News Links | December 1, 2015

SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS

Education program gives prisoners a second chance The Post-Prison Education Program is helping repeat felons in Washington transform their lives and stay out of the prison system. Through the program they have the chance to go to college, get a degree and receive job training. While they are still in prison, inmates apply to college in Washington, then the program helps pay their tuition, rent, transportation and health services when they are released. ... [Joey] Jensen has spent half his life in prison, and suffers from addiction and serious mental illness. In the middle of his fourth prison sentence, Jensen became a dad and knew he had to make a change. Through Post-Prison Education Program, Joey enrolled at Walla Walla Community College. He went to rehab, took parenting classes and started therapy. Now the 45-year-old has a degree in graphic design and gives back by sharing his story with current prisoners. KING 5, Nov. 30, 2015 Whatcom View: After Black Friday, give back on Tuesday By Kurt Anderson, chair of the Whatcom Community College Foundation Board of Directors. The Whatcom Community College Foundation has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses social media and the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. During this season of giving, I hope you will consider supporting a local non-profit — perhaps the WCC Foundation — today on #GivingTuesday. The Bellingham Herald, Nov. 30, 2015 Culinary students create holiday meals Sixty pounds of mashed potatoes, 60 pounds of roasted squash, 170 pies and 25 turkeys make for one busy Thanksgiving week for the culinary arts students at Skagit Valley College. Students and staff in the program spent most of the week cooking and baking to provide food for about 20 families in need. Skagit Valley Herald, Nov. 26, 2015 Pastry students build unique gingerbread house The holidays come with a lot of traditions. A group of South Seattle College pastry students are taking gingerbread construction to a whole new level. This isn't your grandma's gingerbread house. As a yearly tradition, the students are commissioned by the Ritz-Carlton to create a truly amazing gingerbread house that teaches them how to fill a tall order and get creative. KING 5, Nov. 25, 20156 CPTC: Pharmacy technician instructor receives state award Congratulations to Pharmacy Technician Instructor Maureen Sparks, who was named Outstanding Pharmacy Technician of the Year by the Washington State Pharmacy Association. Sparks has taught at Clover Park Technical College for nearly 20 years, and worked in industry for 16. The Suburban Times, Nov. 25, 2015 Bates named top school for service members, veterans, dependents Bates Technical College recently earned a “Military Friendly School” designation in the 2016 Victory Media Military Friendly® Schools List for the fourth consecutive year. The annual list honors the higher education institutions with services, programs and more that are designed to help ensure the success of America’s service members, veterans and spouses as students. The Suburban Times, Nov. 24, 2015 South Seattle College Aviation Maintenance program gets a Lear Jet South Seattle College announced today that its Aviation Department has acquired a USAF C-21A Learjet. Of the five Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) schools in Washington state, South is the first to have a Learjet. West Seattle Herald, Nov. 23, 2015

TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION

Graduates' workplace advantage Underemployment rates for college grads have sharply declined since the 2008 recession, and degree holders far outpace high school graduates, especially among African-American and Hispanic adults. Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 1, 2015 Study: 40 percent of young adults receive financial help from parents Students who attend four-year institutions and are from high socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to rely on financial help from their parents than those who did not attend college or those from less affluent backgrounds, according to a new study published in the journal Social Currents. Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 1, 2015 Doubts raised on findings on low-income students Many educators have expressed concern about the findings in a new analysis from the American Council on Education, which note a significant drop since 2008 in the proportion of low-income recent high school graduates who enroll in college. But some analysts are raising questions about the analysis because it is based on data from the Current Population Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau. Inside Higher Ed, Nov. 30, 2015 WWU police arrest student, 19, in racist-threats case Western Washington University police have arrested a 19-year-old student on suspicion of malicious harassment, a felony, in connection with threats made to students of color on the social-media site Yik Yak last week. The Seattle Times, Nov. 30, 2015 You're in A new statewide initiative automatically admits graduating seniors to college in Idaho. Inside Higher Ed, Nov. 30, 2015 Learning to read by third grade is key to education Mark Hall, executive director for teaching and learning in Ferndale School District, said educators are increasingly focused on research indicating that reading ability at the end of third grade is a strong predictor of later success in school. That research has been persuasive enough to get the attention of the Legislature, which has mandated intensive remedial help for students still struggling to read as third grade draws to a close. The Bellingham Herald, Nov, 28, 2015 Discount much? How high is too high a discount to offer students? Nearly 10 percent of colleges have rates of 60 percent or more. For some it appears to be a sign of distress, yet others see a strategy. Inside Higher Ed, Nov. 25, 2015 The missing low-income students Study finds notable drop in proportion of recent high school graduates from bottom 20 percent of family incomes who are enrolling in college. Inside Higher Ed, Nov. 25, 2015 Campuses across U.S. wrestle with tensions over race Western Washington University is the latest college to face difficult conversations about race, during a season of protests on campuses across the country. The Seattle Times, Nov. 24, 2015

POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL

More complaints than findings Education Department has received more than 1,000 filings on racial harassment in higher ed in last seven years. But only a fraction result in any findings. Inside Higher Ed, Nov. 30, 2015 Vote to expand light rail next year could mean $500M for education A likely vote next fall for expanded light rail in the Puget Sound area could generate about $500 million to boost education for children who are homeless, from low-income families, in foster care or otherwise need extra help from preschool all the way to college. What does half a billion dollars in education money have to do with public transportation? Not much, but it has a lot to do with politics, the art of compromise and a late-night maneuver by Rep. Jessyn Farrell, D-Seattle, to help pass a new statewide transportation package last summer. The Seattle Times, Nov. 27, 2015 Another department departure Jamienne Studley, the No. 2 higher ed official at the Education Department, will leave this month after a frenetic two and a half years. Inside Higher Ed, Nov. 25, 2015