SBCTC NEWS LINKS | Articles about – and of interest to – Washington state community and technical colleges
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
Woods family wins statewide philanthropy honor
The Woods family — owners and publishers of The Wenatchee World — have been named Outstanding Philanthropic Family for Washington state by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. …. Through funding and advocacy, they helped develop and contribute to the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee, the Woods House Conservatory of Music, Icicle Arts, United Way, Wenatchee Valley YMCA and many other programs, [including the Music and Arts Center at Wenatchee Valley College.]
The Wenatchee World, October 3, 2012
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/oct/03/woods-family-wins-statewide-philanthropy-honor/
Wilf Woods: New MAC is a showstopper
Wenatchee Valley College’s new Music and Art Center lived up to its advance billing with an open house Sunday that brought crowds to admire the state-of-the-art facility, a stunning recital hall, and music and art teaching spaces that have been long awaited.
The Wenatchee World, October 2, 2012
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/oct/02/wilf-woods-new-mac-is-a-showstopper/
Over 950 kids to practice STEM skills at innovative career fair: Focus expands to include careers in advanced manufacturing, a key demand industry in our county
Over 950 Snohomish County middle and high school students will bend sheet metal, build a flying object, and learn about polymers while playing with fake snow—among other hands-on activities—next Tuesday at an event featuring apprenticeship organizations and businesses in advanced manufacturing and the building trades. … Workforce Development Council Snohomish County (WDCSC) is [hosting] this new and expanded event—a day of hands-on activities—co-sponsored by Master Builders Career Connection, the Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Materials at Everett Community College, and the Construction Center of Excellence at Renton Technical College. …“There is a much publicized skills gap in America right now,” explains Heather Villars of WDCSC. “Even with high unemployment rates, we don’t have workers with the skills needed to fill the jobs currently available. Build Your Future is working to change this: we’re exciting kids about these careers now to build a pipeline of workers for the future.”
South Everett Beacon, October 4, 2012
http://south-everett.villagesoup.com/schools/story/over-950-kids-to-practice-stem-skills-at-innovative-career-fair/905593
Why International Students Should Consider Community Colleges
Two-year colleges can help students improve English skills, save money, and adapt to U.S. education. ...Using those saved funds, students have a variety of college choices to choose from for the latter two years. Washington's Green River Community College, for instance, will attract around 100 four-year schools from around the country for a college fair later this month, including Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State University, and Arizona State University, says Ross Jennings, Green River's associate vice president of international programs. Nineteen four-year universities offer guaranteed admission to Green River Community College students, as long they meet requirements such as grade point averages ranging from 2.0 to 3.5 and complete a specified number of credits, Jennings says.
U.S. News & World Report, October 4, 2012
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2012/10/04/why-international-students-should-consider-community-colleges
Unemployed veterans retraining catching on at O.C.
Most of the talk about new retraining money for older out of work veterans has focused on how fast the first 45,000 slots filled following its opening last spring. … Missing from the conversation is a financial hurdle created when the Department of Veterans Affairs started the program without a plan to cover tuition up front. Among the local unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 signing up for classes at Olympic College under the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program some homeless and poor veterans didn’t have the estimated $1,500 upfront money required to get started using the new benefit. … Olympic College Dean of Enrollment Services, Dianna Larson said that the VRAP program began with one component missing that would have addressed the specific issue faced by otherwise qualified homeless and poor veterans seeking access to their benefits. Originally the VRAP required the VA to have a plan for advance pay, she said. “The colleges are trying to fill in the gaps right now,” Larson said, “until the plan is established.”
The Bremerton Patriot, October 4, 2012
http://www.bremertonpatriot.com/news/172674011.html
TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION
Competing with Competency
Kentucky's two-year colleges have added competency and self-paced elements to online offerings for working adults, proving "disruptive" approaches can work for, rather than against, colleges. The 16-college system is no stranger to online education, in part because a large number of its students live in rural areas where getting to campus isn’t always easy. But officials spotted a gap in those offerings about six years ago. “There was still an audience that we were missing, and that was working adults,” Box says. The problem was one of scheduling, because many “could not commit to a traditional semester.” Under Learn on Demand, students can enroll whenever they want. There are no class schedules or assignment deadlines in the self-paced courses. And students can leave without facing problems when they re-enroll. As Box says, with modular courses, students have “exit points along the way.”
Inside Higher Ed, August 6, 2012
Buying Books No More
South Georgia Technical College will give students free texts starting this fall.
Inside Higher Ed, August 6, 2012
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/08/06/georgia-college-give-students-free-textbooks
Is college a lousy investment?
Newsweek, September 9, 2012
Gates Foundation supports college readiness apps / Philanthropic effort will dole out millions to encourage the creation of educational applications
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is awarding upwards of $100,000 to developers who propose apps and online tools that help high school students prepare for college, fund their schooling, and complete the sometimes circuitous application process. The College Knowledge Challenge started Sept. 27 at Facebook headquarters … where 100 developers gathered for a “hack-a-thon”–an effort to create useful technologies aimed at better preparing incoming college students as the need for remedial classes continues to rise across the U.S.
eCampus News, September 28, 2012
http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/gates-foundation-supports-college-readiness-apps/
Calif. governor signs bill to boost students’ online privacy
California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a pair of privacy bills making it illegal for employers and colleges to demand access to social media accounts.
eCampus News, September 28, 2012
CWU labor agreement ties wage increases to student performance
Central Washington University has approved a labor agreement with 325 of its classified employees that links future wages to student performance. The agreement, which must be approved by the Legislature, covers employees who are members of the Washington Federation of State Employees and Public School Employees of Washington, and includes administrative and clerical staff, as well as groundskeepers and food service workers, said CWU President James Gaudino. It does not include professors, instructors or administrators
Seattle Times, October 2, 2012
UW joins other schools in posting courses online at no cost
KING 5 TV, October 2, 2012
http://www.king5.com/news/education/UW-172389571.html
How state's prepaid tuition program GET might change
A legislative committee is seeking ways to keep the state's prepaid tuition program solvent while also allowing state universities to charge more for the most expensive degree programs
Seattle Times, October 2, 2012
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019324928_get03m.html
Attention Legislators: GET Is About Peace of Mind, Not Return on Investment
The Stranger, October 3, 2012
Community colleges' crisis slows students' progress to a crawl
Thousands of degree seekers are able to enroll in only one class at a time. Hopes of graduating or transferring wither as years pass.
Los Angeles Times, October 4, 2012
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-college-one-class-20121004,0,4815212.story
When Fundraisers Attack, Part One / Confessions of a Community College Dean
I’m at the CASE conference in San Diego, seeing what “development” (that is, fundraising) officers at community colleges talk about when they gather. (CASE is the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.) It’s a national organization of development officers from all sectors of nonprofit higher ed, but this is their first conference focused specifically on community colleges.
Inside Higher Ed, October 4, 2012
POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL
Romney: I Won't Cut Pell
Community colleges also got some airtime during the debate, as President Obama praised them as a source for job training programs and Romney vowed to streamline those programs.
Inside Higher Ed, October 4, 2012
http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2012/10/04/romney-i-wont-cut-pell
THURSDAY LITE NEWS
Administrivial Pursuit: Higher Ed MagPo
Thanks to everyone who sent in word suggestions for our new magnets. You can check out the administrative version or the faculty version. Keep an eye on the Out and About section to learn where you can get your very own magnet (and to those of you who sent in words -- your magnet is in the mail).
Inside Higher Ed, October 4, 2012
http://www.insidehighered.com/content/higher-education-poetry-magnets
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