SBCTC NEWS LINKS | Articles about – and of interest to – Washington state community and technical colleges
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
Higher Education Funding Challenges
JOIN AN ONLINE CHAT Thursday February 2, 2012 at noon with Elson Floyd and Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, as well as a student each from the University of Washington and North Seattle Community College, to talk about the challenges facing higher education and students because of the state's ongoing budget crisis. Send questions in advance and join the conversation at noon Thursday. Go to: http://seati.ms/HigherEdChat
The Seattle Times, February 1, 2012
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/edcetera/2017376496_saving_higher_education.html
Stable funding the key to holding down college tuition
The solution to higher education's tuition dilemma is for states to have a baseline of funding that will allow colleges and universities to maintain affordable tuition levels without triggering federal cuts that President Obama outlined in his State of the Union address, says Washington State University President Elson S. Floyd.
The cost of a student's education at a public university is directly correlated to state appropriations. Specifically, when state funding is reduced, tuition levels rise.
The Seattle Times, February 1, 2012
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2017397752_guest02floyd.html
Shoreline CC president and faculty member testify on remedial education bill
… Shoreline Community College President Lee Lambert and faculty member Amy Kinsel testified at the hearing. Lambert shared examples of how Shoreline is innovating to get better outcomes for students in remedial math and holding down the cost for those students. Lambert said the programs reflect the college’s focus on four core values, including: affordability, accessibility, accountability and outcomes. … Kinsel spoke of the collaborative support between faculty and administration at the college. “... being an incubator of ideas at the faculty level, it’s great to have the support of the administration,” she said. … Also testifying was Michelle Andreas, Director of Student Services & Transfer Education for the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Andreas noted the many innovation projects already being undertaken by colleges across the state.
Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Patch, February 1, 2012
Central Washington University launches dual admission program
The program allows qualified students to be admitted to CWU when they are admitted to a community college anywhere in the state. … The dual admission program is available now at CWU campuses co-located with Big Bend Community College, Edmonds Community College, Everett Community College, Green River Community College (Kent Campus), Highline Community College, Pierce College at Ft. Steilacoom, Wenatchee Valley College and Yakima Valley Community College. By spring quarter, however, the program will be available to students at all 34 community and technical colleges.
Maple Valley Reporter, January 31, 2012
http://www.maplevalleyreporter.com/news/138431544.html
State approves new four-year degree program for Bellevue College
Bellevue College is set to offer a new bachelor’s degree program in Healthcare Technology and Management, following approval by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
Reporter, January 31, 2012
http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/138418554.html
Big Bend winter enrollment soars
Big Bend Community College's winter enrollment almost reached the record set last year. … "More efficient scheduling and a willingness of faculty to accommodate additional students beyond capacity helped us with enrollment this winter," said Big Bend President Bill Bonaudi.
Columbia Basin Herald, January 31, 2012
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/bbcc/article_ff4744da-4c29-11e1-acc3-0019bb2963f4.html
Big Bend alumnus from Quincy earns award
In Olympia last week, Christian] Ramon celebrated the realization of her goal as she received a $500 Transforming Lives Award from the Trustee Association of Community and Technical Colleges. … Big Bend Community College Trustee Mike Blakely immediately thought of Ramon and the rest of the Big Bend trustees agreed to nominate her for the award, he said.
Columbia Basin Herald, January 31, 2012
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/bbcc/article_e7e70014-4c29-11e1-97bd-0019bb2963f4.html
Critical help for college bound students
[College Goal Sunday] helps students and families complete applications for financial aid. "People just don't realize the financial aid form exists and even some of the high school seniors," said Yakima Valley CC's Laura Pendleton.
KIMA TV, January 29, 2012
http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/Help-to--138300514.html
Pregnancy ruse leads to book by teenager
Gaby Rodriguez, of Toppenish, Wash., got headlines last April when she announced at a high school assembly that she had worn a faux baby bump for months to explore stereotypes about teen pregnancy. …
She's 18 now and studying psychology at Columbia Basin College in Pasco. Some critics still don’t understand what led her to take on the project in the first place, Rodriguez said in a recent interview, and she hopes that they’ll get that from her book, “The Pregnancy Project.”
The book was written with a ghostwriter. A movie about the experience, starring “Spy Kids” actress Alexa Vega, premiered Saturday on the Lifetime television movie network, and Rodriguez is making numerous TV and radio appearances to promote her story.
The Spokesman Review, January 29, 2012
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jan/29/pregnancy-ruse-leads-to-book-by-teenager/
College’s rising cost steering students to private, smaller institutions
“I reviewed the departments, programs offered and cost of tuition,” said Demetrius Dennis, 34. “Financing contributed at least 75 percent of the deciding factor when I chose a transfer college.” The Lakewood, Wash., resident had already saved about $20,000 on a bachelor’s degree in journalism by attending Pierce Community College before determining Eastern Washington University offered the best value to finish his studies. … As postsecondary degrees become increasingly expensive, prospective college students are considering smaller state universities and community colleges as alternatives for higher education. They are also paying closer attention to private colleges, high school/college dual-enrollment programs and cheaper colleges in neighboring states.
… Tuition increases and state cuts to higher education are directly correlated, college officials say. … “My overall take is what we’ve done is basically cost-shift the money onto students and their families,” said state Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle. … Her son, Adam Culley, was considering WSU, but about three months ago the teen started looking at community college. Community college tuition has increased more than 25 percent since 2007, but it’s still a far cheaper option than a four-year institution for earning required credits. “I’m looking at Spokane Community College, then transferring,” Culley said. “I’m planning to become a computer programmer.”
Spokesman Review, January 29, 2012
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jan/29/educated-decisions/
Skagit Valley College awards Champions of Diversity scholarships
The Champions of Diversity program at Skagit Valley College honored area high school students on Nov. 30 at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon for their contributions to diversity in their schools and communities. The 99 award recipients and 22 of the 57 scholarship winners were published Jan. 15 in the Skagit Valley Herald. The 35 students who were awarded scholarships from Skagit Valley College are listed today, with their high schools and scholarship awards...
Skagit Valley Herald, January 29, 2012
http://www.skagit.edu/files3.asp_Q_pagenumber_E_2960
Insurer Fined $100,000 for Charging Unapproved Rates
Between mid-2004 and mid-2009, Unicare sold thousands of medical insurance policies to students at community colleges, technical schools, colleges and universities across Washington state. Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler's office later determined that there were substantial problems with the coverage. … The policies included international students at the University of Washington, Washington State University, Bellevue Community College, Seattle Pacific University, Shoreline Community College, Tacoma Community College and South Puget Sound Community College, among others.
Insurance News Net, January 29, 2012
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=327790
CWU leads new effort to help students get 4-year degrees
There's a new effort to help community college students continue their education instead of stopping with an associate's degree. Money and time often derail the effort. However, a program at C-W-U makes the transition easier. Alejandro Diaz originally planned to get just his associate's degree and jump right into the workforce. Now, he's setting his sights higher, by studying for his bachelor’s degree. Alejandro credits CWU's new Dual Admission program with Yakima Valley CC.
KIMA TV, January 27, 2012
http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/New-push-helps-students-stay-in-school-longer-138239059.html
Report: Most new students at Clark College need math help
The majority of first-time students who arrived at Clark College last fall were unprepared for college-level math classes and needed remedial courses. … At least part of the problem is how much time has passed since the students last sat in math class. Running Start students, who enrolled at Clark while still in high school, had the highest rate of college readiness in math — 59 percent. Math is fresh on their minds. On the other end of the spectrum, nearly all students who graduated a year or more before starting college needed remedial work. Only 7 percent of them were ready for college math. But even students who’d just graduated in the spring performed poorly on the COMPASS test a few months later. Not even one in five of them were ready for Math 101
The Columbian, January 26, 2012
http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/jan/26/report-most-new-students-at-clark-need-math-help/
Lake Washington College Foundation Receives Largest Bequest Ever of $290,000
The Lake Washington College Foundation received its largest ever bequest on January 13, 2012: $290,000 from the estate of Eastside resident and educator Marlene “Malka” Fricks. The total bequest to the Foundation is expected to reach $400,000.
Bellevue Business Journal, January 25, 2012
CBC trustees asked to name forensic lab after instructor
Columbia Basin College's forensic science lab should be named for long-time law enforcement instructor Jim Ownby. That is what 18 active and retired law enforcement officers, a Benton County District Court judge and the president of CBC recommended this week.
Tri-City Herald, January 11, 2012
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/11/1978211/cbc-trustees-asked-to-name-forensic.html
TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION
Apple and the Education-Information Chasm
Forbes, January 20, 2012
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bretswanson/2012/01/20/apple-and-the-education-information-chasm/
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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
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