News Links | December 10, 2015

SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS

Opinion: State budget not fully funding colleges By Amy Morrison Goings, president of Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and Eric Murray, president of Cascadia College. This week, the presidents from Washington state’s community and technical colleges are meeting on the Kirkland campus of Lake Washington Institute of Technology for a Washington Association of Community and Technical College (WACTC) president’s meeting. The primary agenda item is filling critical state funding gaps for our community and technical college system. Kirkland Reporter, Dec. 10, 2015 BBCC creates new 'STEM culture' A new "STEM culture" has emerged at Big Bend Community College as a result of a federal grant now in its fifth and final year, the college says. The college has recorded a 200-percent increase in student use of the STEM Center this year. With glass walls and abundant natural light, the center provides 62 hours per week of tutoring and supplemental instruction. Demand is so great, the center is open on Sundays. The Grand Coulee Star, Dec. 9, 2015 EvCC sustainability expert brings ideas to state commute reduction board In her nine years focused on sustainability efforts at Everett Community College, Molly Beeman has helped the college put recycled paper in printer drawers, compost its food waste and reduce unwanted junk mail from 200 pounds a day to 10. As the college continues to grow, one of Beeman’s ongoing challenges involves scrutinizing how students and staff converge on the campus. Everett Herald, Dec. 9, 2015 CPTC: Coding their future Julie Edwards has always had an interest in computers. She first learned the BASIC language at the age of 6, and in middle school she built computers from scratch as a member of the computer club. When the time was right for Edwards, she enrolled in Clover Park Technical College’s Computer Programming and Web Development Program to earn an associate’s degree, along with a .NET Developer Certificate. The Suburban Times, Dec. 9, 2015 Boeing rolls out new 737 MAX The Boeing Company rolled out the first of its 737 MAX jetliners on Tuesday in Renton. The MAX is already the fastest selling airplane in the company's long history. ... The company also predicts the increased production rates will mean possibly more jobs in the future. For incoming machinists, that means a bright future in aerospace. Instructors at Renton Technical College say they are also having to adapt to a more efficient production rate. KING 5, Dec. 8, 2015 SVC’s auto program recognized Skagit Valley College’s automotive technology program was named a top 20 program nationwide by Tomorrow’s Tech, a publication for automotive students. Skagit Valley Herald, Dec. 8, 2015

TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION

Fake mass shooting moved off U Texas campus Two groups that oppose just about all regulation of guns — Come and Take It Texas and DontComply.com — announced Wednesday that they would move a planned "fake mass shooting" off the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, The Austin American-Statesman reported. Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 10, 2015 It's the little things Colleges are using data to find hundreds of students who are unaware that they are eligible to graduate. Sometimes it's as simple as asking students if they've applied. Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 9, 2015 What people want to know about the payoff of different degrees For years, Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce has produced data-rich reports on the job market for college graduates with various majors and levels of attainment. Lately, its work appears to be taking a tack even more oriented to consumers: Its most recent release is a college ranking based on the earnings of former students. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Dec. 9, 2015 Charter school system shutting down; schools will stay open Washington's charter school system took another step Tuesday toward shutting down, but the state's nine charter schools were expected to stay open at least through the end of the academic year. The Bellingham Herald, Dec. 8, 2015

POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL

The justices' questions on affirmative action At Supreme Court hearing on case that could alter college admissions, no big surprises but lots of contentious exchanges -- and anger over Scalia's comments. Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 10, 2015 Rubio's take on higher ed In the Senate, Marco Rubio delved into the weeds of higher education policy. Now he’s taking his reform push out on the campaign trail, where he is the lone GOP candidate talking about higher ed. Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 10, 2015 Senate clears major new education bill, sends it to Obama The way the nation’s public schools are evaluated — teachers, students and the schools themselves — is headed for a major makeover, with a sweeping shift from federal to state control over school accountability and student testing. The Senate on Wednesday voted 85-12 to approve legislation rewriting the landmark No Child Left Behind education law of 2002, now widely unpopular and criticized as unworkable and unrealistic. The White House said President Barack Obama would sign it Thursday. The Seattle Times, Dec. 9, 2015