SBCTC NEWS LINKS | Articles about – and of interest to – Washington state community and technical colleges
HEADS UP
Open Course Library champion takes to the airwaves
Rep. Reuven Carlyle will be on KUOW’s “The Conversation” with Ross Reynold tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 5, at noon for an interview on eBooks, Open Course Library, and community colleges tomorrow at noon.
http://www.kuow.org/conversation/
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
Amateur winemakers offer their best to judges in Camarillo
"I was in the wine program at South Seattle Community College," Swank said. "I was an analytical chemist by trade, and I used my science background to start making wine."
Ventura County Star, November 30, 2011
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/30/amateur-winemakers-offer-their-best-to-judges-in/
After a fireworks accident left him crippled, Ian Reynolds now has a foothold in life
His upbeat attitude comes from pursuing a career that meshes with his passion for helping people and his artistic aptitude. It was a sparkler accident that changed his life, along with a choice few people can even imagine. … Ian Reynolds got on a waiting list for a prosthetic/orthotic technician program at Spokane Falls Community College. In the spring of 2009, he started the program. “The first year was orthotics — I loved orthotics. I learned so much,” he said. “The second year was prosthetics. …”
Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell MT), December 3, 2011
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/featured_story/article_e0c12c22-1e3b-11e1-aa98-001871e3ce6c.html
Bellevue College honors two employers for supporting students
The Developmental Education department at Bellevue College recently awarded Literacy Partners Awards of Excellence to two local employers for going out of their way to help working students succeed. The Safeway store at Evergreen Village in Bellevue … is covering the cost of tuition for Bellevue College student Eldin Juzvin. Managers at the Marshalls store at Overlake Fashion Plaza in Redmond … encouraged student Elena Semaykina to take English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and created a work schedule that allows for regular attendance.
Bellevue Reporter, December 5, 2011
http://www.bellevuereporter.com/business/135060088.html
Focus on high-tech education grows in county
Local K-12 school districts are working with Clark College, Washington State University Vancouver and Educational Service District 112 on a regional approach to high-tech education.
The Columbian, December 12, 2011
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/dec/12/focus-on-high-tech-ed-grows-in-county/
Education cuts create a short-term fix but long-term problems
At the UW, tuition has more than doubled over the last decade, as state funding has been cut in half. With an increasing share of costs shifted to students, the average Washington senior now graduates with student loans of more than $22,000. … Community college budgets haven’t been spared either: At Tacoma Community College, classes are overflowing as it tries to do more with less. Entire programs have been dropped, and many students have a difficult time finding the courses they need. Without a well-funded system of higher education, the future will find us with fewer qualified Washingtonians prepared to fill a growing number of specialized jobs.
The News Tribune, December 1, 2011
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/12/01/1927859/education-cuts-create-a-short.html
Gregoire's education reform proposals piloted in North Mason, Bremerton
On Tuesday, Gregoire suggested that schools statewide adopt a program that Bremerton High School tried last year with a one-time federal grant. Last year, the federal money enabled all Bremerton High seniors to receive paid-for assessment tests of their math skill from Olympic College. The idea was to ensure graduating high schools students would be ready for community college math. Previously, students had to pay for their own assessment tests.
Kitsap Sun, December 13, 2011
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/dec/13/gregoires-education-reform-proposals-piloted-in/
U.S. approves Naches Heights, Washington's 12th wine region
… On Wednesday, the U.S. government announced it has approved the Naches Heights American Viticultural Area (AVA) a region near the city of Yakima … Beveridge, a lawyer by trade, wrote the petition for the AVA, though he and Cline worked closely together on it, and they were assisted by two students at Yakima Valley Community College.
Tri-City Herald, December 15, 2011
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/12/15/1754066/washington-gets-12th-wine-region.html
A Q School Tale - Richard Lee
Lee's route to the PGA Tour as a Q School graduate is less convoluted than his route to becoming a Washington Husky. … Obsessed with golf, he dropped out of Newport High School in Bellevue, Wash., as a sophomore and went to the Philippines to train under a friend on the Asian Tour. But after two years, he was homesick. "I missed home, missed school, missed my friends," he said. He returned home but had fallen behind in school … and successfully pursued a GED (high-school equivalency certificate) and played golf for Bellevue College. …
Cybergold News, December 8, 2011
http://www.cybergolf.com/golf_news/a_q_school_tale_richard_lee
Russian-born interpreter helps in Spanish too
Anastasiya Timkina was 10 when she arrived, she knew no English. … There was an English as a Second Language program, she said, but her meetings with the instructor were sporadic. … By high school, she was taking honors classes. She graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 2008. Now she’s taking prerequisites at Spokane Falls Community College, gearing up for medical school. With its 33-character alphabet, Russian is a difficult language, she said. But knowing it made it easier to learn Spanish, which she began to study in high school and continued at SFCC.
Spokesman Review, December 15, 2011
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/15/translating-christmas/
Editorial: Big Bend is at risk from state cuts
Officials at Big Bend Community College recognize they have a message problem. The college is receiving recognition in the media for doing great things, but too many people aren't aware of BBCC's dire financial situation. Too many close friends of the college are making comments like, "Sounds like the college is doing great." The fact is: Big Bend Community College is in a state of financial emergency.
Columbia Basin Herald, December 15, 2011
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/opinion/editorials/school/article_6ea5d262-2743-11e1-8067-0019bb2963f4.html
Higher education Cuts jeopardize EvCC's core mission / Guest commentary by David Beyer, president of Everett Community College
There's a great amount of discussion about the "skills gap" -- employers have jobs, but potential employees lack the skills they need to fill those vacancies. Continued reductions of state funding compound this problem by creating a "training gap" -- those reductions prevent EvCC from offering adequate numbers of courses that prepare students for the workplace.
The Herald, December 17, 2011
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111217/OPINION03/712179997
Vancouver district board approves science, technology magnet school
The school — its working title is Magnet STEM School of Choice — will be part of a collaborative effort to improve high-tech education in Clark County. Clark College, Washington State University Vancouver, Educational Service District 112 and local K-12 school districts are working with local industries to provide mentors and real-world learning opportunities
The Columbian, December 17, 2011
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/dec/17/vancouver-district-board-approves-science-technolo/
Making Science Leap From the Page
Other publishers are also experimenting with technologies that enliven the static pages of electronic technical textbooks and documents. … Wolfram Research … introduced a new format … that allows readers to change a problem’s parameters and watch as the illustration re-computes and re-forms accordingly. … At Walla Walla Community College in Washington, Eric Schulz, who teaches mathematics, used Wolfram’s tools to create an interactive, digital version of the textbook “Calculus,” written by William Briggs and Lyle Cochran and published by Pearson.
The New York Times, December 18, 2011
Don Mee Choi finds freedom in poetry
Meet Don Mee Choi, a GED instructor at Renton Technical College who recently won a $50,000 Whiting Writers' Award for poetry
The Seattle Times, December 18, 2011
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2017040878_choi18.html
No, I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up
Column by Kyler Lacey, junior at Kingston High School participating in the Running Start program at Olympic College
Kingston Community News, December 19, 2011
http://www.kingstoncommunitynews.com/community/135876673.html
Communicating through visuals: "The High Bar" drinks in Tacoma
The High Bar, which shot at Seattle's SCAN TV in its early days, has since moved to on-location interviews for its second season, with a new look and feel. … Beginning in February, The High Bar will be, among other stations, broadcast from Tacoma's KBTC. … The High Bar has twice shot on location in Tacoma and utilized Tacoma-based professionals … and, under the guidance of instructor Brian Parker, an array of eager and talented interns from Tacoma's Bates Technical College's Digital Media Department.
The Weekly Volcano, December 21, 2011
Tank farm contractor donates to charities
Four charities received contributions Wednesday from Washington River Protection Solutions and its partners … Columbia Basin College, $65,000, for its worker retraining program. The donation will enable 24 people to receive a year's worth of retraining support.
Tri City Herald, December 22, 2011
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/12/22/1762180/tank-farm-contractor-donates-to.html
Highline Community College starts new project
A U.S. Department of Labor grant awarded to Highline Community College’s Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation, and Logistics is targeting one of Washington State’s strongest and relatively unknown sectors: supply chain management.
Tukwila Reporter, December 22, 2011
http://www.tukwilareporter.com/community/136110898.html
LWIT in Kirkland part of state program to curb cost of books
According to the Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship, the cost of textbooks has risen 6 percent a year since the 1980s, twice the rate of inflation. Textbook publishing is currently a $9 billion industry. But the Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland is one of the main institutions in the state attempting to curb that cost dramatically through an Open Course Library (OCL). The program is funded by a grant from the state and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The State Board of Community and Technical Colleges and other learning institutions are trying to utilize the internet to replace the textbook.
Kirkland Reporter, December 23, 2011
http://www.kirklandreporter.com/news/136113518.html
Big Bend to celebrate 50th anniversary
Big Bend Community College turns 50 in 2012 and the college is celebrating with special events and alumni outreach.
Columbia Basin Herald, December 26, 2011
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/bbcc/article_64039b58-2fe7-11e1-a491-001871e3ce6c.html
Aviation, aerospace training leap to forefront
The key to much of the current success in aerospace skill training is a consortium known as Air Washington. Members include 12 community and technical colleges, two aerospace technology centers, the Center of Excellence, the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee and 14 regional Workforce Development Councils. … [Everett Community] College's Aviation Maintenance and Technology School has room for 100 students and it's full, but Bonner says the college hopes to add an evening session to serve another 25 students. … Working with the Aerospace Futures Alliance of Washington, a trade association for the state's aircraft makers, Edmonds Community College created an industry-driven program responsive to those companies' needs for young, highly skilled workers.
Snohomish County Business Journal, December 29, 2011
http://www.snohomishcountybusinessjournal.com/article/20111229/SCBJ02/712299974/-1/SCBJ
Smart grid careers: New year, new opportunities
Smart grid workforce training programs funded by the U.S. Energy Department are offered at various locales across the country, from the Community College of Rhode Island to Centralia College in Washington State.
Smart Grid News, December 29, 2011
Enrollment Up At CBC
Enrollment numbers for the Winter quarter at Columbia Basin College are up nearly 3% over last year
KVEW, January 3, 2011
http://www.kvewtv.com/article/2012/jan/03/enrollment-cbc/
Tiger Mountain couple opens mom and pop winery
While tours talked a lot about wine, the guides never got into how it was made, Rod [Ahrens] said. “Wine making was a mystery, and no one wanted to divulge the secret.”
His curiosity drove him to start taking winemaking classes at South Seattle Community College in 2007. “I just wanted to see how good I can make it,” he said.
The Bellevue Reporter, December 19, 2011
http://www.bellevuereporter.com/business/125980603.html
As college turns 50, Big Bend figures reminisce
Columbia Basin Herald, January 3, 2011
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/bbcc/article_502357a4-3631-11e1-b96c-0019bb2963f4.html
Need for medical professionals who serve seniors growing
When Janessa Cobb’s grandmother was bedridden for eight months by a severe infection, Cobb took on the equivalent of a crash course in caregiving, [inspiring] the 21-year-old Vancouver resident to pursue a career as a caretaker for the elderly and disabled. She’s studying at Clark College to become a certified nursing assistant.
The Columbian, December 20, 2011
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/dec/20/help-wanted-need-for-medical-professionals-who-ser/
Donations land 2 airplanes for EvCC
Mukilteo Beacon, January 4, 2011
http://www.mukilteobeacon.com/schools/features/article.exm/2012-01-04_donations_land_2_airplanes_for_evcc_
Bellingham Technical College Receives Aerospace Training Grant
BTC is one of 13 community and technical colleges statewide to receive part of a $1.5 million dollar grant from the Governor’s Investment in Aerospace Fund.
KGMI, January 4, 2011
http://kgmi.com/Bellingham-Technical-College-Receives-Aerospace-Tr/11902106
New Presidents or Provosts: Lake Washington Institute of Technology …
Inside Higher Ed Inside Higher Ed, January 4, 2011
TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION
Here's a hot item: Bellevue is a hive of techies
Nearly half of Bellevue's college-educated residents have degrees in science and engineering, an unusually high number, according to the Census Bureau …
The Seattle Times, November 30, 2011
http://today.seattletimes.com/2011/11/heres-a-hot-item-bellevue-is-a-hive-of-techies/
The Olympian welcomes Earl Hale to its editorial board
Join us in welcoming Earl Hale, former executive director of Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, as the newest community representative on The Olympian’s editorial board.
The Olympian, January 4, 2011
http://www.theolympian.com/2012/01/04/1935066/the-olympian-welcomes-earl-hale.html
POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL
Rep. Jay Inslee Introduces FUTURE STEM Act
The FUTURE STEM Act establishes a pilot undergraduate student fellowship program to award competitive grants to partner institutions to provide student work experience that will overall improve education and training in support of STEM fields. Under the grants, students will engage in a ten-week fellowship and be placed in real research settings in community colleges, universities, businesses, and National Laboratories. …Industries such as aerospace, solar power, and advanced biofuels industries would be eligible to compete to host STEM students in the pilot program. For example, in Washington state, students could be employed at Boeing, Washington State University, Everett Community College, or Edmonds Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), among many others.
The State Column, December 20, 2011
http://www.thestatecolumn.com/washington/rep-jay-inslee-introduces-future-stem-act-to/
Compiled by the Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
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Sherry Nelson | communications and outreach associate
Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
1300 Quince St SE · PO Box 42495 · Olympia WA 98504-2495
slnelson@sbctc.edu | p (360) 704-4308 | f (360) 704-4415 | c (206) 369-6509
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