News Links | May 29, 2014

SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS

Rewind: Watch a replay of our Google+ Hangout about community colleges Did you miss our May 28 video chat about navigating Washington’s community and technical colleges? ... The 30-minute Google+ Hangout included Jan Yoshiwara from the Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges, student Chris Doty from the Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and Kayla Shewbert, a student at South Seattle College. Seattle Times, May 28, 2014 Clark College decides on Ridgefield site Clark College officials ended lengthy speculation May 21 by announcing the school has purchased 59 acres of land at the Ridgefield I-5 interchange for the site of its North County campus. The Reflector, May 28, 2014 Big Bend Community College officials receive awards Two Big Bend Community College officials received statewide recognition for academic leadership. iFIBER One News, May 27, 2014 Pacific Tower Expected To Fill With Tenants; Long-Term Funding An Issue After a slow start, the state of Washington says it’s on track to fill the former headquarters of Amazon.com with tenants. ... The anchor tenant will be Seattle Central College’s healthcare training program. That lease is signed. Other prospective tenants include several non-profits. Boise State Public Radio, May 27, 2014

TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION

Report: Lifetime cost of college degree is negative $500,000 Some reassuring news this week for members of the Class of 2014 who are already worried about paying back student loans or finding steady work: Despite the rising costs of tuition, a new paper from M.I.T. economist David Autor finds earning a college degree is still very much worth the expense. The Seattle Times, May 29, 2014 'Is College Worth It?' You Might First Ask, ‘Worth It for Whom?’ It’s commencement season, so it’s no surprise that the “Is college worth it?” question is making headlines (again) this week. ... Here’s a quick summary of this week’s answers to the perennial question “Is college worth it?” The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 29, 2014 Why They Stay or Leave The main sources of dissatisfaction for international undergraduate students at U.S. institutions relate to finances, according to new research on retention released today at the annual NAFSA: Association of International Educators conference. Inside Higher Ed, May 28, 2014

POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL

Callaghan: What contempt for the Legislature might look like How the Washington Supreme Court would respond to the Legislature’s latest filing on compliance with the McCleary school-funding ruling if the justices weren’t so polite. The News Tribune, May 29, 2014   Effort Brewing in Congress to Block College Ratings System At least one House Republican is seeking to block the Obama administration’s efforts to develop a federal college ratings system. Inside Higher Ed, May 29, 2014   House Panel Passes Science Bill That Concerns College Leaders The House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology approved legislation Wednesday that would reauthorize the National Science Foundation and other research agencies -- and would do so in a way that concerns many university leaders. Inside Higher Ed, May 29, 2014 Many Comments, Few Surprises As the public comment period for the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed “gainful employment” regulations ended last night, the department had received thousands of comments, most of which argued either that the rules go too far or that they don't go far enough. Inside Higher Ed, May 28, 2014 Report Urges Tax Code Changes to Help Middle Income Afford College The federal tax code should do more to help middle-income Americans afford college -- but that goal can be accomplished without the sort of wholesale restructuring of higher education tax benefits that many are advocating, the Center for American Progress argues in a paper to be released today. Inside Higher Ed, May 28, 2014 Editorial: Lawmakers running out of time McCleary v. State is like a high-stakes poker game at this point, with state lawmakers betting the court won’t hold them in contempt of court before they convene the 2015 Legislature, which will be a budget-making session with unparalleled challenges. The Olympian, May 27, 2014 Guest: The gender imbalance in state politics While Mary Yu’s appointment to the state Supreme Court is a win for underrepresented women, the state still has a long way to go in other offices, writes guest columnist Alexis Oliver. The Seattle Times, May 25, 2014