SBCTC NEWS LINKS | Articles about – and of interest to – Washington state community and technical colleges
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
Clark College campus to add Japanese garden
The garden's construction, estimated at $675,000, is being entirely paid for by a $1 million donation from Chihiro Kanagawa, the CEO of SEH America. $150,000 will be set aside for maintenance and administered by the Parks Foundation. Clark College donated the land for the garden. The city of Vancouver and Clark College are not contributing financially to the project.
The Oregonian, August 26, 2011
Clark College won't pay for baseball stadium, president Bob Knight says in email
The Oregonian, August 26, 2011
Slow arrival of financial aid puts many EvCC students in a pinch
Applications for aid have increased, and the community college's staff has struggled to keep up with the influx.
The Herald, August 27, 2011
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110827/NEWS01/708279920
PSE awards recognize SVC faculty, staff excellence
Three Skagit Valley College employees have earned Puget Sound Energy Excellence Awards for their outstanding service to students and coworkers during the past academic year. Mount Vernon Campus nursing instructor Flora Adams of Anacortes received the $1,500 PSE Excellence in Teaching Award ... Skagit Valley College staff members Sindie Howland of Sedro-Woolley and Sherry Walker of Oak Harbor each received a $500 PSE Staff Excellence Award...
Skagit Valley Herald, August 28, 2011
http://www.skagit.edu/files3.asp_Q_pagenumber_E_2960
Kirkland's IT director, author envisions the future
Brenda Cooper uses her work with current technology to inform her science fiction and fantasy novels. … Like many writers, Cooper was frustrated that she couldn’t find time to write with her busy schedule, and yet, “I did find time to fill journals full of angst” about how she didn’t have time to write, she says. What sets Cooper apart from many other frustrated writers, however, was that she decided to do something about it. She began taking writing courses at Lower Columbia College, discovering along the way that if she simply devoted some time each day to writing, that practice made her a productive writer. … Cooper will read from, discuss and sign copies of Mayan December at the Crossroads Bellevue Barnes & Noble store.
Kirkland Patch, August 29, 2011
http://kirkland.patch.com/articles/about-town-kirklands-it-director-author-envisions-the-future
Tuition costs up, but still lower than other states
As a result a freshman from Snohomish County will pay about 60 percent more this fall for tuition and mandatory fees at the University of Washington in Seattle, compared to what first-year Dawgs paid four years ago. It's $10,223 this September versus $6,280 in September 2007. And a full-time student at Everett Community College faces a $3,771 tab for the coming school year which is $990 higher than in the fall of 2007. Here's the silver lining: The cost of college is going up everywhere in America and the sticker price on Washington's public colleges still beats many comparable universities around the country. … Beyond money, what about the quality of the educational experience? In Washington and elsewhere, state support as a share of public college and university budgets is tumbling, bringing layoffs, larger classes and fewer courses. The unsettling trend appears to be a factor in why students are flocking to get into private universities in spite of their much higher prices.
The Herald, August 29, 2011
http://heraldnet.com/article/20110829/BLOG48/708299982/-1/NEWS01
TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION
Affluent parents won’t give kids a free college ride, Bank of America study says
About half of Americans with assets of more than $250,000 said they won’t pay the entire tab for their children’s college education, according to Bank of America Corp.
About 47 percent of those surveyed in the Merrill Lynch Affluent Insights Survey released today said they didn’t or won’t pay the full cost of higher education. Limiting access to the bank of mom and dad will help teach their kids financial responsibility, 29 percent of respondents said.
Business Week, August 8, 2011
New UW President will fight for public funding
College graduates earn $1 million to $1.2 million more than high school graduates over their lifetime. The children of college graduates are better prepared for school themselves, and college graduates are far less likely to become incarcerated or to rely on food stamps or other public assistance, he said. That’s why he believes the Legislature, community leaders and educators must work together to ensure everyone, not just the upper class, has the means to continue their education.
Yakima Herald, August 26, 2011
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/08/26/new-uw-president-will-fight-for-public-funding
Hispanic numbers growing among young college students
Reasons for the increase are explained, in part, by a 7 percent population growth among Hispanics. But more importantly, more young Hispanics are now eligible to attend college than ever before. According to the report, nearly 73 percent of Hispanics had finished high school last year and more college-eligible Hispanic youths enrolled in college. The report also found that young, Hispanics are enrolling in community colleges at a much greater rate than their peers, although young, black students remain the largest minority group at the country’s four-year colleges.
Yakima Herald, August 26, 2011
Politics and the University: Views From the Campuses
Public colleges are in financial trouble, and legislators want more accountability and productivity. We asked six key people on campuses for their predictions.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 28, 2011
http://chronicle.com/article/Politicsthe-University-/128805/
Opinion: Success isn't a one-track deal / Focusing on four-year degrees above all else limits students' chances at a prosperous future
By Cindy Zehnder and William Symonds. When the Harvard Graduate School of Education released its widely acclaimed Pathways to Prosperity report in February, many were surprised that it did not join in the chorus of education reform reports that argue the solution is forcing students to take more math and science classes, and to encourage all students to pursue the goal of graduating from a four-year college. Instead, the Harvard report forcefully demonstrates why schools need to promote multiple pathways to success, with increased work-based learning for students, greater engagement of employers in our schools, and more internships, apprenticeships and career guidance to help students visualize what their future can be.
… However, by focusing so much of our attention on a four-year degree, we have walled off other pathways that lead to success -- from career and technical education courses that offer relevant, hands-on learning inside the classroom to community colleges, apprenticeships and internships at job sites
… The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are 226,000 vacant positions in American manufacturing and 524,000 openings in trades, transportation and utilities. These jobs pay well, but we aren't preparing students with the technical skills needed to fill them. Instead, too many people continue to view these high-skill, high-wage jobs as "vocational consolation prizes." … By teaching youth about science, technology, engineering and math in a real-world context, students are able to continue their education beyond high school, whether in an apprenticeship, community college or four-year university.
The Herald, August 27, 2011
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110827/OPINION/708289943/1122/SPORTS
In Nevada, Harsh Reality Hits Higher Education
Years of budget cuts have depleted campuses and morale alike. "The overarching climate, where you've cut for three years, has created almost like a slow-moving post-traumatic-stress disorder," says university president Neal Smatresk, wedged between the budget-slashers and the workers. He's cut 400 positions, or about 20 percent of his employees, as lawmakers have slowly starved his institution.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 28, 2011
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College Presidents Are Bullish on Online Education but Face a Skeptical Public
Just over half of the presidents surveyed saw equal value in online and traditional courses. The enthusiasm was more muted, however, among prospective students.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 28, 2011
http://chronicle.com/article/College-Presidents-Are-Bullish/128814/
Compiled by the Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
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