SBCTC NEWS LINKS | Articles about – and of interest to – Washington state community and technical colleges
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
Budget cuts force SVC to suspend volleyball, golf — Sports may reinstated when coaches’ stipends return
There will fewer sports teams competing this year at Skagit Valley College. Budget cuts forced the school to suspend volleyball and golf for the year, dropping its sports program to 13 teams. The suspensions of the sports, the first at the college since the early 1980s, were difficult for athletic director Gary Knutzen. “Especially when you spend your life building it up, then having it knocked down,” he said. Knutzen, who started coaching at the school in 1963 and became athletic director in 1968, knew early in the year he would have to tackle budget cuts for the upcoming school year...
Skagit Valley Herald, August 12, 2011
http://www.skagit.edu/files3.asp_Q_pagenumber_E_2960
Researchers: New "normal" for area weather
Students and faculty in the NASA Lab at Peninsula College have crunched data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that covers ten official weather stations and mapping using Google. … Peninsula College's NASA Lab director Dr. Dwight Barry says the new data provides a better overview of the local climate.
KONP Radio, August 15, 2011
http://www.konp.com/local/7141
Clock School Shifts Location to Shoreline Community Center
Though the NorWest Voc’ Tech school is new to Shoreline, it celebrates its 35th year of existence in the Seattle area. The school was previously located at North Seattle Community College, holding evening classes until 2009 when budget cuts interfered.
Shoreline Patch, August 14, 2011
http://shoreline.patch.com/articles/clock-school-shifts-location-to-shoreline
Group assesses Port Angeles’ health problems
This year, the city was named an ACHIEVE community by the Centers for Disease Control of Atlanta, and a group mainly made up of civic, health and educational representatives that sought the designation is working on a plan to improve the health of the city’s residents. The CDC provides funding and other assistance to communities like Port Angeles selected to participate in the program to find ways to improve residents’ health. … The local group spearheading that effort includes representatives of Olympic Peninsula YMCA, city of Port Angeles, Peninsula College, Olympic Medical Center, Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles School District and Peninsula Children’s Clinic.
Peninsula Daily News, August 14, 2011
Remedial math routine for local grads at CCS
But math educators who have researched the remedial rates say math achievement is not a recent issue or one that’s limited to the region. The percentage of students taking remedial math in the Community Colleges of Spokane has been at the current level for at least two decades, and studies show the average remedial rate nationwide for community college students is around 60 percent. … Bill Moore, policy associate of assessment, teaching and learning with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, said, “It’s a long-standing issue, and it’s a complicated issue.” But he added, “It is certainly by no means a Washington problem. There is a lot of focus on it nationally, and there’s a lot of work being done.”
Spokesman Review, August 14, 2011
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/aug/14/remedial-math-routine-for-local-grads-at-ccs/
Karaoke Battle USA Semi-Finalist Sammy Vijarro
Sammy Vijarro from Seattle …. was introduced to karaoke more than 20 years ago … His passion currently lies as a teacher of ear training and private voice at Edmonds Community College …
ABC News, August 12, 2011
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Karaoke_USA/sammy-vijarro/story?id=14291703
Congrats to SSCC’s Dean Michael Ryan, ‘Sustainability Hero’
Sustainable West Seattle enthusiastically recognizes Michael Ryan, Dean of Hospitality and Service Occupations at South Seattle Community College, as its 2011 Sustainable Hero of the Year. During his tenure with South, Michael Ryan has passionately pursued sustainability through the consistent development of programs and innovations, many of which would have been nearly impossible without his leadership and guidance.
West Seattle Blog, August 12, 2011
http://westseattleblog.com/2011/08/congrats-to-ssccs-dean-michael-ryan-sustainability-hero
Immigrant candidates remain a rarity in S. King County elections
As an immigrant, a Muslim and a Somali American, [Othman] Heibe reflects a changing face of South King County, where once predominantly white communities such as SeaTac, Tukwila, Kent and Renton now have a majority of minority residents — many of them Hispanic, Asian and African immigrants and refugees. Yet even as the area's streets, parks and schools have taken on this new look, candidates like Heibe remain a rarity, as leadership in many of these local governments remains largely unchanged. … He became interested in politics two years ago when he interviewed SeaTac council members as part of a class project at Highline Community College, where he was enrolled. "I felt I was as qualified as any of the ones running," he said.
Seattle Times, August 12, 2011
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015886844_southking12m.html
Solar power a harder sell in Seattle
Putting solar power panels on your roof doesn't make as much sense in Seattle as it does in many other places, but it's not because of our gray climate. "You look across the sea at Germany, the country with the most installed solar modules in the world," said Mike Nelson, director of the Clean Energy Technology Program at Shoreline Community College. "Almost all of Germany has roughly the same solar climate as Forks." So what does Germany have that we don't? Pricier power, noted green-building consultant Alistair Jackson … ."Electricity's just so ridiculously cheap here that, from a pure payback perspective, even with all the incentives that are available, the paybacks are very long."
The Seattle PI, August 12, 2011
http://www.seattlepi.com/realestate/article/Solar-power-a-harder-sell-in-Seattle-1840996.php#ixzz1V8ubGRaj
TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION
College Websites
I know this is a big topic, but it has become salient recently in my world. My college is taking a fresh look at its website. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that the previous version won't be missed.
Inside Higher Ed, August 12, 2011
http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/confessions_of_a_community_college_dean/college_websites
Managing Presidential Transitions
Patrick Sanaghan offers advice for incoming leaders, departing leaders and board members.
Inside Higher Ed, August 15, 2011
http://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2011/08/15/essay_on_presidential_transitions
For-Profits and the False Claims Act
Developments in two whistleblower lawsuits raise prospect that commercial colleges could face more U.S. pressure in the courts
Inside Higher Ed, August 15, 2011
POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL
Get some backbone about the state budget, progressives!
(By former Rep. Brendan Williams)
Crosscut, August 12, 2011
State legislator Fred Finn won't run for re-election in 2012
Kitsap Sun, August 12, 2011
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/aug/11/state-legislator-finn-wont-run-for-re-election/
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