SBCTC NEWS LINKS | Articles about – and of interest to – Washington state community and technical colleges
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
New law means less DOC supervision for most offenders on probation
Current DOC client Charles Sorenson, who ends 20 months of supervision next month, said the DOC helps him be accountable. "I honestly feel if I had gotten out and not had some form of supervision, I would have gone back to my old lifestyle," said Sorenson, 41, of Longview, who spent 20 years as a drug addict. … He's studying diesel technology at Lower Columbia College, where he's on the dean's list, and he's grown closer to his family, which includes four grandchildren. "I feel really good about what I'm doing," he said. "For the first time in my life, I like the direction I'm going. To actually spend quality time with my family with a clear head and not have to look over my shoulder all the time, it's a good feeling."
The Daily News, August 2, 2011
http://tdn.com/news/local/article_d739cc64-bcb0-11e0-870b-001cc4c002e0.html
Centralia College Builds New Natural Outdoor Learning Center and ‘Central Park’
A project more than two years in the making turned another page Monday when construction equipment once again came to life on the Centralia College campus to continue creating an outdoor learning center along and around China Creek
Centralia Chronicle, August 2, 2011
http://www.chronline.com/news/article_8ace0848-bd34-11e0-bfdc-001cc4c03286.html
EvCC gets funding for aerospace, manufacturing training
Everett Community College’s Corporate and Continuing Education Center has received funding to deliver training for up to 24 individuals in the area of basic and intermediate electronics and troubleshooting. The training prepares participants for careers as aviation test technicians, functional testers and related positions. The competitive grant … was funded by the governor’s aerospace 10 percent dollars and administered in partnership with Workforce Development Council of Snohomish County.
Snohomish County Business Journal, August 3, 2011
http://www.snohomishcountybusinessjournal.com/article/20110803/SCBJ0201/110809934/-1/SCBJ
3,200 exemptions thawed state’s attempt at a spending freeze
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center, a business-oriented think tank, said the freeze was a "useful tool" to slow unnecessary spending but not an efficient money-saving method. "When you're seeing the number and amount of exemptions, it shows that this is not the best approach to take to control spending, and it gets heavily into micromanaging," he said. … Requests dealing with hiring covered a gamut of jobs, from a cow milker at a Washington State University dairy to the presidents of seven community colleges, including Edmonds.
The Herald, August 3, 2011
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110802/NEWS01/708029887
Column: Needs of diverse Asian-American students often overlooked
It also points out that Asians have higher average incomes and lower unemployment rates than all other groups, and have maintained this advantage over time despite the fact that a higher percentage of Asian-Americans live in poverty than do Caucasians. So what's the problem? It's that these numbers don't adequately reflect the diversity of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) who come from different countries and are comprised of 48 different ethnic groups with distinct languages, cultures, and varying education and income levels. North Seattle Community College President Mark Mitsui drove that point home to the audience at a recent news conference launching the Asian Pacific Islander American Association of Colleges and Universities. "You have to disaggregate the data," Mitsui said, "When you begin to pull that data apart, you see which students are not progressing."
Contra Costa Times, August 3, 2011
http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_18609448
Green vehicles mean better parking at Skagit Valley College
Skagit Valley College is rewarding students, faculty and members of the community for driving fuel-efficient vehicles by reserving parking spaces for them. Three spaces on the west side of Laura Angst Hall are marked for cars that meet specific emission and fuel efficiency requirements. The spaces offer easier access to the central part of the Mount Vernon campus...
Skagit Valley Herald, August 4, 2011
http://www.skagit.edu/files3.asp_Q_pagenumber_E_2960
RTC tuition to go up 12 percent; child center to close because of budget cuts
The first casualties of state budget cuts are in at Renton Technical College: the childcare center and student tuition.
Renton Reporter, August 4, 2011
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ren/news/126775368.html
A new training program for aerospace machinists will land in the Tri-Cities this fall.
The Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee -- or AJAC -- announced this week that it will make its offerings available in the Tri-Cities in partnership with Columbia Basin College in Pasco.
The News Tribune, August 4, 2011
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/08/04/1770723/aerospace-machinist-course-coming.html
Jon Kerr Named Adult Education Director in Washington State
… Jon M. Kerr began his duties as the adult basic education director for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. … An early pioneer of Washington’s Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST), Kerr was the founding director of the I-BEST Program in the Pierce College District in the state. In his previous position as dean of instructional programs and library director at Lower Columbia College, Kerr piloted the first academic I-BEST program as well as an I-BEST model for developmental education students.
OVAE Connection, August 4, 2011
http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/ovaeconnection/2011/08042011.html
College starts training employees for Kitsap's hoped-for new industry
Fourteen students who began a new training program last week at Olympic College could be the seeds of a Kitsap County advanced composites industry. Profile Composites North America and the college used $100,000 in federal training funds to develop a two-quarter, 30-credit certificate program aimed at veterans, particularly those returning to civilian life with physical disabilities.
Kitsap Sun, August 4, 2011
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/aug/03/college-starts-training-employees-for-kitsaps/
Jobs for the Future's Accelerating Opportunity Initiative Awards Grants to Eleven States to Transform Adult Education
Jobs for the Future (JFF) today announced the grantees of Accelerating Opportunity: A Breaking Through Initiative, which will challenge states across the country to transform adult education systems into more successful pathways leading to economic security. Accelerating Opportunity targets workers who are underprepared for today's demanding job market and builds on the legacy of JFF's innovative adult education initiative Breaking Through, as well as Washington State's I-BEST program. It is supported by a strategic partnership of five of the nation's leading philanthropies. … For program and implementation expertise, JFF has engaged the National Council on Workforce Education, National College Transition Network, and the Washington State Board of Community & Technical Colleges as partners.
"This is a serious economic issue, as well as an education issue. There is a mismatch between the high-demand, high-skilled jobs currently available and the skills workers currently have," says Hilary Pennington, director of Postsecondary Success, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "Accelerating Opportunity links directly with our work in postsecondary education, and most importantly, it will address the needs of a traditionally underserved population on community college campuses."
The Sacramento Bee, August 4, 2011
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/04/3816774/jobs-for-the-futures-accelerating.html
TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION
Perry Announces Creation of Online Texas University [WGU]
Today, Gov. Rick Perry, along with higher education committee chairs … announced a new one: Western Governors University Texas.
Texas Tribune, August 3, 2011
STEM Pay and Job Security
In the twenty-first century, workers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (the STEM disciplines) will drive our nation’s innovation and competitiveness by generating new ideas, and creating new companies and industries, according to a recent report from the U. S. Department of Commerce, STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future. ... The benefits of STEM education and employment are not equally distributed across the STEM education levels and occupations. Interestingly, the highest earnings premium for STEM workers is for those with less than a [bachelor’s] degree.
OVAE Connection, August 4, 2011
http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/ovaeconnection/2011/08042011.html
College [Pell] Grants Spared From Spending Cuts
The Wall Street Journal, August 4, 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903885604576486511218885134.html
Debt, Dropouts and Degrees
As concerns grow about student debt and college completion, colleges and universities have been ranked in any number of ways: by sticker price, net price, cost to the taxpayer, graduation rate, default rate and more. Now a new study is trying to combine some of those measures, taking debt loads and dropout rates into account to determine the amount of debt taken on for each degree issued.
Inside Higher Ed, August 4, 2011
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/08/04/study_looks_at_debt_to_degree_ratio_across_sectors
New Data on STEM Gender Gap
Inside Higher Ed, August 4, 2011
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/08/04/qt#266928
Philanthropist Jones assures all Bradley [County, Tennessee] students have college chance
A generous contribution by philanthropist Allan Jones, CEO and founder of Check Into Cash, Inc., makes it possible for tnAchieves to launch its last dollar scholarship and mentoring program in all three Bradley County high schools in August 2011, resulting in the bradleyAchieves program. The Jones donation also ensures that every student in Bradley County public schools will have the opportunity to attend Cleveland State Community College, officials said. [A Last Dollar Scholarship is a need-based "gap-filling" award, awarded when a family's expected family contribution (EFC) and financial aid package total are less than the cost of attendance, resulting in unmet financial need.]
The Chattanoogan, August 4, 2011
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_206390.asp
POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL
UPDATE: Ex-House staffer Jami Lund seeks Sen. Swecker’s seat
The Olympian, August 3, 2011
http://www.theolympian.com/2011/08/03/1748453/ex-house-staffer-jami-lund-seeks.html
Candidate Profile: Ed Prince, candidate for Renton City Council position 5, formerly held by King Parker.
What will be your top three priorities if you get elected and why? … Improving our economy – Supporting schools, local businesses and creating a thriving Downtown. Education is the greatest life equalizer. It is important that we continue to partner with the Renton School District and Renton Technical College to ensure we have an education system where students of all ages are able to achieve their dreams and local businesses have a deep pool of qualified candidates; and our local economy is the most critical issue we face today. We MUST support local businesses and create local jobs for Renton to thrive.
Renton Patch, August 3, 2011
http://renton.patch.com/articles/candidate-profile-ed-prince
Compiled by the Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
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