News Links | July 16, 2015

SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS

Pierce College students visit Nicaragua as part of new alternative break program Instead of the typical college break backdrop of sunny beaches and raucous hotel rooms, a group of Pierce College students opted for a completely different experience to kick off their summer break. As part of Pierce College’s new Raiders Serve Alternative Break program — which works with Panorama Service Expeditions, a nonprofit which allows colleges to participate in already existing projects in communities — 10 local students sacrificed nine days out of their summer volunteering at a small community of coffee farmers in the rural community of Santa Julia in Nicaragua. Puyallup Herald, July 15, 2015 Grant sets financial clarity for Clark College students Clark College Foundation received a grant from the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington to assist in breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty in the region. The $30,000 grant is designated for a full-time financial literacy coach within Clark College’s Career Services department. The Reflector, July 15, 2015 Here's why Mattis says he won't be running for president Marines have been calling on retired Gen. James Mattis to consider a run for the Oval Office for years, but they shouldn't expect him to hit the campaign trail anytime soon. The former head of U.S. Central Command addressed the calls for a presidential bid during a recent speech at Columbia Basin College in Washington state. Marine Corps Times, July 15, 2015 Larry Clark joins CPTC as VP for finance and administration Clover Park Technical College President Dr. Lonnie L. Howard is pleased to announce the selection of Larry Clark as the college’s vice president for Finance and Administration. Clark, who has been employed at CPTC since 2012 as the controller, replaces Linda Schoonmaker, who accepted a position at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. The Suburban Times, July 15, 2015 Unprecedented tuition cut for Washington college students The new state budget means some financial relief for college students across the state. Lawmakers approved a tuition decrease of 5 percent for community college students. ... Like many college students Austin Abeyta had a burden to pay off. ... He’s now attending Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood because it is more affordable than a four-year university. Q13 Fox, July 14, 2015 STP provides annual boost to local economy Approximately 11,000 riders made their way through Lewis County over the weekend for the annual Seattle to Portland bike ride, providing the local economy with a “substantial” boost, city officials said. Lewis County is the midway point for the thousands of cyclers completing the over 200-mile journey, with Centralia College becoming a large hub for the ones staying overnight. Centralia Chronicle, July 13, 2015 South Sound community colleges post high success ratings Feel free to shout it from your car window, the South Sound has some of the best community colleges. According to a chart compiled by College Measures and published by CNN Money, several South Sound community colleges have a high success rating, as measured by the percentage of students who graduate within three years or transferred to four-year colleges. ... Coming in at top for Washington, and 22nd overall, is Pierce College at Puyallup. ... Other South Sound colleges include: Centralia College, Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom, Green River College, Tacoma Community College, Highline College, and South Puget Sound Community College. Business Examiner, July 8, 2015

TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION

A middle school start For some students, plans to attend college take shape during high school. But according to researchers, high school can be too late to start planning — financially and academically. A new study released by the Urban Institute today, available on its website at 10 a.m., identifies new ways to help make middle schoolers and their families aware of their financial aid options, letting them know that college can be a reality for those who might think they can't afford it. Inside Higher Ed, July 16, 2015 Unpaid internships here to stay? It was called the court case that could end unpaid internships. Its initial ruling was hailed as a major win for unpaid interns, one that could concretely establish the illegality of many uncompensated internships. But a new appellate court ruling in the case has paid intern advocates worried the pendulum could swing back in the other direction. Inside Higher Ed, July 16, 2015 Making transcripts more than ‘a record of everything the student has forgotten’ Stanford University’s registrar, Thomas C. Black, isn’t surprised that fewer employers are asking for college transcripts these days. The old-school version, with its list of abbreviated course titles, credit hours, and grades, might as well broadcast, "Here is a record of everything the student has forgotten," says Mr. Black, who is also associate vice provost for student affairs. "There’s a clamor," he says, "for something more meaningful." That "something" is a form of extended transcript or digital portfolio that captures more of what students are learning both inside and outside the classroom. The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 15, 2015 Reshaping the for-profit The large for-profit college chain isn't dead. Stop the funeral dirges — or celebratory hymns, depending on where you fall on the political spectrum. ... The decline is undoubtedly happening. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, for-profit student enrollment is down 4.9 percent compared to last spring. Inside Higher Ed, July 15, 2015 For-profit group and big chains part ways The for-profit college sector’s primary trade group is being buffeted by some of the same challenges its industry faces. Most large, publicly held for-profit chains have left the Association of Private Sector College and Universities (APSCU) in the last year or so. And officials with the association said they have begun restructuring and refocusing on their career-school roots. Inside Higher Ed, July 15, 2015

POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL

New student loans for a new for-profit education sector Coder boot camps. Accelerated learning programs. New economy skills training. Whatever you call them, these new players in higher education are multiplying. The intensive programs say they can teach job-ready skills in technology, design and related fields. In record time. ... One fan of these programs is President Obama. In March, the White House announced the TechHire initiative to help communities recognize, and hire, boot camp graduates in order to close the famous "skills gap." KUOW, July 14, 2015 Education Dept. updates list of colleges it’s watching closely Last month the U.S. Department of Education updated its list of colleges subject to stricter financial monitoring because of concerns about their management or other problems. The new list of colleges under heightened cash monitoring has 413 institutions subject to the first level of scrutiny and 70 colleges subject to the second, more restrictive level. The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 14, 2015