News Links | June 17, 2014

SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS

College aerospace programs to add slots for 1,000 students Twenty-one of Washington’s community and technical colleges will share $8 million in funding to grow programs that teach students skills needed in the aerospace industry. ... One of the beneficiaries is South Seattle College ... A few of the other programs in the Puget Sound area that will benefit: North Seattle College; Renton Technical College; Shoreline Community College; Highline Community College; and Lake Washington Institute of Technology. The Seattle Times, June 16, 2014 New building nearer at Clark College After years of effort, Clark College is edging closer to bringing a $41 million science and technology building to its main Vancouver campus. The college will review construction bids starting Wednesday, and aims to break ground in late July or August. The Columbian, June 16, 2014 CPTC Hosts study tour for Japanese students Medical laboratory students from Japan worked with Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) medical histology technician students on hands-on lab activities, toured the Lakewood campus, and visited Seattle as part of a three-day study tour from May 20 to May 22. Northwest Asian Weekly, June 16, 2014 Golf tournament nets $11K for Big Bend Big Bend Community College will have a new set of automated external defibrillators later this summer, thanks to efforts by the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs of Moses Lake. Columbia Basin Herald, June 16, 2014 Partially deaf graduate follows passion for piano As a partially deaf, self-taught pianist enrolled in college as a reluctant nurse-to-be, Rana Mahmood may have been an unlikely concert musician. After graduating Friday from Spokane Falls Community College, where he wowed his teacher during an impromptu audition, he’ll head to Gonzaga University as a piano student with a scholarship and his eye on the stage. The Spokesman-Review, June 15, 2014 New pilot program at Columbia Basin College, other state colleges focuses on competency College students typically complete a specific number of credits in a certain amount of time to earn a degree -- whether it's an associate or a doctorate. But a new pilot program involving about a dozen of Washington's community colleges, including Columbia Basin College in Pasco, aims to take the issue of time out of the equation. Tri-City Herald, June 14, 2014 Higher education could be tapped for state budget Community college and university officials have been told to plan for more budget cuts to balance the state's 2015-17 budget. The Office of Financial Management is expecting the state to need at least another $1 billion in revenue to meet its needs for the next biennium. Before Gov. Jay Inslee develops his budget proposal, colleges as well as other state agency have been told to make requests that include up to 15 percent reductions, The Tri-City Herald reported. "We can't (make cuts) based on efficiencies anymore," said Marty Brown, executive director for the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. KOMO, June 14, 2014   Kilmer challenges Peninsula College graduates to make world better place Congressman Derek Kilmer, a native son of Port Angeles, challenged some 400 graduating students at Peninsula College's commencement ceremony to make the world better with the skills they've learned. Peninsula Daily News, June 14, 2014 Generations: Mother, daughter speak at their respective graduation ceremonies Graduation weekend in Port Angeles was a family affair as a mother-daughter pair took center stage at the two largest graduation ceremonies on the North Olympic Peninsula. Saphfire Brown, 18, delivered one of three student commencement speeches for Port Angeles High School on Friday night, and her mother, Grace Tulsi Marshall, 34, delivered the student speech for Peninsula College on Saturday afternoon. Peninsula Daily News, June 14, 2014 Tulalip tribal program teaches students skills in construction In a ceremony Friday that was by turns solemn, emotional and funny, a group of students were celebrated and given diplomas to mark their graduation. But this ceremony, held on the Tulalip Tribes' reservation, was in honor of the students in the tribes' Construction Trades Center, which has now been recognized by the state as an approved pre-apprenticeship program. ... all the classes are accredited through Edmonds Community College. Everett Herald, June 14, 2014 Washington budget shortfall could hit higher education hard State officials are already expecting a shortfall in the next budget and higher education could take a big hit. ... Community college and university officials have already been told, along with some other state agencies, to begin preparing budget requests that include as much as a 15 percent reduction ahead of Gov. Jay Inslee developing a proposed budget. ... "We can't (make cuts) based on efficiencies anymore," said Marty Brown, executive director for the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. Tri-City Herald, June 13, 2014 Future looks bright for Columbia Basin College GED graduates Jinju Mak took classes at Columbia Basin College to prepare for her General Educational Development, or GED, tests. ... The evening event celebrated more than 400 students who earned their GEDs, along with about a dozen who earned high school diplomas through CBC’s high school completion program. The News Tribune, June 13, 2014 Highline Community College heads back to the future with new institutional name Highline Community College will get a new name – that’s actually an old name – on July 1. The college board of trustees voted Thursday to return the Des Moines institution to its original name, Highline College. The News Tribune, June 13, 2014 Photos: YVCC graduation The 85th commencement ceremony at Yakima Valley Community College held June 11 2014. Yakima Herald, June 13, 2014   City leaders eye university-level classes for Sequim proper University-level classes could be coming to Sequim if a group spearheaded by city leaders looking to woo colleges and universities to the city is successful.  ... He [Dr. Gary Smith] said he's spoken with Western Washington University in Bellingham, Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon and Prescott College, in Prescott, Ariz., about the possibility of bringing classes to Sequim. ... He noted that the programs would ideally differ from those offered by Peninsula College in Port Angeles. Peninsula Daily News, June 12, 2014 Highline honors Seattle attorney Highline Community College has named Ronald Beard as its 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award winner. Beard has an active commercial litigation practice at Lane Powell Attorneys in Seattle. Kent Reporter, June 12, 2014 Pierce College Director of Athletics receives award for outstanding service Pierce College Director of Athletics Duncan Stevenson was recognized at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) Hall of Fame Banquet last week for going the extra mile on behalf of the organization. The Suburban Times, June 12, 2014

TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION

In Deal With Starbucks, Arizona State U. Kicks In Substantial Aid Starbucks and Arizona State University unveiled more details about their new scholarship partnership on Monday—and in doing so corrected some misinformation that company officials had given in advance of the announcement. They also revealed the limits of the financial contribution Starbucks is making and gave a greater sense of the value of the discount ASU Online is providing. The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 17, 2014 College Attainment Linked to Babies Within Marriage A study by Johns Hopkins University researchers has found that young women with a college education, when they have a baby, are likely to do so within a marriage, but that this is no longer the case for young women who lack a college degree. Inside Higher Ed, June 17, 2014 Starbucks U. Starbucks on Sunday night announced a major effort to help its employees earn bachelor's degrees. The company will pay for the junior and senior years of any employees who work at least 20 hours a week if they are admitted at junior or senior level to one of 40-plus bachelor's programs offered online by Arizona State University. There is no requirement that the degree program relate to Starbucks business. Inside Higher Ed, June 16, 2014 Jon Talton: A pioneering move by Starbucks Let’s get this out of the way first: Seattle will never forgive Howard Schultz for betraying us on the Sonics and allowing them to be sold to the Treacherous Okies. That said, Starbucks’ announcement that it will help employees go to college is an important move in fighting the inequality that has reached Gilded Age levels. The Seattle Times, June 16, 2014 Study Links Child Health Coverage, College Attainment When children have health insurance, they are more likely to finish high school, enroll in college and earn a bachelor's degree, according to a study released today by the National Bureau of Economic Research.Inside Higher Ed, June 16, 2014 High cost of college: the truth behind the myths Whenever we write about how much it costs to go to college, we hear from a lot of readers. Some are sympathetic toward students (and their tuition-paying parents), and think tuition costs are out of control. But others are dismissive of the whole issue. Why don’t students just go to community college, they wonder. Why should the state pay anything toward higher education? Why are college presidents so richly rewarded, and can’t these schools do a better job of managing their money? The Seattle Times, June 15, 2014 Readers tell how student-loan debt weighs them down We recently asked readers to tell us how they made it through college, and how student-loan debt was affecting their lives. Here are some of their responses. The Seattle Times, June 15, 2014 Using Text-Message Reminders to Boost Student Persistence The messages made a difference for community-college students. Sixty-four percent of such students in the control group persisted to their second year. For those who got the messages, the rate was 12 percentage points higher: 76 percent. The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 13, 2014 Opportunity scholarships benefit more than just students Even with that debt burden, he [Ross Jones] is more fortunate than many. In his last two years at UW, Jones received a Washington State Opportunity Scholarship. It’s a boost that has helped more than 2,500 college students in our state. Everett Herald, June 13, 2014

POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL

Sen. Patty Murray: Refinance bill lifts burden of student debt, strengthens economy For so many Spokane residents, and millions of Americans across the country, getting a college degree can be a ticket to the middle class. But today the price of admission can mean taking on a crushing amount of student loans. That’s why I am proud to support a plan in the Senate that would help ease that burden by letting borrowers refinance their debt to today’s lower rates. I was disappointed that a minority of Senators blocked our bill when we tried to bring it up for debate last week, but I am going to keep fighting to pass this bill and help borrowers and families in Spokane and across the country. The Spokesman-Review, June 15, 2014 Editorial: Supreme Court menaces lawmakers on McCleary, education funding Sounds like the state Supreme Court is prepared to go to the brink over school funding. In a menacing order last week, the justices summoned lawmakers to the Temple of Justice on Sept. 3 to explain why they haven’t written a plan to fully pay for basic education. The Seattle Times, June 16, 2014 Editorial: California lesson: Education is more than money A Los Angeles judge rocked the nation Tuesday by ruling that the California constitution doesn’t merely guarantee children an education — it guarantees them a good education. His thinking doesn’t translate directly into Washington law, more’s the pity. The News Tribune, June 15, 2014 Statement on McCleary Order: New Revenue Needed For Better Outcomes for Kids [OFM] Executive Director Remy Trupin issued the following statement the State Supreme Court's recent order: ... Providing a quality basic education is the paramount duty of our state, but children need more than just K-12 to thrive.  Early learning, higher education, environmental protections, health and human services, and transportation are all critical to a strong foundation of opportunity for all our residents and a strong economy. Schmudget, June 13, 2014 Sobering Slide Show Adds to McCleary Crisis Yesterday's stern Washington State Supreme Court ruling demanding that the state explain why it has come up short on the Court's 2012 McCleary mandate to fully fund education (with a warning that the Court is going to make them pay up) hit at a vulnerable moment. ... OFM provided the following slide to state agencies to dramatize the issue. Publicola, June 13, 2014 Top Senate Republican Seeks To Block College Ratings Senator Lamar Alexander said Thursday that he plans to attach an amendment to the labor, health, and education appropriations bill that would stop the Obama administration from moving ahead with its college ratings system. Inside Higher Ed, June 13, 2014 Opinion: Obama does his best to alleviate student debt President Barack Obama issued an executive order this week to help reduce the financial burden of higher education. It was a half-measure by his own admission, though it will provide some relief to about 5 million people. It was all the president could do. There is no hope that a politically deadlocked Congress would pass more effective legislation or, better yet, would address the fundamental causes of rising student debt that now totals $1.1 trillion. The Olympian, June 13, 2014 High court to lawmakers: Why are schools still underfunded? The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday ordered lawmakers to explain why they haven’t followed its orders to fix the way Washington pays for public education. The court has ordered the state to appear before it on Sept. 3 and show the court how it has followed its orders in the 2012 McCleary decision or face contempt. The Seattle Times, June 12, 2014 State Supreme Court orders state to respond to its order in McCleary school funding case School’s out for many students, but state officials will be hitting the books after the Washington Supreme Court Thursday ordered those officials to be ready by the traditional first day of school to explain why they shouldn’t be held in contempt of court over school funding. If not satisfied with their answer, the court could go as far as closing all schools until they are properly funded. The News Tribune, June 12, 2014 Obama's Loan-Debt Relief Might Not Reach the Neediest Borrowers At a White House event on Monday, President Obama announced plans to expand the federal government’s most generous income-based student-loan-repayment program to an additional five million borrowers. Yet if history is any guide, far fewer borrowers will actually enroll in the president’s Pay as You Earn program, which caps borrowers’ monthly payments at 10 percent of their income and provides loan forgiveness after 20 years. The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 10, 2014