SBCTC NEWS LINKS | Articles about – and of interest to – Washington state community and technical colleges
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
Editorial: Washington’s new Student Achievement Council promising for higher ed
Legislation awaiting Gov. Chris Gregoire's signature replaces the citizens board with a stronger and more focused entity. The new Student Achievement Council promises more vocal and robust leadership to design a higher-education system closely aligned with work force and educational needs.
Seattle Times, March 12, 2012
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2017712435_edit12council.html
Woodshop rocks at Kiona-Benton High School
The curriculum was developed by two community college instructors, Lake said. They caught the attention of the National Science Foundation, which provided grant money because of the curriculum's emphasis on math and science. Lake and his colleagues -- Brian Smith and Ed Ufford from the Richland School District, and Scott Shadler and Lane Winsor from the Pasco School District -- were among 14 educators invited to a workshop in August at Edmonds Community College north of Seattle to learn the curriculum. It took five days for the teachers to make a guitar. They said they knew early on their students would enjoy the work, and they haven't been disappointed.
Tri-City Herald, March 12, 2012
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/03/12/2432706/woodshop-rocks-at-ki-be-high.html#storylink=cpy
A matter of degrees -- Not a lot of people have them in Yakima County
Joel says he started improving his grades from B's and C's to mostly A's his junior year. He's applying to Central Washington University and Yakima Valley Community College. But, he didn't start the application process until this year, which is too late, some experts say. … Ortega, like many seniors in the Yakima Valley, has spent long hours looking for scholarships, completing his applications and filling out required forms. He's had to squeeze that around football, wrestling, senior class events and other demands on his time. [Editor’s note: Bob Larson’s kind note in the comment section is pure gold.]
Yakima Herald, March 12, 2012
Letter: Failure to fund TANF program would destroy family safety net
A few weeks ago, I went down to Olympia and told my legislators my story. I told them how TANF helped me and my family, and I urged them to protect funding for this vital program in the upcoming budget. … TANF presents the opportunity for low-income families to overcome socio-economic barriers. Qualified recipients actively participate in vital skill-building efforts, including résumé development, strengthening job and communication skills, and gaining job-related education. All of these are necessary to secure basic needs and build for future economic security. … Being on the TANF program has allowed me to attend college, where I will be graduating with honors this spring. I believe this education is critical to getting a better-paying job, gaining full self-sufficiency and keeping my family from reverting back to dependence on the system.
Author Renee K. Jones of Kent attends Highline Community College.
The News Tribune, March 13, 2012
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/13/2064387/failure-to-fund-tanf-program-would.html
Bellevue Eyes IT Degree
Bellevue College is researching a possible four-year degree in information technology, and is looking for help from employers with an online survey about their needs in IT education and training.
Xconomy, March 13, 2012
http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2012/03/13/seattle-tidbits/
Former BC player goes from Africa to the pros
It was a long journey from The Gambia, West Africa, to the USL's Los Angeles Blues, but for former Bellevue College soccer player Ebrima "EJ" Jatta, the journey has been well worth it. … REPORTER: How did you end up at Bellevue College? EJ: I was going to play for the Kitsap Pumas, but I came late. A friend asked me if I was going to college and said his son went to Bellevue College and said they had a great soccer program. I decided to go back and get my education. I'm still there taking classes for sports management.
Bellevue Reporter, March 13, 2012
http://www.bellevuereporter.com/sports/142489605.html
Graduation highlights teens’ efforts to turn lives around
Without Cocoon House, he didn’t think he’d be drug-free and have his own apartment today. She didn’t think she’d have the confidence and support to be on track to go to a four-year university. Larry Murphy and Jessica Bryant are two of the 50 teens and young adults whose accomplishments will be celebrated at next week’s Cocoon House Butterfly Graduation. … Born in Guam and ending up in Washington state, Murphy is working to handle his own college tuition. Murphy found an apartment near Everett Community College. He will be studying studio arts and welding. … Bryant is getting her associate degree in Foreign Language at Everett CC. This fall, she’ll go to Western Oregon University near Salem for a bachelor’s degree in American Sign Language to eventually become an interpreter.
Snohomish County Tribune, March 14, 2012
http://www.snoho.com/Stories%202012/031412_cocoonhouse.html
TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION
Wired Campus: Study Suggests Many Professors Use Interactive Tools Ineffectively in Online Courses
The findings could help explain how community colleges can structure the selection of technology to improve student-retention rates, researchers said.
Chronicle of Higher Education, March 6, 2012
The Student Swirl
The first data points come in a new report on a group of students we know very little about from government statistics: transfers.. … All of those transfer students are essentially invisible to the federal government when it comes to tracking them to graduation. … … The other recent report to note was a new Web site that shows completion rates in American higher education. The statistics on the site for individual colleges confirm what many of us already knew: The way the federal government measures college completion is deeply flawed. It doesn’t count part-time students. It doesn’t count transfers. By one estimate, the rate ignores up to 50 percent of all enrolled students.
March 8, 2012
http://chronicle.com/blogs/next/2012/03/08/the-student-swirl/?sid=cc&utm_source=cc&utm_medium=en
Innovations: Demographic Change in Community Colleges
Educating more middle-class students will make community colleges stronger politically, but how do we prevent working-class pupils from getting squeezed out? asks Richard Kahlenberg
Chronicle of Higher Education, March 9, 2012
Another White House Event Planned on College Costs
Inside Higher Ed, March 12, 2012
http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2012/03/13/another-white-house-event-planned-college-costs
Rewarding Teaching / Confessions of a Community College Dean
What would it look like if, say, the Federal government were to decide to prioritize good college-level teaching at the same level that it supports university research?
Inside Higher Ed, March 13, 2012
http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/confessions-community-college-dean/rewarding-teaching
Kickstarting Student Projects
Cash-poor students and organizations turn to popular crowdfunding site to fund-raise for projects that institutional sources are unable or unwilling to bankroll.
Inside Higher Ed, March 13, 2012
Anti-Transfer Bias
UCLA professor apologizes after penning blog post that questioned the role of students who start their academic careers at community colleges.
The issue is particularly fraught with tension in California because the state lacks enough room in its universities and as a matter of policy expects many who will graduate from four-year institutions to start at community colleges.
Inside Higher Ed, March 13, 2012
POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL
State leaders discuss plans for new budget
The Olympian, March 13, 2012
http://www.theolympian.com/2012/03/13/2027526/state-leaders-discuss-plans-for.html
Work at special session in Olympia is mostly behind the scene
Q13 TV (Fox), March 12, 2012
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
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