Wednesday, April 3, 2013

NEWS LINKS | April 3, 2013

SBCTC NEWS LINKS | Articles about – and of interest to – Washington state community and technical colleges
 
Correction:  An article in yesterday’s News Links, “Clark College Board Approves Budget: No Cuts,” was a phantom link which appeared as a March 27, 2013 news item in news feed, but was dated June 2012. The editor regrets any concern or confusion this headline may have generated.
 
 
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
 
IDEA: Improving Small Colleges
Here are some ideas that have made a huge impact on the Eastside, the Northwest and the world — and some more ideas that are
beginning to make an impression.  … Real science research means big universities and think-tanks, right? Think again. Bellevue College is changing the way biology is taught at community colleges statewide. Its project has boosted the number of students interested in pursuing STEM (short for science, technology, engineering and math) majors and careers. The secret is empowering undergraduate students to conduct real research and sharing their findings with scientists. The ComGen: Community College Genomics Research Initiative, which Science magazine identified in a recent article as one of the nation’s pioneering community college research projects, was created at Bellevue College several years ago with a National Science Foundation grant.
425 Magazine, March/April 2013
Tutoring at Lewis Clark Valley Literacy Council opens up new worlds for students
… At Walla Walla Community College members of the LC Valley Literacy Council, work every day to eradicate illiteracy.  Lois Cowan is 61-years-old and is finally learning how to read. As a young mother growing up in Detroit, Lois said she never got the help she needed until now.  "I couldn't help the kids do their homework because I wasn't properly educated," said Cowan. "So I didn't feel equipped to teach my kids the homework that they were bringing in because I didn't know it." … According to ProLiteracy.org 30 million Americans adults can't read well enough to fill out a job application. …  "Even people that are native Americans that aren't foreign born with low literacy skills can get along alright for a while but then eventually there comes a need that they need to improve their literacy," said LC Valley Literacy Council Tutor Rhonda Welling.
help ...
KLEW TV, March 4, 2013
 
White House Florist Named Centralia College Distinguished Alumnus
Centralia College is honoring a graduate who went on to the White House.  The floral designs of Laura Dowling captured the eye of first lady Michelle Obama, who appointed the 1979 Centralia College graduate as chief floral designer for the White House in 2009.
Centralia Chronicle, March 15, 2013
 
Topping it off
An evergreen tree and American flag perch atop the building that will be Charles Lewis Hall, under construction at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon.  General Contractor Burke Construction Group of Cheney fitted the final steel beam last week and held an informal “topping off” ceremony Friday, where workers painted the beam white and allowed members of the college community to sign it before it was hoisted into place, ...”
Skagit Valley Herald, March 16, 2013
 
Sex offenders on CBC campus
Registered sex offenders are banned from living near grammar schools and interacting with students. They still have the right to an education and Tri-Cities students may sit side-by-side with a sex offender in class.  Reana knows there's sex offenders on campus, CBC [Columbia Basin College] officials keep her in the loop.
KEPRTV, March 18, 2013
 
Columbia Basin College Nuclear Technology Program
"The demand nationally and regionally are both still very very strong and there are still workforce challenges with an aging workforce in nuclear. So, as the federal situation gets worked out. There's still going to be a high demand for technicians as we go forward," said CBC Nuclear Technology Director Clayton Gibson.
KNDU TV, March 18, 2013
 
Interview: CDC says 1 in 50 school kids has autism
Sara Gardner, an autism expert from Bellevue College, spoke about the disorder and options for parents
Q13 Fox News, March 20, 2013
 
Conference on STEM careers draws more than 200 young women to EdCC
More than 200 young women attended Edmonds Community College's Expanding Your Horizons conference on March 27, where they learned about science and math courses and were encouraged to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, math ... Meanwhile, Edmonds Community College has received a $592,240 grant from the National Science Foundation to provide scholarships and support to students studying science, technology, engineering, and math. The grant will support 45 low-income students in their math and science studies. Students will receive a scholarship of up to $5,000 each year while they complete their degree
Edmonds Beacon, March 29, 2013
 
CCS Foundation launches entrepreneurship campaign
Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation intends to raise $250,000 to support Spokane Community College’s Integrated Business and Entrepreneurship program and students there who hope to start businesses. The commitment comes as part of a partnership with Avista Corp. to create a regional Business Entrepreneurship Network in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.  The money will be invested in programs for students at SCC, North Idaho College, the Clarkston branch of Walla Walla Community College and Rogue Community College in Medford, Ore.
The Spokesman Review, March 30, 2013
 
Singer Vicci Martinez offering scholarship for women at TCC
Singer and Tacoma native Vicci Martinez will offer a scholarship just for women at Tacoma Community College. Applicants must plan to attend TCC this fall and maintain a GPA above 2.0, according to an announcement on the school’s website. Martinez will help select the winner, who will receive $1,500 toward fall tuition and fees. Studying the arts isn’t a listed requirement, but Martinez will be “interested in learning about your passion for the arts and your artistic aspirations.” Martinez grew up in Tacoma and was a finalist on the first season of the NBC talent show “The Voice.” She released an album, “Vicci,” last year.
 
Bellevue College student honored as member of 2013 All-Washington Academic Team
Mustapha Ennaimy of Bellevue has been named to the 2013 All-Washington Academic Team in recognition of his high achievement in academics and dedication to community service. … “It’s extremely gratifying to see Mustapha's hard work and dedication to his studies recognized at such a high level,” Bellevue College President David L. Rule said. “We are so proud of his accomplishments, and we expect great things of him in the future.”
Bellevue Reporter, March 31, 2013
 
Employee 'skills gaps' spark state action
Companies in Washington state are finding that many prospective job candidates are missing critical skills. … Now, the AWB is partnering with local businesses and community and technical colleges across the state to solve the skill deficit. Throughout past weeks, the organization staged 10 collaborative forums for those in the major industries that drive the economy in Washington state to air their thoughts on what they see lacking in their workforce and potential new hires. Participants were also welcomed to voice suggestions on what might be done to fill in the gaps in these areas. … Industries included in the forums were construction, education, aerospace, information & computing technology, clean energy and allied health. Across the board, the immediate problem is a workforce that lacks basic skills, which is for the most part a generational trend of younger job applicants, Johnson said. … After this, the AWB, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and industry leaders will meet to carve out the best path to fill worker skills for each sector.
Business Examiner, April 2013
 
YAY: Alumnae Honor
Centralia College is honoring 1979 graduate Laura Dowling with its 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Dowling went on to earn a Master of Public Administration and work for the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and as a senior manager for The Nature Conservancy. But she acquired a passion for floral artistry, which she studied in Paris. In 2009, first lady Michelle Obama appointed Dowling as the first-ever White House chief floral designer. Proving once again the value of community colleges as a gateway to fantastic careers.
The Bellingham Herald, April 1, 2013
 
Washington campuses penciling 30-yr-old legacy parts
Ciber has been chosen to implement and maintain Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications that will modernize computing and processes at all 34 campuses of the Washington State Board of Community & Technical Colleges system. … Ciber will provide its expert application hosting and managed services for the duration of the project. Called ctcLink, the system project replaces a 30-year-old legacy solution and unites all campuses under a common computing platform, which facilitates standardization. Automation will enable replacement  of labor-intensive manual processes, providing for significant leaps in efficiency. .... Students, faculty and staff associated with multiple campuses will have a single online ID and common set of processes to navigate.
 
School winners: EdCC instructors receive state award
Edmonds Community College instructors Kathleen Murphy and Beth O'Donnell are recipients of the 2013 Anna Sue McNeill Assessment, Teaching and Learning Award. Since 2002, Murphy and O'Donnell have been co-chairwomen of the college's Institutional Assessment Plan, which outlines different measures of student achievement and learning.
The Herald, April 1, 2013
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130401/LIVING/704019996
 
Green River Community College in Washington state picked for crisis preparedness program
Seven universities, including one on Washington state, will participate in a national preparedness initiative designed to help campuses train for, respond to and recover from emergencies, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Tuesday. Napolitano made the announcement in Philadelphia at Drexel University, which is among the schools chosen for the Campus Resilience Pilot Program. The effort seeks to help colleges develop and share best practices for responding to threats, violence or natural disasters.
The Oregonian, April 2, 2013
 
Clark College offers several classes specifically for those 55 or older
Learning never stops. That’s the message behind Clark College’s Mature Learning Program, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a party and several mini classes. …  The birthday celebration also included a visit from college president Bob Knight, cake, and a keynote lunch lecture by Dr. Larry Sherman, a nationally recognized neuroscientist at Oregon Health & Science University. … "Mature Learning offers seniors the chance to take fascinating classes taught by brilliant instructors," said Tracy Reilly Kelly, program manager
Camas Washougal Post Record, April 2, 2013
 
David Vo Honored With 2013 All-Washington Academic Team Placement
South Puget Sound Community College student David Vo represented the college on the 2013 All-Washington Academic Team. Vo was recognized at a ceremony on Thursday, March 21. Gov. Jay Inslee was on hand to help honor recipients at the 18th annual All-Washington Academic Team recognition ceremony hosted in the college’s Student Union Building. … Vo, an 18-year-old pursing his Associate of Arts degree while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average, is actively involved in the life of the campus.
Thurston Talk, April 2, 2013
 
 
TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION
 
Budget Cuts Sharply Reduced Community-College Access in California, Report Says
The report’s authors urge the state to find new revenue sources and more cost-effective ways of delivering courses in order to fill its need for skilled workers.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 26, 2013
 
Insufficient STEM education is costing Washingtonians 25,000 jobs
[Washington Roundtable] says more money for universities could bring down the unemployment rate statewide. … Maintaining growth in higher education STEM offerings though, would require the state's public schools to engage more young students in science, engineering and the like. The study also calls for better coordination of community college technical programs. … Steve Mullin is the president of the Roundtable, a business organization that has long pushed the state to improve education at all levels. He said the study shows there would be "quantifiable returns" for the state in doing a better job of providing higher education opportunities in the fields. Gov. Jay Inslee and others have already said they want to focus on job creation and economic development. "Why would you not see this as the top economic development strategy?" Mullin said.
Crosscut, March 28, 2013
 
Lab Equipment Made With 3-D Printers Could Cut Costs by 97%
Using three-dimensional printing technology to fabricate parts promises to revolutionize the expense of some research, according to a new study from Michigan Technological University.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 29, 2013
 
A Low-Cost Way to Expand the Horizons of High-Achieving, Low-Income Students
New research suggests an effective solution to the problem of "undermatching," in which the students rarely enroll in or even apply to selective colleges.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 29, 2013
 
Community Colleges Could Benefit From Better Alumni Outreach, Survey Finds
More resources and better data can pay off for two-year colleges, according to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 29, 2013
 
Pasco School Board wants to see if new schools can focus around STEM, STEAM programs
The Pasco School Board wants district staff to look into designing the focus of the three new schools around a STEM or STEAM educational model. That means that all subjects -- including art, language arts, history -- would be taught through the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) approach. In a STEAM program, the "A" stands for the arts.
Tri-City Herald, March 30, 2013
 
Editorial: Make STEM classes more of a priority in state’s schools
Yakima Herald, March 31, 2013
 
College grads can learn and earn their way out of student loans
Spokesman Review, April 1, 2013
 
Handicapping the 'Reimagining Aid' Recommendations
Many of the proposals financed by the Gates foundation would save taxpayers and students money, but are they politically viable? The Chronicle offers its forecast.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 1, 2013
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Skilled workers not there to fill openings?
A new report from the Washington Roundtable, which is made up of business executives, says the region’s business community is in acute need of people to fill 25,000 new jobs. All told, 20,000, or about 80 percent of the total jobs deemed to have “acute” skills gaps are in nursing or computer science fields. … They outlined five major steps that its members believe can help fill 160,000 jobs across the board by 2017, while boosting the number of graduates with STEM degrees – the shorthand term for the fields of science, technology, engineering or math.
News Tribune, April 2, 2013
 
U. of Akron to Offer Tutorials for Credit-Bearing Exams
"Save money and graduate early," the new program promises. It publicizes Akron's existing for-credit exams and, for a fee, helps students prepare for them.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 3, 2013
 
Under California Bill, Faculty-Free Colleges Would Award Exam-Based Degrees
A bill being considered this month by the California Assembly would create a fourth division of the state's higher-education system that would provide no instruction and would issue college credit and degrees to any student who could pass a series of examinations.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 3, 2013
 
Associated Press drops 'illegal immigrant' from stylebook
ABC News, April 3, 2013
 
 
POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL
Editorial: Legislature needs to fund more seats in high-demand fields
The Seattle Times, March 28, 2013
 
Op-ed: Let’s keep the ‘public’ in public higher education
By Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, Senate Higher Education Committee; and Sen. Jeanne Kohl Wells, D-Seattle, ranking committee member committee.
The News Tribune, March 29, 2013
 
Opinion: STEM focus right course for economy
The Herald, April 3, 2013
 
Democrats, Republicans tussle over tuition rates
Next fall, college students could either see tuition increase by 5 percent or decrease by 3, depending on who wins the budget battle in the Legislature
The Columbian, April 3, 2013
 
Wash. Senate releases budget plan
The Senate on Wednesday unveiled a budget proposal that focuses on a series of spending cuts and fund transfers as lawmakers work toward balancing a projected budget deficit of more than $1.2 billion and complying with a court-ordered requirement to spend more on the state's basic education system. … In higher education, the Senate proposes to require a 3 percent reduction in tuition for in-state students. They say this will help manage the long-term financial concerns in the state's prepaid tuition program.
Inslee's budget plan would allow further tuition increases at the University of Washington and Washington State University - as much as 5 percent per year. Tuition at other state universities would go up as much as 3 percent a year, while tuition at community and technical colleges would remain steady for the next two years.
The Olympian, April 3, 2013
 
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