News Links | June 4, 2015

SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS

LCC singers enjoy trip to New York A group of 40 singers from Lower Columbia College had a memorable trip to New York last month revolving around a concert in Carnegie Hall. The singers joined other choirs from around the country to perform Vivaldi’s “Gloria” May 11 in the famous concert hall. Longview Daily News, June 3, 2015 Opinion: Intriguing prospects in WSU-Bellevue merger Creativity will be required to increase the capacity of Washington’s higher-education system enough to support its growing population and workforce demands. A prime example is the potential merger of Bellevue College and Washington State University, which the schools have been discussing over the last six months. The idea is to create an entirely new model — a hybrid called “WSU-Bellevue College” — that would provide a mix of associate and bachelor’s degrees, and perhaps even graduate degrees. The Seattle Times, June 2, 2015 YVCC completes new addition to south side of campus  A project that started back in October of 2013 is finally complete; Yakima Valley Community College celebrated a new addition to their campus Tuesday afternoon. Palmer Martin Hall houses communications, arts, and education classes for students. NBC Right Now, June 2, 2015 Food for the soul; skills for life At Take the Next Step in Monroe, creating community is what it’s all about. That’s why it has worked to embrace the low-income and homeless population in Monroe by providing a safe and welcoming community for those who need it the most. ... Last week’s dinner event included free health screenings provided by Everett Community College (EvCC) nursing students via a collaboration between the college and TTNS. The relationship began when EvCC instructor and EvergreenHealth Monroe emergency room nurse Shirley Karlsen sought a way to boost the level of hands-on clinical experience for her students. Monroe Monitor and Valley News, June 2, 2015

TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION

Bill Gates on college completion Bill Gates is among a group of rich college dropouts people often cite when questioning the value of a college degree. He isn't buying that argument. “Although I dropped out of college and got lucky pursuing a career in software, getting a degree is a much surer path to success,” Gates wrote on Wednesday. Inside Higher Ed, June 4, 2015 Journalism center experiments with delivering campus news on Yik Yak Yik Yak, the anonymous social-media app, is perhaps best known for spreading rumors and bullying on many campuses. But journalism students at the University of Florida are experimenting with using the platform to deliver news updates, in what the project’s leaders say could become a model for other colleges. The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 3, 2015 Corporations go to college Are colleges and universities getting savvier about pitching their programs to the private sector, or are corporations increasingly turning to higher education to train their employees? The answer, according to workforce researchers, corporate education providers and companies themselves, is somewhere in the middle. Inside Higher Ed, June 3, 2015

POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL

GOP tuition cut would hurt state GET program, treasurer says A Republican proposal to slash public four-year college tuition by 25 percent would have “damaging effects” on the state’s prepaid college-tuition plan, and could leave the state vulnerable to lawsuits from investors, state Treasurer James McIntire said Monday. Republicans promptly accused McIntire, a Democrat, of playing politics — a charge he denied. The Seattle Times, June 1, 2015