SBCTC NEWS LINKS | Articles about – and of interest to – Washington state community and technical colleges
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
Flathead Valley's Karas named AACC chair-elect
New college representatives to the AACC board, who were elected at the association's annual convention last month, include: … Lee Lambert, president of Shoreline Community College
The Community College Times, May 7, 2012
Academic All-Star: Southridge senior Natalie Safford
Southridge High School senior Natalie Safford studies full-time at Columbia Basin College. It is through the Running Start program. "I like it because I take morning classes so I can get all of my classes out of the way, and then go home and do homework before activities like tennis," Safford said. Safford will take her 3.99 GPA to Gonzaga University.
KNDU TV, May 3, 2012
CBC dedicates forensic science lab
Columbia Basin College held a ceremony on Monday to dedicate their Forensic Science Lab to a former instructor and police officer. Jim Ownby served in multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the region, and during his 23 years teaching forensic science at CBC, he taught several law enforcement officials who are currently active.
KNDU TV, May 7, 2012
Clark College students part of fungus-fighting effort / Research aimed at aiding wheat farmers
The cell and molecular biology class at Clark College is part of a statewide grant program that brings real-life research into community college classrooms in Bellevue, Tacoma and Vancouver. The program, called the Community College Genomics Research Initiative, or COMGEN, seeks to find a better way to fight a fungus that's wiping out wheat crops around the world. … Gita Bangera, the lead investigator for COMGEN and chair of the life sciences department at Bellevue College, wrote a grant application to the National Science Foundation six years ago. In the fall of 2007, students at Bellevue began the sequencing work. It is very unusual for undergraduate students, let alone community college students, to get involved in real-life research. But letting them be involved can raise a new generation of scientists, Bangera said.
The Columbian, May 7, 2012
http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/may/07/fungus-fighters-clark-college-students-part-of-res/
Program helps dropouts build a better future / YouthBuild teaches construction skills, helps students earn GEDs
YouthBuild provides on-the-job training, with the students helping to build single family homes for low-income families with Housing Hope. They also receive certification and class instruction from Edmonds Community College. The students get their GED through Everett Community College. Learning how to behave in a working environment and how to be organized is helpful in any job, program coordinator Travis Green said. "These guys need a chance. These students are very intelligent. At the end, everyone is going to be on a winning streak," Green said.
The Herald, May 8, 2012
http://heraldnet.com/article/20120508/NEWS01/705089930
GHC forestry program at Satsop Business Park wins top award
The Grays Harbor College forestry program at the Satsop Business Park has received the 2011 Pacific NW Champion Award from the Forest Stewardship Council. The award is given each year to a for-profit and not-for-profit organization operating in the Northwest that has demonstrated innovation, dedication and made efforts to promote and expand Forest Stewardship Council certification.
KXRO Newsradio, May 8, 2012
http://kxro.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/ghc-forestry-program-at-satsop-business-park-wins-top-award/
EdCC president talks about STEM at White House
Edmonds Community College is on the map for its work to encourage more students to enter science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, or STEM. President Jean Hernandez recently sat on a White House panel at an event geared at getting more high school girls into STEM careers.
The Herald, May 9, 2012
http://heraldnet.com/article/20120509/TWH06/705099911/-1/news01
OUR VIEW | Improving by degrees at OC
Among the graduates last weekend at Washington State University in Pullman, there were 14 who earned their mechanical engineering baccalaureate degrees primarily at Olympic College. It was a significant step forward for the graduates, for Olympic College and for our community.
Kitsap Sun, May 9, 2012
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/may/09/our-view-improving-by-degrees-at-oc/
Bellevue College Rotaract gets international recognition
The Bellevue College chapter of Rotaract received a Rotary International Changemaker Award at Rotary's District 5030 conference in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho recently. It's the first time any Rotaract chapter has received a Rotary award in district history. "It's a huge honor," said Eileen Cho, president of the chapter and a student at Bellevue College. "This award really capped a hugely successful year, where we helped a lot of people." Rotaract, part of Rotary International, is a leadership and community service organization for students and young professionals.
Bellevue Reporter, May 9, 2012
http://www.bellevuereporter.com/community/150657905.html
Bellevue Nonprofit Lab Helps Students Create New Technology
Student Research and Development, more commonly known as StudentRND, is a nonprofit that provides a space for college and high school students to learn, innovate and use normally inaccessible resources (think laser cutter, 3D printer, oscilloscopes, full computer lab) to create new technology. Interested? The year-round nonprofit is free for University of Washington, Bellevue College and high school students.
Bellevue Patch, May 9, 2012
http://bellevue.patch.com/articles/student-rnd-students-create-new-technology-at-bellevue-nonprofit-lab
EdCC student awarded for new music
Calvin Hanson, 20, an Edmonds Community College student, is the winner of the third annual Community College Musical Competition, a musical-score contest for community college students – and the only national competition of its kind. His composition was one of three pieces selected from across the United States to be performed at a concert on April 24 at Northwest Vista College.
Edmonds Beacon, May 10, 2012
http://edmondsbeacon.villagesoup.com/news/story/edcc-student-awarded-for-new-music/822558
Yakima Valley Community College faces more cuts
More cuts could be coming to Yakima Valley Community College. YVCC's Board of Trustees met Thursday evening to discuss next year's budget. The college could lose $600,000 dollars in funding. State money to the community college has been cut by almost seven and a half million dollars since 2008.
KIMA CBS 29, May 10, 2012
http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/Yakima-Valley-Community-College-faces-more-cuts-151049105.html
State community college board votes to raise tuition 12 percent / Big Bend students will be impacted
The state Board of Community and Technical Colleges has approved an average 12 percent increase in tuition for the 2012-13 school year. … Tuition for full-time students will increase 13 percent, while part-time students will face an 11 percent increase. That adds up to an average of 12 percent, said Jan Yoshiwara, deputy executive director for education for the board. The decision was influenced by cuts made to community college allocations in the 2011-13 budget, Yoshiwara said. Staff members told the board that without a tuition increase it would be difficult to maintain course offerings, and fewer classes would have the effect of limiting enrollment.
Columbia Basin Herald, May 11, 2012
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/bbcc/article_095368d2-9b99-11e1-b1f0-0019bb2963f4.html
Sen. Murray rallies SSCC students to fight for student loan interest rate protection
West Seattle Herald, May 11, 2012
http://www.westseattleherald.com/2012/05/11/news/slideshow-sen-murray-rallies-sscc-students-fight-
'Your future is sitting right in front of you, and Congress is saying no'
[Tyson Hillquist] was there with his fellow South Seattle Community college students Friday as Sen. Patty Murray spoke at a rally. "Let Congress know, don't double my rates," she said to the crowd. After the rally, Murray said the stalemate has made her mad. "I know what it's like to be a young student and you're trying to figure out how you're going to make your monthly payments and how you're going to pay tuition," she said. "Your future is sitting right in front of you, and Congress is saying no." Meanwhile, Hillquist is working two jobs, living on four hours' sleep and struggling to pay for school. He worries about his future, and he's not the only one.
KOMO News, May 11, 2012
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Students-worry-as-Congressional-standoff-over-student-loan-rates-continues-151200765.html
Whatcom County teachers, students and serviceman honored for achievements
Whatcom Community College history instructor Anna Booker has been selected as a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Scholar and will attend one of six Landmarks of American History and Culture workshops
Bellingham Herald, May 11, 2012
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/05/11/2518786/whatcom-people-whatcom-county.html
Budget troubles force YVCC to make more cuts, raise tuition
The college has faced budget cuts every year since 2008, which have wiped out a third of the money it receives from the state. Fewer class offerings and higher tuition rates will likely drive some students away. "Some students are not going to be able to graduate as quickly as they had hoped and some students don't get in and have to wait until the next quarter," said YVCC President Linda Kaminski. Kaminski says the tuition hike will help restore some weekday classes and support services. However, if enrollment drops because of fewer classes, then the higher tuition will do little to increase revenue.
KIMA CBS 29, May 11, 2012
http://www.kimatv.com/home/video/YVCC-plans-to-cut-weekend-classes-151207345.html
YVCC president speaks out about budget cuts
The Yakima Valley Community College [Board of Trustees] has a month to decide on a budget, as they face nearly $600,000 in cuts for the next year. School president Dr. Linda Kaminski says this will impact both students and faculty. "Well, this year there were no new cuts, but in the last session there were cuts that were mandated for this year for next year. And those cuts are still in place," said Dr. Kaminski.
KNDO TV, May 11, 2012
http://www.kndo.com/story/18331604/yvcc-president-speaks-out-about-budget-cuts
State board approves tuition hike for public two-year colleges
Students enrolled in public two year colleges will be paying more this fall. The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges adopted an average 12% tuition increase for community colleges and technical schools. … The tuition increase was approved to help offset $110-million in cuts to the state's community and technical college system.
KIMA CBS 29, May 11, 2012.
http://www.kimatv.com/home/video/YVCC-plans-to-cut-weekend-classes-151207345.html
Green River Engineering Instructor Honored as UW Inspirational Teacher
Janet Ash, a Green River Community College Engineering faculty member, has been chosen as a 2012 University of Washington Inspirational Teacher. The UW's Computer Science and Engineering department asks its undergraduate students to nominate their most inspirational high school or community college teacher for the Inspirational Teacher award. Ash was nominated by two former students now enrolled as undergraduates in the UW department. She was also nominated in 2008 and 2009.
Enumclaw Patch, May 11, 2012
http://enumclaw.patch.com/articles/green-river-engineering-instructor-honored-as-uw-inspirational-teacher
LCC tuition to rise 13 percent beginning in fall
The reason for the hikes is easy: The Legislature has allocated less and less money for higher education, increasing the burden on students to fund higher education.
Longview Daily News, May 12, 2012
http://tdn.com/news/local/lcc-tuition-to-rise-percent-beginning-in-fall/article_01481374-9bc9-11e1-8816-0019bb2963f4.html
Tuition, job market have college students buried in uncertainty
Jill Sitton of Kelso wants a bachelor's degree from Washington State University/Vancouver, but she can't afford it. So the energetic 22-year-old is pursuing her dream in stages. Her parents paid for an associate's degree from Lower Columbia College on the condition that she pay the rest of her education. Then she joined AmeriCorps, where she will earn enough grant money and wages to afford the $11,000 she will need for her first year at WSU. She's also applied for scholarships, although "there aren't that many scholarships geared toward middle-income families," said Sitton, a 2008 Kelso High School graduate.
Longview Daily News, May 12, 2012
http://tdn.com/news/local/tuition-job-market-have-college-students-buried-in-uncertainty/article_bb66dbf0-9bc4-11e1-8b00-0019bb2963f4.html
Workers looking for the way forward
Workers, she said, should take stock of their skills and figure out what additional ones they need to make themselves indispensable to their employer. It's "taking those positive steps," she said, including everything from sharpening your résumé to taking courses at a community college. In fact, Clark College has seen record enrollment due, at least in part, to people giving chase to training or new careers amid fallout from the economic crash.
The Columbian, May 13, 2012
http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/may/13/workers-looking-for-the-way-forward-those-with-job/
BTC Welding Rodeo ignites for two days of competition
The 11th Annual Bellingham Technical College Welding Rodeo competition is a free, family-friendly event featuring food, displays, vendors, raffles and, of course, welding.
Bellingham Herald, May 13, 2012
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/05/13/2519030/btc-welding-rodeo-ignites-for.html
FedEx 727 is gift for training
Spokane airport firefighters, other emergency responders and college students are soon going to have a large jet aircraft to use for training. … In addition to being used by emergency responders, the aircraft may be opened up for student instruction in Spokane Community College's aviation program.
The Spokesman Review, May 14, 2012
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/14/fedex-727-is-gift-for-training/
Making poetry fun
Irish poet Tony Curtis sings Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" to an English class Thursday at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon. Tell kids they're going to read poetry, and you'll often get the same reaction: rolling eyes, disinterest and none-too-subtle overall crankiness, teachers say. But bring a live poet to the classroom, and the atmosphere changes: The students' eyes light up, they're willing to listen to the words spoken by the author, and even pick up a pen and try their hand at a little poetry themselves. That's been the experience at many schools in Skagit County, thanks to the Skagit River Poetry Project...
Skagit Valley Herald, Monday, May 14, 2012
http://www.skagit.edu/files3.asp_Q_pagenumber_E_2960
Hire ed: Key to strong economy
By Tom Pierson, president and CEO of Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber. Recently I had the privilege of introducing a business-related session for a South Sound university managers and faculty conference. I was excited to lead a discussion focused on uniting higher education, business and, ultimately, jobs for our community. With 36 percent of Pierce County jobs requiring at least a bachelor's degree and only 8 percent of Pierce County residents holding degrees, there needs to be a discussion.
We must examine where we are with training and education opportunities after K-12, for industry-specific certifications, two- or four-year degrees or advanced degrees. Advancement, happily, has been made during the last legislative session with the funding of several key projects that increase investments in work force development and job training programs. Specific bills include:
• SSB 5982 — Creation of The Joint Center for Aerospace Technology Innovation to pursue joint industry-university research.
• ESB 6074 — The Supplemental Capital Budget designated $59.74 million for Pierce County projects, including $39.1 million for Tacoma Community College's Health Careers Center construction.
The Tacoma Community College Health Careers Center would provide Franciscan Health System, Group Health Cooperative and MultiCare Health System (already key health care economic drivers) with trained and skilled workers. According to the Draft Regional Economic Strategy for the Central Puget Sound Region, the health care sector is projected to add between 18,000 and 23,000 jobs in the region during next four years.
Business Examiner, May 14, 2012
http://www.businessexaminer.com/databank/?djoPage=article_details&djoId=62954
IGrad school reaches out to former Kent students
Kent School District is partnering with Green River Community College to help students who have not completed high school. The iGrad – or Individualized Graduation and Diploma Program – allows former students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma, a Washington State diploma or a GED. The program is for former students between the ages of 16 and 21.
Kent Reporter, May 14, 2012
http://www.kentreporter.com/community/151419045.html
TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION
1 in 3 autistic young adults lack jobs, education
One in 3 young adults with autism have no paid job experience, college or technical schooling nearly seven years after high school graduation, a study finds. That's a poorer showing than those with other disabilities including those who are mentally disabled, the researchers said.
With roughly half a million autistic kids reaching adulthood in the next decade, experts say it's an issue policymakers urgently need to address
Boston Globe, May 4, 2012
More college grads return for a technical education
The Appleton-native graduated in 2007 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in architecture, but she said she couldn't land a job as the pool of candidates grew and the number of opportunities plummeted. Like many recent grads struggling to find jobs, Kussow, now 27 years old, turned to a technical college to supplement her education with more career-specific skills to become more marketable to employers. She graduated one year ago from Fox Valley Technical College with an associate's degree in construction management and landed a job in Milwaukee within a month.
Appleton Post Crescent - May 13, 2012
POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL
Behind high tuitions, there's $2.4 billion in financial aid
The Legislature has been earmarking more funding to need grants, but it has also been earmarking much less to colleges. Resulting tuition increases have been eating up much of the assistance. At the same time, economic distress has been driving growing numbers of people into technical and academic degree programs. As a result, roughly 30,000 would-be students eligible for need grants can't get them for lack for state funding. Middle-income students who don't qualify for any kind of grants are also getting squeezed by higher tuitions.
The News Tribune, May 12, 2012
http://blog.thenewstribune.com/opinion/2012/05/12/behind-high-tuitions-theres-2-4-billion-in-financial-aid/
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