News Links | June 10, 2014

SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS

Renton Technical among colleges that receive funding for aerospace programs The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) today announced funding for 21 Washington community and technical colleges to increase their student capacity in high-demand aerospace programs. Renton Technical College was among those to receive funding. Renton Reporter, June 10, 2014 Everett Community College Scores Big Aerospace Training Grant Great news for the Aerospace Training Programs at Everett Community College this morning…Everett Community College and the Center of Excellence for Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing at EvCC will receive more than $1.5 million in new state funding to train students for aerospace jobs. My Everett News, June 10, 2014 WCC President Hiyane-Brown Named CEO of the Year, Recognized for Leadership, Dedication to Students Whatcom Community College President Kathi Hiyane-Brown received the 2014 Chief Executive Officer Award at the recent Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges annual meeting in Yakima. Whatcom Talk, June 10, 2014 A shared vision could dislodge us from our inertia We have a wealth of schools in our area, from Tacoma Community College, Pacific Lutheran University, the University of Puget Sound and the University of Washington Tacoma to Bates Technical College and several others. Imagine what a research team, urban studies class, mentors or tutors could contribute to our local neighborhoods and community groups. Bellingham Herald, June 10, 2014 SPSCC will discontinue its horticulture program South Puget Sound Community College is phasing out its horticulture program, according to college spokeswoman Kellie Purce Braseth. The Olympian, June 10, 2014 Everett students bring memorial sign to Rockport FD The Rockport Fire Department was decorated with a new sign, flowers and some touching up to the yard over Memorial Day weekend. Following the Oso landslide March 22, the volunteer-only fire department — one of the first to put boots on the ground at the disastrous scene — deserved some recognition. A group of five Everett Community College students came together to make that happen. Skagit Valley Herald, June 9, 2014 Big boost in awards for state’s STEM college scholarships A state-sponsored scholarship program that encourages low- and moderate-income Washington students to major in tech and science fields is increasing its awards to a maximum of $22,500, a 32 percent increase. ... Samantha Motley, who transferred from Seattle Central College and is also graduating this year, was able to pay for her last year at the UW without taking out additional student loans. Seattle Times, June 9, 2014 Clark College program trains non-lawyers to give legal advice Vancouver’s Clark College is one of five community colleges offering prerequisite classes for a groundbreaking state program designed to provide more affordable legal advice for those who can’t afford a lawyer. The Columbian, June 8, 2014 Column: More effort needed to get Hispanics involved in elections Colleges enrolling large proportions of Hispanics, such as Heritage University and Yakima Valley Community College, key industries for young Hispanic employment such as agriculture, accommodation and food services, retail and prison re-entry programs could anchor efforts to bring more young Hispanics into the political system. In Walla Walla County there are many opportunities to promote political participation of young Hispanics. Mobilization efforts should engage students at Walla Walla Community College; connect with re-entering ex-offenders through the STAR Project; and empower workers in the aforementioned industry sectors. Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, June 7, 2014 Mariners pick Seattle local Kiel in 18th round Nick Kiel grew up a Mariners fan, attending, by his count, five or six games at Safeco Field every year with his parents. An Everett, Wash. native, he went to Jackson High School in Mill Creek, then spent two years pitching for Bellevue College after red-shirting as a freshman. When he found out the Mariners selected him with their 18th-round pick -- 531st overall -- Saturday on Day 3 of the MLB First-Year Player Draft, he knew his next step. MLB.com, June 7, 2014 Column: WWCC Foundation plays vital role for students in financial straits Walla Walla Community College programs, both academic and work force, are some of the best in the nation. ... The Walla Walla Community College Foundation exists to eliminate financial barriers to students’ educational success. Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, June 7, 2014 Starbucks building shop to serve EvCC, north Everett Everett Community College students — and people who live in the north part of the city — will have a new neighborhood place this fall to get caffeinated. Everett Herald Business Journal, June 6, 2014 EdCC students heal hearts with digital data For those recovering from the tragic mudslide in Oso, access to food, clothing and shelter are among the most immediate and necessary needs for survival. However, to help heal the hearts of Oso victims, Edmonds Community College students are offering a volunteer service to recover digital data from items found in the mudslide. Edmonds Beacon, June 5, 2014 CPTC: Running Start Student Gets Jump Start in Architectural Field Jasmine Tjhung wasted no time to plan her future. While in middle school she visited community colleges in the area of her University Place home, and as a sophomore at Curtis High School decided on the Running Start program at Clover Park Technical College. The Suburban Times, June 5, 2014 Gov. Inslee praises iGrad's successful reach As the story behind iGrad continues to grow, it also attracts increased attention from higher-ups. Most recent of the delegates to tour the Kent School District facility was none other than Gov. Jay Inslee. ... Faculty from GRCC [Green River Community College] — which works in tandem with iGrad to re-engage dropouts and struggling students — were present at Inslee's visit on Tuesday. Kent Reporter, June 5, 2014 New $20M student center for Bothell colleges A $20 million student activities center is scheduled to open by the fall of 2015 at the campus shared by Cascadia Community College and the University of Washington Bothell. MyNorthwest.com, June 5, 2014 Lake Washington Institute of Technology culinary student wins national kitchen contest Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWIT) culinary student Ana Kasparova won the international “Global Taste of Korea” competition held May 31 at the Art Institute of Seattle. Kirkland Reporter, June 5, 2014 Five Cascadia students head to China on full scholarship Five students from Cascadia Community College have been awarded full scholarships to study at Beijing Jiaotong University to take part in a two-week summer intensive. Bothell Reporter, June 5, 2014

TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION

Extra Eyes and Ears Tragedy was not averted at Seattle Pacific University Thursday afternoon: a man fired gunshots that killed one student and left three injured. The potential massacre was cut short, however, when Jon Meis, a 22-year-old engineering student, pepper-sprayed and tackled the gunman, who had paused to reload. Inside Higher Ed, June 10, 2014 Strategies for Recruiting Students: A Collection of Articles With the traditional-age college population flattening if not shrinking in many parts of the U.S., colleges and universities are under greater pressure than ever before to develop new and different approaches to attracting students. Inside Higher Ed, June 10, 2014 Changes Seek to Make College Crime Data Easier to Use To help families, students, and institutional researchers more easily obtain data about campus safety and crime, the federal government is making those statistics available in a new way. The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 10, 2014 Commentary: Michelle Obama: My College Story Can Be Yours As first lady, I've spent a lot of time talking with young people all across the country about education. I've heard about their hopes of going to college, getting good jobs, and one day starting families of their own. And I've also heard about the challenges they're facing—the rising costs of tuition, their overstretched school counselors, and the insecurities and fears that come along with being first-generation college students. Education Week, June 10, 2014 U. of Washington Students Say They Can Work to Help Pay Tuition In recent years, a few student groups have come up with ideas to pay their tuition and fees with a portion of their income earned after graduating. ... Now, students at the University of Washington have come up with their own version—one that relies more on students’ earnings during college, rather than after they graduate. The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 9, 2014 Opinion: Reform Intro Economics It is little wonder that more students do not elect introductory economics or, following the course, do not take more economics. ... Also, our traditionally underrepresented groups are truly underrepresented as students of economics. Inside Higher Ed, June 9, 2014 Study Documents Impact of 'Directed' Giving Options A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research points to the financial advantages of letting donors designate where in a large university their money might be used. Inside Higher Ed, June 9, 2014 Calif. School District Offers Parents 'Second Chance' With Free College Classes Hayward Unified School District in Hayward, Calif., will turn some of its schools into college campuses on weekends and evenings for parents. A five-year $22.5 million state grant is funding the district's "Second Chance Education" program, which will provide classes and books to 100 parents for free, according to a story in the Daily Review, which is based in Hayward. The priority will be to enroll parents who would be the first in their families to attend college. Education Week, June 6, 2014 Incoming WWU student president says diversity discussion should go beyond race Annika Wolters feels no need to tip-toe around any topic when asked questions as president-elect of the Associated Students at Western Washington University. The Bellingham Herald, June 5, 2014 Graduation Gaps: Disparities in H.S. Completion The Education Week Research Center calculated the number of graduates and nongraduates for the class of 2012 by multiplying the 2011-12 graduation rate by the estimated size of the entering freshman class four years earlier. Education Week, June 2, 2014

POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL

Obama Expands IBR, Pushes Refinancing Amid growing concern that outstanding student debt is hurting the economy, President Obama on Monday directed his administration to make an additional 5 million existing student loan borrowers eligible for the federal government’s most generous income-based repayment program. Inside Higher Ed, June 10, 2014 Putting money where your mouth is: McCleary will force hard truths While many questions remain unanswered — like, what if we blow the deadline? — a panel of four experts met recently at Seattle’s Town Hall to give voters a sense of progress thus far. The Seattle Times, June 10, 2014 Obama moves to extend student loan payment relief Aiming to alleviate the burden of student loan debt, President Barack Obama expanded a program Monday that lets borrowers pay no more than 10 percent of their income every month, and threw his support behind more sweeping Senate legislation targeting the issue. PBS News Hour, June 9, 2014 As Congress Bickers, Obama Takes Executive Action on Student Loans On the eve of a Senate fight over student-loan refinancing, President Obama is taking executive action to ease students' debt burdens. The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 9, 2014 Obama Plans Steps to Ease Student Debt President Obama on Monday will take executive actions to ease the burden of college loan debt for potentially millions of Americans, in a White House event coinciding with Senate Democrats’ plans for legislation to address a concern of many voters in this midterm election year. The New York Times, June 7, 2014