News Links | August 11, 2015

SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS

A slow, steady march forward for Cowlitz County's economy A handful of recent reports highlights how Cowlitz County’s economy is churning slowly toward recovery. ... But churning is not sizzling. And there’s a ways to go before the local economy is healthy. Unemployment still lags behind the rest of the state’s. Exports may be slipping significantly. And construction activity has slowed considerably this year. ... Jim Franz, economics instructor at Lower Columbia College, said the county doesn’t have enough economic diversity. Longview Daily News, Aug. 11, 2015 BBCC introduces new Dean of Workforce Education Daneen Berry-Guerin has been promoted to Dean of Workforce Education at Big Bend Community College. Berry-Guerin has been a Business and Business Information Management instructor at BBCC since 2005, starting as a part time instructor in 2003. KXLY, Aug. 10, 2015 Edmonds CC hires new Dean of Student Enrollment and Financial Aid Services Edmonds Community College hired Saovra “Sy” Ear as the new Dean of Student Enrollment and Financial Aid Services. My Edmonds News, Aug. 8, 2015 ​Washington’s community college enrollment has dwindled — but it’s a good thing For five consecutive years, enrollment at Washington's community and technical colleges has dropped. But that decline reflects positive news about Washington state’s economy. "Our enrollments tend to be counter-cyclical to the economy,” said Laura McDowell, spokeswoman for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Puget Sound Business Journal, Aug. 7, 2015 Big Bend instructor wins regional award Ryann Leonard, criminal justice and psychology instructor at Big Bend Community College, was selected as the 2015 Pacific Region Faculty Member by the Association of Community College Trustees. Columbia Basin Herald, Aug. 7, 2015 ‘Drone Zone’ helps lift W.F. West summer STEM academy Students faced off in the ultimate robotics competition Friday to complete a weeklong Summer STEM Academy hosted by W.F. West High School. ... During the day at the college Thursday, students explored practical robotics, made deodorant from recycled pop cans or learned more about predator-prey interactions. All of the workshops were taught by professors of Centralia College. Centralia Chronicle, Aug. 7, 2015 Edmonds Community College president receives Patriot Award Veterans from Edmonds Community College and the local community joined together Friday as Captain Mike Kidd, USN (ret), of the Employer Support Group of the Guard and Reserve, awarded Dr. Jean Hernandez, President of Edmonds Community College, the Patriot Award for her outstanding support to the military community. My Edmonds News, Aug. 7, 2015 Centralia College leads effort toward statewide college library system Centralia College has taken the lead on developing a statewide library consortium among the state’s community and technical colleges. The project, which is estimated to take two to three years to implement, will allow the state’s two-year college library system to share resources. Centralia Chronicle, Aug. 6, 2015 Heat causes massive fish die-off at Whatcom Falls hatchery Water that was too warm killed about 5,400 rainbow trout — nearly all of them — at the Whatcom Falls Park hatchery during a summer marked by drought and high temperatures. Most of the fish were in two large shallow ponds at the hatchery, which belongs to the Washington state Department of Fish & Wildlife but is operated by Bellingham Technical College’s fisheries program. The Bellingham Herald, Aug. 6, 2015

TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION

College and university wealth: unequal and stable The wealth gap in American higher education is a topic of much concern, typically receiving attention when colleges and universities release their annual endowment reports, suggesting that the rich get richer. But a new study suggests that while the wealthy may be far wealthier than the average institutions, the gap isn't growing by much. Inside Higher Ed, Aug. 10, 2015 A year of racial tumult brings potent lessons — and risks — to the classroom For scholars of African-American studies, the police killings of unarmed black men in several cities over the past year have been personally searing and unusually powerful pedagogically. ... But making educational use of high-profile events in the news can also present pitfalls. Students can respond unpredictably, derailing class discussions. Faculty members often find they’ve let loose a flood of contradictory feelings in their students that they must expertly guide. Many professors of color must cope with similar emotions themselves. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Aug. 7, 2015 Following the money in ed-tech investment: Number of mergers grows Investors are rushing to buy into higher-education-related companies these days, and there’s plenty of consolidation in the market as well. The number of mergers and acquisitions in the industry has reached its highest peak in two and a half years, according to a recent report by the investment-banking firm of Berkery Noyes. In the past six months, the number of such mergers grew by 9 percent. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Aug. 7, 2015

POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL

A bigger federal role Hillary Clinton’s higher education plan announced Monday highlights the growing consensus among Democrats on how to tackle rising tuition: send federal money to states that agree, in return, to lower or eliminate tuition at their public colleges — and enact other reforms. Inside Higher Ed, Aug. 11, 2015 A key question for Clinton’s college-affordability plan: Will states buy in? The pillar of Hillary Clinton’s higher-education proposal that has attracted the most attention could also be a tough sell to state lawmakers. Mrs. Clinton’s proposal, which she announced on Monday at a campaign stop in Exeter, N.H., aims to turn the tide on states’ dwindling support of higher education by creating an incentive for states to buy in. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Aug. 11, 2015 Federal aid for prisoners a welcome change, Washington educator says Last month, the Obama administration outlined a pilot program to offer Pell grants to prisoners, giving them the opportunity to get federal financial aid to take college classes while serving time.  That’s a change of heart that’s welcomed by the director of one of Washington’s few prison college programs. The Seattle Times, Aug. 7, 2015 States move to curb rising college tuition A growing number of states are trying to rein in the price students and their families pay to attend public colleges and universities. Tuition rose sharply during the Great Recession after states cut higher education funding. Now student loan debt is approaching $1 trillion nationally, and even upper-income families are worried about rising college costs. And legislatures are under pressure to bring prices down. Pew Charitable Trusts, Aug. 6, 2015