SBCTC NEWS LINKS | Articles about – and of interest to – Washington state community and technical colleges
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
LCC waiting for go-ahead on health and science building
Lower Columbia College officials are nervously awaiting word on whether the school will get the money it needs to begin construction on its new health and science building later this year. LCC President Jim McLaughlin said last month that he's worried the college won't be able to break ground this summer on the new, $37 million building on Maple Street.
The Daily News, April 2, 2011
http://tdn.com/news/local/article_9b57deec-5cd0-11e0-bb26-001cc4c03286.html
Latino enrollment on the rise at CWU
Central Washington University student body president Gabriel Munoz … completed two years at Yakima Valley Community College and enrolled at Central in 2008. He graduates this spring alongside his wife … John Swiney, associate vice president for enrollment management at CWU, says those numbers will continue to increase over the next several years as demographics in Washington change. "It's not that we're targeting minority students. It's a reality.” … The number of white, non-Hispanic high school graduates in Washington state peaked around 2008 and will decline indefinitely, according to data collected by the university. At the same time, the number of Latino high school graduates is increasing and will double from about 9 percent to about 20 percent by 2020, Swiney said.
Ellensburg Daily Record, April 2, 2011
Facing a nursing shortage: State-budget squeeze comes as officials expect more demand for nurses
Lisa Boettger of Mount Vernon waited 20 months to get into Skagit Valley College’s registered nurse program. Until the school started accepting students competitively, based on an applicant’s grade-point average in eight prerequisites for the program, Boettger’s name sat on a waiting list with more than 100 other students who met the minimum qualifications. “It was a long process,” she said. Faculty cuts at the college announced last month to fill a $5.5 million budget gap will further narrow the entryway for new students.
Skagit Valley Herald, April 3, 2011
Column: Opportunities lost: Budget cuts will force local colleges to turn people away
By Michele L. Johnson, Ph.D., chancellor Pierce College District on behalf of Pierce County CTCs. … Community and technical colleges are committed to making our state funding stretch even further. But we have reached the point where we can no longer meet the needs of our community. Students need the doors of community and technical colleges to remain open so they can get the skills to thrive. In this state last year, nearly half a million students found a community or technical college to get a leg up. Bates and Clover Park technical colleges, Pierce College and Tacoma Community College stand ready to serve the 70,000 plus individuals who need us every year.
The News Tribune, April 3, 2011
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/03/1610787/opportunities-lost-budget-cuts.html
Kudos
…. Greg Stiles, a graphic design instructor at Spokane Falls Community College, was named Professional of Year [during the Spokane Advertising Federation’s 2011 ADDY Awards competition]
Spokesman Review, April 3, 2011
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/apr/03/business-beat/
Why straight-A's may not get you into UW this year
Among the students rejected: Brandon Stover, a valedictorian at Chief Sealth High School, who has a 4.0 grade-point average. "It was just a shock," Stover said. "I don't know exactly what the UW is looking for." … Because the West Seattle resident needs to live at home and work to make ends meet, he did not apply to other colleges. He's appealing his rejection, but also is considering going to South Seattle Community College or UW-Bothell next fall, and then trying to transfer to the UW.
Seattle Times, Sunday, April 3, 2011
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014670294_admissions03m.html
TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION
Measuring Joblessness through an educational lens
Economist Bill Rodgers has a name for the recovery — and it's not a very nice one. Rodgers, a professor at Rutgers University, calls it "bifurcated" because people who have college degrees are getting hired, but those who didn't finish school are sitting on the sidelines. Many have given up on their search for work.
NPR, April 3, 2011
http://www.npr.org/2011/04/03/135043989/measuring-joblessness-through-an-educational-lens
As WA session nears end, labor, biz push agendas
"We have the goal to show over the course of the week the Legislature and the wider community, that we not only have a revenue deficit, but a social services deficit and we have a jobs deficit in this state as well," said Jeff Johnson, president of the Washington State Labor Council. Meanwhile, [the Washington Roundtable, a business group that includes big hitters like Boeing, Microsoft, Alaska Airlines] has launched a new, long-term campaign to try to chip away at labor's key strongholds in Washington, and to improve certain sectors — such as transportation, patents and education — they see key to advance the state's economy. … Calling it "Benchmarks for a Better Washington," the group rolled out the campaign this past week. In 12 points, the Roundtable measured the state's standing compared to the rest of the nation in various sectors. … Mullin said business leaders are worried about "disproportionate" cut to higher education this session, adding that they are crafting a proposal to establish a $1 billion endowment, where half the money would come from the private sector and the other half from the state.
Kitsap Sun, April 3, 2011
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/apr/03/as-wa-session-nears-end-labor-biz-push-02/
Opinion: Washington state's partnership with online universities offers quality option
Western Governors University President Robert W. Mendenhall argues that the proposed partnership between the online, nonprofit university would provide state residents with another quality option for higher education.
Seattle Times, April 1, 2011
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2014658121_guest01mendenhall.html
Opinion: Online university doesn't offer 'real college education'
Western Washington University professor Johann Neem argues the Washington Legislature should not partner with Western Governor's University. He says the online university does not offer an experience that compares with that offered by the state's public higher-education institutions
Seattle Times, April 1, 2011
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2014658119_guest01neem.html
The Faculty Take on Student Learning
AFT urges professors to join "student success" discussions locally and nationally -- while trying to reframe debate
Inside Higher Ed, April 4, 2011
Call to Action on Sexual Harassment
Education Department's Title IX clarification may shift colleges' policies on burden of proof and off-campus incidents.
Inside Higher Ed, April 4, 2011
The Other 'Summer Melt' in Admissions
New research finds significant numbers of low-income students who were headed to college at high school graduation, but don't enroll.
Inside Higher Ed, April 4, 2011
POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL
Legislature passes Kilmer bill to help veterans
Senate Bill 5307, sponsored by Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, would evaluate the skills men and women already possess and apply it to educational and licensing requirements in private-sector health professions. … Under SB 5307, veterans’ relevant military training would be considered toward satisfying licensing requirements in a variety of health professions: denturists; dispensing opticians; ocularists; pharmacy assistants; physician assistants; osteopathic physician assistants; emergency medical technicians; radiologic technologists; nursing assistants; respiratory care practitioners; health care assistants; surgical technologists; dental assistants; expanded function dental auxiliaries; physical therapists; and physical therapy assistants
The Hopper, April 1, 2011
http://blog.senatedemocrats.wa.gov/the-hopper/legislature-passes-kilmer-bill-to-help-veterans/
Opinion: Lawmakers to students: Hurry up and find yourselves
The Legislature’s latest idea (Senate Bill 5868) for trimming state support of college and university students would charge higher tuition to students who have already completed 125 percent of credits necessary for their degree/ … Additionally, students enrolled at community or technical colleges who already have a bachelor’s degree would pay the higher tuition [with some exceptions] — the cost would jump from about $2,000 to more than $6,000.
Seattle Times, April 2, 2011
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/edcetera/2014659035_lawmakers_to_students_hurry_up.html
Lawmakers have no excuse for not finishing work on time
The Olympian, April 3, 2011
http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/03/1602414/lawmakers-have-no-excuse-for-not.html#ixzz1IZYx3Nn2
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