SBCTC NEWS LINKS | Articles about – and of interest to – Washington state community and technical colleges
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
WWU hires director of operations for Kitsap, Olympic peninsulas
Candice Merrill has been hired as Western Washington University's director of operations on the peninsulas. She will manage operations and programs at the Western Washington University Center at Olympic College in Poulsbo, which is a collaboration between the two schools. The third partner in the regional alliance is Peninsula College in Port Angeles.
Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, April 10, 2014
Followup: History-making South Seattle College team back from aerospace competition, sharing successes and gratitude
"The world of aviation is so vast, with endless possibilities waiting to be explored by young men and women!" So says CrystalRose Hudelson, who you first met here in January as she shared the news that she and other South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) students had formed an all-woman team to head to the Aviation Maintenance Competition in Las Vegas – the school's first-ever team to compete.
West Seattle Blog, April 9, 2014
Renton businesses honor area educators
The Renton Chamber of Commerce recognized four Renton School District teachers and an instructor at Renton Technical College at their 2014 Ahead of the Class Excellence in Education Awards, early this month.
Renton Reporter, April 9, 2014
http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/254651931.html
Public gets preview of Peninsula College Forks Extension site
A new Peninsula College Forks Extension building was opened for a public preview this week with Peninsula College banners on parking lot light poles, big-screen TVs and cookies but no heat or drinking water. The building at 481 S. Forks Ave. was ready for Tuesday's meeting of the Peninsula College trustees and public tours, but just barely.
Peninsula Daily News, April 9, 2014
Milestone: P.C. professors earn awards
Peninsula College professors Dr. Ritu Lauer and Dr. Helen Lovejoy received the 2013 John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Awards at the League for Innovation Conference, held March 2-5 in Anaheim, Calif. The awards celebrate outstanding contributions and leadership by community college faculty and staff.
Sequim Gazette, April 8, 2014
http://www.sequimgazette.com/community/254457481.html
Grays Harbor Civic Choir Takes a New Direction
Pat's musical involvement in Grays Harbor may have started with a Grays Harbor College production of Little Mary Sunshine, but it was her twenty plus year career with the Aberdeen High School Music Department, and current involvement with her relatively new children's choir called Poco Voce, that has cemented her in Grays Harbors' choral history. The road to Civic Choir Director came through an answer to an advertisement in the newspaper, and now Pat seems to be busier in her retirement than ever before.
Grays Harbor Talk, April 7, 2014
http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2014/04/07/grays-harbor-civic-choir/
From Tacoma's Hilltop to the Prosecutor's Office
It would be easy to say that's why James Curtis today is a 37-year-old deputy prosecutor in the gang unit of the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. … Four years slid by. Watching doctors and nurses every day, Curtis realized he wanted more, so he enrolled at Tacoma Community College.
The News Tribune, April 5, 2014
Guest Column: Education, manufacturing work together
Washington is making things — and not just airplanes. Landing construction of the Boeing 777X, including its high-tech composite wing, certainly boosted the state's manufacturing outlook, but that's not the only reason to be optimistic. Even before that good news, Washington had seen resurgence in its manufacturing sector, mirroring the post-recession growth that manufacturing has seen in other states. By 2012, he was working in Washington state when he was laid off from one of those contract jobs. His family used up its savings and was getting by with federal assistance when he discovered he was eligible for a training program that helped him enroll in a program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology.
The Daily News, April 5, 2014
http://tdn.com/news/opinion/guest-column-education-manufacturing-work-together/article_b5c7e202-bc4c-11e3-843c-001a4bcf887a.html
Bellingham Technical College certifications provide path to manufacturing jobs
The recent manufacturing summit held at Bellingham Technical College confirmed that Northwest Washington is leading our region's economic health and providing great careers. Whatcom County's manufacturing companies build, construct, manufacture, machine or fabricate ships; architectural structural, marine, defense, aerospace, medical, and commercial components; aluminum and fuel; energy devices; my personal favorites - chocolate, seafood and other food. More than any other industry, a globally competitive manufacturing sector translates inventions, research discoveries and new ideas into improved or novel products or processes. Manufacturing continues to involve manual operations but is enhanced by the use and coordination of information, electronics, automation, software, sensing, networking and computation, using cutting-edge materials and emerging capabilities.
Bellingham Herald, April 4, 2014
Longhouse Scholarship helps Jamestown S'Klallam student
"This will be my third Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree," says Shawna M. Priest, who is now enrolled in the Medical Assisting program at Peninsula College. "I would not have been able to say that without P.C. It has allowed me to move up the career ladder and become independent," Priest says. Her other degrees include two AAS degrees in Administrative Office Systems, one with an Accounting Specialization and the other with an Administrative Assistant Specialization. A member of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Priest has been working as a receptionist at the Jamestown Family Health Clinic in Sequim for the past four years and plans to stay there, noting it is a wonderful place to work. But she always has wanted to become more involved with the patients.
Sequim Gazette, April 4, 2014
http://www.sequimgazette.com/community/253979681.html
Big day for Washington's veterans as new law grants college credit for military training
Washington's veterans have a new way to gain recognition for their service while accessing the benefits of a college degree. Governor Jay Inslee Wednesday signed into law Senate Bill 5969 which grants academic credit for military training. State Sen. Steve O'Ban, R-Pierce County, who sponsored the legislation, called the new law a major benefit for veterans, "who often face hardships as they transition back into civilian life and need to build new careers." … O'Ban thanked Mark San Souci from the Department of Defense, members of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and Alfie Alvardo-Ramos, director of the Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs for their work to pass the landmark legislation.
The Suburban Times, April 3, 2014
Whatcom Community College remains in expansion mode
Leaders at Whatcom Community College plan to continue a recent spate of building activity for several more years as they move to meet the needs of a growing student population.
Bellingham Business Journal, March 31, 2014
http://bbjtoday.com/blog/whatcom-community-college-remains-in-expansion-mode/27347
WCC partnering with skill center for high-school students
Whatcom Community College is entering a new partnership this fall with the Northwest Career and Technical Academy, which will allow local high-school students to earn high school and college credits while studying for careers in the medical assisting and computer security and support fields.
Bellingham Business Journal, March 3, 2014
http://bbjtoday.com/blog/wcc-partnering-with-skill-center-for-high-schoolers/27194
Students' lives transformed by education
Two students from Bellingham Technical College and Whatcom Community College were nominees for the 2014 Transforming Lives Awards from the Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges, according to a press release.
Bellingham Herald, March 2, 2014
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/03/02/3503494/students-lives-transformed-by.html
WCC to offer medical assisting, computer security programs for high school students
Whatcom County high school students will have more options to get college credit starting this fall, as a new partnership allows Whatcom Community College to offer additional programs for medical and technical careers.
Bellingham Herald, March 2, 2014
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/03/02/3503568/wcc-to-offer-medical-assisting.html
TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION
Many Millennials Expect To Spend Decades Paying For College
When Morning Edition asked millennials what their concerns are, almost two-thirds responded college debt. David Greene talks to three women, who are wading through massive college debts.
KUOW, April 10, 2014
http://kuow.org/post/many-millennials-are-drowning-student-loan-debt
How One University Has Achieved Parity in Student Success
Graduation rates are nearly the same for students across racial and income groups at the University of California at Riverside. In a recent conversation with The Chronicle, Kim A. Wilcox, Riverside's chancellor, discussed what works and what doesn't for improving student success, and what's at risk if the nation's colleges do not do a better job of bridging socioeconomic divides.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 10, 2014
http://chronicle.com/article/How-One-University-Has/145829/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en
How Higher Ed Contributes to Inequality
In 2011, Cornell political scientist Suzanne Mettler highlighted poll results showing a striking phenomenon: About half of the Americans receiving federal assistance in paying college tuition or medical bills believe they have never benefited from a government social program. The results are evidence of what Mettler has termed "the submerged state"—a series of policies, like tuition tax credits or federally-guaranteed student loans, that are practically invisible to citizens. That invisibility, she argues, erodes public support for the very idea of government playing an active role in people's lives.
The Atlantic, April 9, 2014
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/04/how-higher-ed-contributes-to-inequality/360407/
Apprenticeship as Degree Pathway
The Obama administration on Monday formally launched a new consortium of colleges, employers and unions that is aimed at making it easier for students to turn their apprenticeship experience into academic credit.
Inside Higher Ed, April 8, 2014
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/04/08/biden-announces-new-consortium-promote-apprenticeships-pathway-college-degree
Some Colleges Try to Catch Students Up Before They're Behind
Community colleges contend with a difficult reality: Many students show up unready for college-level work, and few of them catch up and graduate. To shift that status quo, as campuses around the country introduce new models of remedial, or developmental, education, some are trying to reduce the need for it.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 8, 2014
http://chronicle.com/article/Some-Colleges-Try-to-Catch/145819/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en
Va. Community Colleges Suspend Campus Speech Policy After Lawsuit
The Virginia Community College System has agreed to suspend a policy governing campus demonstrations after a student said he was improperly barred from preaching on a campus, The Virginian-Pilot reported.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 8, 2014
Community-College Association Issues Guide to Transform the Sector
Two years ago, the American Association of Community Colleges provided a shortcomings, calling for a broad transformation to meet the evolving needs of students and the economy. On Sunday, as thousands of educators gathered here for the group's annual meeting, they got a guide for how to go about attaining that goal.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 7, 2014
Biden Announces Drive to Award Credit for Apprenticeships
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. announced on Monday the creation of a consortium of colleges and business and labor leaders that will focus on providing college credit for apprenticeships. Speaking here at the annual meeting of the American Association of Community Colleges, Mr. Biden said apprenticeships provide "a pathway to the middle class" for working families and "a pipeline of skilled workers for employers," and must be expanded.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 7, 2014
Online at Community Colleges
Online enrollment continued to grow at community colleges in 2013, even as many two-year institutions saw overall enrollment stagnate or drop, according to a report released Sunday by the Instructional Technology Council. The council released its annual report on online education at the annual meeting of the American Association of Community Colleges, with which it is affiliated.
Inside Higher Ed, April 7, 2014
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/04/07/study-finds-slower-online-growth-community-colleges-growth-nonetheless
The STEM Enrollment Boom
Policy makers regularly talk about the need to encourage more undergraduates to pursue science and technology fields. New data suggest that undergraduates at four-year institutions in fact have become much more likely to study those fields, especially engineering and biology. And while much of the public discussion of STEM enrollments has suggested a STEM vs. liberal arts dichotomy (even though some STEM fields are in fact liberal arts disciplines), the new study suggests that this is not the dynamic truly at play. Rather, STEM enrollments are growing while professional field enrollments (especially business and education) are shrinking.
Inside Higher Ed, April 7, 2014
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/04/07/study-finds-increased-stem-enrollment-recession
How to Improve Community Colleges
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) on Sunday released a report of suggestions for how two-year institutions can improve completion rates, better work with employers and be more accountable. The guide is linked to a 2012 report from the association that called for substantial changes in how the sector operates. Over the weekend the association kicked off its annual meeting in Washington, D.C., which continues until Tuesday.
Inside Higher Ed, April 7, 2014
http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2014/04/07/how-improve-community-colleges
Focus on STEM fields a revival for shop class
If an eighth-grader in the Seattle school district played her cards right, she could line up free college credits, paid internships and industry certifications while still in high school — a strategy that could lead straight to a job in the trades or manufacturing. … Vocational educators say Seattle's low participation in part reflects a college-for-all mentality evident over the district's last several administrations, which have focused narrowly on preparing students for four-year universities while neglecting other routes to successful careers and adult lives. Now, a national enthusiasm for instruction in the STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and math — has breathed new life into shop class by blending traditional book learning with the hands-on experience and practical skills many employers say they want.
The Seattle Times, April 5, 2014
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2023304692_vocationaledxml.html
Grants vs. Loans
Much of the debate about encouraging college completion has focused on academic requirements, advising or the curriculum. Many experts commonly say that completion rates are about much more than money. But a study released here Thursday at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association suggests that money, and different kinds of money, matter a lot in the graduation of low-income students.
Inside Higher Ed, April 4, 2014
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/04/04/study-shows-positive-imapcts-government-aid-graduation-rates
UW To Offer New Online Degree In Social Sciences
The University of Washington is launching a new online degree in integrated social sciences aimed at people who want to complete their education. The move is the university's latest push into the competitive world of online education.
KPLU, April 2, 2014
http://kplu.org/post/uw-offer-new-online-degree-social-sciences
Why Data Is Education's 'Killer App'
A vision for education in the future must be built around the student. Indeed, a student-centric model should transcend the classroom, the individual institution, even the traditional segments of K-12 schools, higher education, and the workforce. It must empower students and help them create their own goals and their own learning pathways. It must also provide the right tools to support teachers, professors, parents, and others who interact with that learner along the way. Programs need to be built around a common view of the student. What matters even more than the technology is the data that emerges from its use.
Education Week, April 1, 2014
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/04/02/27king.h33.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2
Giving Credit Where It's Due
When students transfer from community colleges to four-year institutions before earning their associate degrees, they miss out on the benefit of the degree and are not counted toward the community college's graduation goal. In a guest post, Frank Yanchak describes a program that awards associate degrees to students who've already transferred to four-year colleges like his.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 2, 2014
POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL
Bill Seeks to Expand Use of 'Income Share' Alternatives to Student Loans
In an effort to expand access to alternatives to traditional student loans, U.S. Sen. Marco A. Rubio and Rep. Tom E. Petri introduced legislation on Wednesday that would create a legal framework for "income share" agreements. Under such arrangements, individuals and companies invest in students' higher education, and in return the students agree to make payments linked to their income for a set period of time after graduation.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 10, 2014
http://chronicle.com/article/Bill-Seeks-to-Expand-Use-of/145851/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en
Two-year budget adds to education without raising taxes
Gov. Jay Inslee signed a budget bill Friday that, for a change, had no tax increases, deep cuts in spending or elimination of tax breaks. The legislation, which enjoyed overwhelming support in the House and Senate, will add about $155 million in new spending to the two-year state operating budget approved last year.
Everett Herald, April 5, 2014
McCleary Report Due to Court by End of Month
Earlier this year, the Washington State Supreme Court followed up its 2012 McCleary decision (mandating that the state legislature fully fund K-12 education by 2018) with an order that the legislature, which in the court's opinion hadn't yet done enough to meet the mandate, present the court with a plan by April 30 outlining how they planned to make it happen.
Publicola, April 4, 2014
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