campus shootings.
Community College Daily, Sept. 8, 2022

The Mindset List
Marist College releases annual list of what freshmen know (and what they don’t know). … The list is designed to help those in academe adjust their perspective to that of the new freshmen.
Inside Higher Ed, Sept. 8, 2022
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News Links | Sept. 6, 2022

September 7, 2022 by Leave a Comment
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
Peninsula College vice president chosen for fellowship
The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program has selected Steven Thomas, Peninsula College’s vice president of instruction, for the 2022-23 class of Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship. Thomas is one of 31 selected nationwide for the fellowship, Peninsula College announced in a press release.
Peninsula Daily News, Sept. 5, 2022

Get a look inside CBC’s $35 million recreation center in Pasco. Students paid for it
For years [Columbia Basin College] students have been chipping in to help replace an aging, inadequate recreation center. Now after more than a year of delays, the $35 million facility is nearing completion — and lives up to the hype. The facility is modern in every sense of the word, setting students up to compete in everything from volleyball and indoor soccer to esports.
Tri-City Herald, Sept. 5, 2022

Search for next WVC president moves forward
The search for Wenatchee Valley College’s next president is moving forward, with the deadline to apply less than four weeks away. The application window for the position closes on Sept. 28, with in-person semifinalist interviews planned for Oct. 17 and 18.
The Wenatchee World, Sept. 2, 2022

Edmonds College student started an education center for Afghan refugees in his garage
… He began taking English lessons from Edmonds College and got involved with Lynnwood’s growing Afghan refugee and immigrant population, which led him to the five families whose children became his first students. “They said, ‘We want to have our children with you, so they can learn something from you,’” Abid said.
The Seattle Times, Sept. 1, 2022

Washington state to add 500 seats in cybersecurity college programs in effort to bolster safeguards
… “Bank accounts, social security numbers, health information, the names and addresses of family and friends — all this data creates a treasure trove of information for cybercriminals looking to commit identify fraud themselves or sell the information to others,” said Paul Francis, executive director of the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. “With this investment, our colleges will train more people in cybersecurity at all levels,” Francis said by email. [12 colleges listed]
GeekWire, August 31, 2022

Dialed In: From the courtroom to community college
School is back in session for every grade level and higher education. Dr. Rebekah Woods has been at the helm of Columbia Basin College in Pasco for nearly five years now. Dr. Woods actually started her professional career practicing law but ended up working at her alma mater and staying in higher ed ever since. [Video]
NBC Right Now, August 30, 2022

Nursing assistants rush to complete certification testing after COVID waiver lifted
… Shoreline Community College dean of health occupations and nursing, Mary Burroughs, says it won’t be easy since it’s one-on-one testing.  They have to show that they are competent in skills like “hand-washing, personal care, transfers, bathing, clothing, feeding,” Burroughs says, “they have to demonstrate that to us individually, and they have to pass each of those skills.”
Northwest News Radio, August 29, 2022
TRENDS | HORIZONS | EDUCATION
Opinion: High school students can take a different path to high-paying jobs
As we look forward to the new school year, Washington’s students have incredible learning opportunities ahead. As educators our joy is seeing students finding their passions and helping them build the skills they need to pursue their dreams. This is why we are excited that Washington lawmakers have expanded grant opportunities for schools to access Core Plus programs.
The Seattle Times, Sept. 6, 2022

First-of-its-kind report sheds light on experience of Indigenous students
… The report, National Study on College Affordability for Indigenous Students, is a collection of qualitative and quantitative data from 2,789 current and former NNSP scholarship recipients, representing 172 Tribal Nations, who enrolled at any postsecondary institution. NNSP leaders believe it is likely the largest data set on Indigenous students in existence.
Diverse Education, Sept. 2, 2022

Completion boost for 2-year students who take (some) online courses
Black, Hispanic and low-income community college students who take up to half their courses online increase their odds of completing degrees, a working paper finds. Fully online learners are less likely to earn a credential.
Inside Higher Ed, Sept. 1, 2022
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SBCTC News Links | August 30, 2022

August 30, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Edmonds College receives $1.5 million cybersecurity grant
Edmonds College will receive nearly $1.5 million in grants for its cybersecurity program, the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges announced. The grant is part of President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion Build Back Better package, which approved more than $500 million for cybersecurity funding.
My Edmonds News, August 29, 2022

A healthcare crisis was looming: these local colleges made sure that would not happen
… While [Tacoma Community College] and [Bates Technical College] currently are focused on averting an early October crisis, both colleges are excited about the future. Each expects to continue examining students now that they are each credentialed testing centers. “We’ll be able to get more people into the pipeline and into working,” Swaren said.
News Tribune, August 29, 2022

Centralia College student from Chehalis places at the state public speaking championship
Lyndi Klacik didn’t expect to compete at the Washington’s community college state championship for public speaking, but on Saturday, July 23, that’s exactly where she found herself. Raised in Chehalis, Klacik, 17, was homeschooled and hadn’t set foot in a school until she began attending Centralia College as a Running Start student during the fall of 2021.
Centralia Chronicle, August 29, 2022

Shoreline Community College launches new degree in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
This Fall, Shoreline Community College (Shoreline) is excited to introduce a new degree to its program list: an Associate of Applied Arts (AAAS) in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (BIDA). The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) approved the new AAAS degree this summer.
Shoreline Area News, August 26, 2022

Shoreline Community College to hire diversity administrator
… Qualified and enthusiastic applicants are highly encouraged to apply, according to Shoreline Community College (Shoreline) President Jack Kahn. “The campus is really excited to see this addition to our executive team,” said Kahn.
Shoreline Area News, August 26, 2022

US grant funds a new program
A $1 million federal grant will go toward a collaboration between the Port Angeles Waterfront Center and Peninsula College to fund a new media technicians certificate program.
Peninsula Daily News, August 26, 2022

Edmonds College: Going back to the basics
During a recent board of trustees meeting, Edmonds College President Amit Singh spoke about the school’s priorities, with “success” and “access” the two most important as he stressed “going back to the basics.”
Edmonds Beacon, August 25, 2022

Spokane Community College honoring nursing students with pinning ceremony
… [Spokane Community College] will expand its nursing program to 56 students from its previous enrollment of 48 students this fall and spring quarters. Clark said that SCC nursing programs have the highest rate of students who pass the NCLEX, the nursing exam, in the Spokane region.
KXLY, August 23, 2022
TRENDS | HORIZONS | EDUCATION
The 21st-century challenge: Growing your own leaders
Prior to the pandemic, there was a realization that community colleges were facing real challenges of staffing and leadership as the Baby Boomer generation reached retirement age.
Community College Daily, August 30, 2022

Teacher education programs desperately seek students
Education colleges and teacher preparation programs are creating new incentives to lure students, hoping to reverse years of enrollment declines and fill classroom vacancies.
Inside Higher Ed, August 29, 2022

How higher ed is trying to improve student performance with data
When information-technology and higher-education leaders reunited in Philadelphia in October 2021 for the first in-person Educause conference in two years, buzzwords floated around the panel rooms: “Data analytics.” “Data-informed” action. “Innovation.”
PBS News Hour, August 26, 2022

Service with a smile
… Community college professionals must ensure their students, many of whom have college-access barriers, are set up for success. Students “don’t come to community college to fail,” García says. “They come with their hopes, aspirations and dreams.”
Inside Higher Ed, August 26, 2022
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SBCTC News Links | August 23, 2022

August 25, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Bellevue College joins Amazon Career Choice program
Bellevue College has been selected as an education partner for Amazon’s Career Choice program, providing Amazon’s hourly employees access to high-tech degrees, the college has announced.
425 Business, August 22, 2022

New Skagit Valley College president ready to get to work
Christopher Villa said he has a roadmap for his first year as Skagit Valley College president. He said outgoing President Tom Keegan laid the groundwork through the college’s strategic plan.
Skagit Valley Herald, August 20, 2022

Edmonds College launches dental assistant program
Edmonds College will launch a dental assistant program starting fall quarter of 2022 in which students can earn a certificate in nine months. The dental assistant program is the latest under the Allied Health Education umbrella at Edmonds …
Mill Creek Beacon, August, 19, 2022

Tacoma Community College brings ESL program to this side of the bridge
Tacoma Community College has long had an English as a Second Language program for adults seeking to improve their fluency in reading, writing and speaking English. But until this year, residents of Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula had to cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to access classes.
Gig Harbor Now, August 17, 2022

Many school districts across the country are experiencing a staffing crisis, but NOT Yakima schools
… WVSD works directly with the Teacher Education Program at Yakima Valley College offering a Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education and a residency program requiring hands-on working experience within classrooms under the guidance of a teacher.
NBC Right Now, August 16, 2022

South Puget Sound Community College welcomes new Executive Diversity Officer
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) has selected Amanda Ybarra to serve as the College’s Executive Diversity Officer (EDO). The EDO is a member of SPSCC’s executive leadership team and is responsible for further supporting SPSCC’s core theme of “Equity” and the college’s commitment to reducing barriers and removing equity gaps.
Thurston Talk, August 15, 2022
TRENDS | HORIZONS | EDUCATION
$8M ED grant program to help strengthen, diversify teacher workforce
The U.S. Education Department (ED) has announced a new $8 million grant competition geared to help minority-serving institutions in their efforts to diversify the teacher workforce and prepare teachers to meet underserved students’ needs.
Community College Daily, August 21, 2022

The true cost faced by student parents
A new report shows that student parents from low-income backgrounds must work 50-plus hours a week at minimum wage in order to afford both tuition at a public college and childcare.
Inside Higher Ed, August 17, 2022

DataPoints: Developing diversity in nursing programs
The U.S. was already facing a growing shortage of nurses when Covid hit and accelerated the crisis. According to a recent Center for American Progress (CAP) report, the primary challenges that higher education institutions face in graduating more nurses are: a shortage of nurse educators, a lack of clinical placements for student nurses, and inadequate campus facilities and equipment.
Community College Daily, August 16, 2022
POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL
Student loan relief to cost billions, favor top earners, analysis shows
Forgiving student loan debt will cost between $300 billion and $980 billion over 10 years, according to a new analysis, with the majority of relief going toward borrowers in the top 60% of earners.
The Seattle Times, August 23, 2022

Finding the sweet spot on student loan forgiveness
President Biden has yet to deliver on his campaign promise to forgive at least some student loan debt. Doing so would be a big win for key voting blocs heading into the midterms, but some are hoping for more forgiveness than others.
Inside Higher Ed, August 19, 2022
Filed Under: Announcements Tagged With: ,
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