SBCTC NEWS LINKS | Articles about – and of interest to – Washington state community and technical colleges
SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS
Promotions, hires and recognitions in South Sound
Bruce W. Hart and Lyle Quasim have joined the board of trustees at University of Puget Sound. … Quasim is president of Bates Technical College in Tacoma. Mike Grunwald has been elected chair and Karen Seinfeld has been elected vice chair of the board of trustees at Bates Technical College.
Puget Sound Business Examiner, August 16, 2011
http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/people-on-move-356/
South Sound Business people
Calvin Pearson was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of Bates Technical College for a five-year term.
The News Tribune, August 16, 2011
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/08/16/1784166/south-sound-business-people.html
Pastry-program grad is on a roll with her recipes
[Tina Hoban] came out of the pasty program at Seattle Central Community College and apprenticed under Sue McCown at the W Hotel's Earth + Ocean restaurant. … Hoban entered her first recipe contest, for Florida Natural Orange Juice, sending in a recipe for chocolate bread pudding with a creamy, buttery orange sauce. She nailed it, winning the $10,000 first prize. … She was a finalist in a Tillamook Mac-n-Cheese competition, and, just this week, one of Washington's two finalists in the 2011 Foster Farms Fresh Chicken Cooking Contest.
CrossCut.com, August 16, 2011
http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/20461/Pastry-program-grad-is-on-a-roll-with-her-recipes/
Don Piercy appointed to SVC Board of Trustees
Gov. Christine Gregoire has reappointed Don Piercy of Coupeville to a second five-year term on the Skagit Valley College Board of Trustees. Piercy's first appointment as a Trustee began in January 2007. He also served as Board Chair from July 2009 through June 2010...
The Whidbey Examiner, August 17, 2011
http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=6467
Big Bend cancels registration session
Due to full classes for the upcoming fall quarter, Big Bend Community College canceled its Sept. 7 new student registration session.
Columbia Basin Herald, August 18, 2011
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/bbcc/article_0b2eeff4-c8eb-11e0-95be-001cc4c002e0.html
What's Happening to our Community Colleges?
Now, with Washington's worsening economic crisis, the Legislature's 2011-2013 biennial budget has thrown a monkey wrench into their hopes to earn the coveted degree. Last May, lawmakers slashed $85 million from the state's community and technical colleges' budgets. As a result, Seattle Central Community College will eliminate three of its degree programs, including film and video production. The other two slated for closure include the college's interpreter training program, which prepares interpreters to work with the hearing-impaired, and publishing arts. [Sandra] Cioffi is devastated by the budget cuts. "Current students enrolled in the program will be permitted to finish their degrees provided they do so by June 2012, but what will happen to the students who are just beginning the program this fall?"
… While the District's state allocation has been reduced by $10-11 million, it expects to generate about $4-5 million to lessen the cuts of state funding. "Our net reduction in funding [state and tuition combined], compared to last year is about $5-6 million, or about six percent," said Seattle Community College District Chancellor Jill A. Wakefield. "Additionally, our colleges and colleges across the state lost the special allocation for worker retraining that helped to train more than 600 additional laid-off workers for new jobs in Seattle. The funding was cut, although demand has continued."
International Examiner [see also CrossCut story], August 17, 2011
http://www.iexaminer.org/news/what%e2%80%99s-happening-community-colleges/
Cutting class: Community colleges see effects of state budget cuts
Cuts to Seattle-area community colleges in the face of a contracted state budget may deal a major blow to the state's still-suffering economy. Last May, lawmakers slashed $85 million from the state's community and technical colleges' budgets. As a result, Seattle Central Community College has to eliminate three of its degree programs — including film and video production. The other two slated for closure include the college's interpreter training program, which prepares interpreters to work with the hearing-impaired, and publishing arts. … Edmonds Community College is dealing with the cuts a little differently. … As a result of the economic downturn, many students are retraining in such high-demand fields as aerospace, advanced materials science, computer technology, and nursing, which are offered at Edmonds. Forty-one percent of its graduates transfer to four-year colleges and university. The school does not plan to eliminate any programs, however it will be cutting the budget for instructional programs by about $200,000, said President Jean Hernandez. … South Seattle Community College will eliminate its commercial truck driving degree program, while North Seattle Community College's real estate program will be pared back. A few certificates within the program have already been temporarily suspended because of the slow real estate job market. … Each community and technical college plays a critical role in its own community when it comes to listening to local employers, creating the training programs they tell us they need, meeting their needs – as well as meeting student demand – and preparing a well-qualified workforce," said Charlie Earl, executive director of the state board.
CrossCut.com [version of International Examiner story], August 18, 2011
http://crosscut.com/2011/08/18/education/21214/Cutting-class:-Community-colleges-see-effects-of-state-budget-cuts/
More living with less income / County households earning under $35,000 up 24% as job picture stays bleak
… a new, countywide economic development plan — commissioned by the nonprofit Columbia River Economic Development Council, the county's chief jobs promoter — identifies new performance metrics, including average annual pay and median household income. The county's economic prosperity "cannot be measured solely by the traditional metric of job creation," according to the plan. But those are long-term issues. For Steve Doerk, getting a higher-paying job as soon as possible is what matters now. As he studies computers at Clark College, he's joined by hundreds of others seeking a new start. Enrollment numbers have reached historic highs as more people look to gain an edge in a tough job market.
Doerk said he sees himself working in information technology, perhaps a job helping maintain a computer network at an office.
The Columbian, August 16, 2011
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/aug/16/living-with-less-income-county-households-earning/
Veterans, their advocates tell Murray they need jobs, housing
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, in Vancouver Tuesday for a "listening session" with veterans and their advocates, said she'll do her best to protect veterans' benefits as she steps into a high-profile role as co-chair of the new deficit-reduction supercommittee. … Roxeanne Boose, Vancouver-Longview coordinator of the Washington National Guard's Family Assistance Center, said some veterans enrolled in college wait up to a year and half for their education benefit claims to be processed. Many come to her saying, "I can't afford gas to get to class every week," she said. Clark College President and 21-year Army veteran Bob Knight, also a panelist, said vets enrolled at the college face many hurdles under a post-Sept. 11 GI Bill that made significant changes to veterans' education benefits. The current law cuts off funding for veterans during the breaks between academic quarters, denies in-state tuition to Oregon veterans attending the college under bi-state reciprocity agreements, and puts bureaucratic roadblocks in the way of veterans applying for GI benefits, Knight said.
"It's become very time- and labor-intensive" to apply for those benefits, he said. "What used to take an hour now takes two or three hours." In addition, he said, the new law makes it almost impossible for vets to get work-study grants in jobs that complement the fields they are studying.
The Columbian, August 16, 2011
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/aug/16/murray-meets-vets-celebrates-park-acquisition/
Edmonds Community College expects upgraded athletic fields to be ready by October
The $2.5 million dollar undertaking broke ground in June and will be funded by a $1.50 per credit fee that was approved by the student body. "They were the driving force," [interim athletic director Clay] Blackwood said. "The student government that was here the past year got it done."
The Herald, August 17, 2011
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110817/SPORTS/708179857
TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION
The numbers prove that higher education opens up the highest-paying jobs
New Georgetown University research shows that going to college and earning at least a two-year degree generates a sizable economic return.
No matter how you cut it, more education pays. A new study by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce shows that going to college and earning at least a two-year degree generates a sizable economic return. The Georgetown researchers, led by noted labor expert Anthony Carnevale, examined lifetime earnings by education level for 300 distinct occupations. These numbers prove that higher education opens up the highest-paying jobs.
The Huffington Post, August 8, 2011
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-merisotis/education-the-21st-centur_b_921320.html
Shifts in Politics and Policies Complicate College-Completion Agenda for States
Colleges acknowledge the need to improve their graduation rates, but lack of coherent state policies may hinder their efforts, experts told state higher-education leaders.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 14, 2011
http://chronicle.com/article/Shifts-in-Politics-and/128641/?key=GWJ0dQdmYS0VZXFrPzhFNT1cbSE%2FZh8hYCJAbX4obllVFw%3D%3D.
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Chicago Employers Tap the Region's Emerging Talent for Free
… CCJobNet, a consortium of the city's community colleges, enables Illinois' employers to post any number of jobs at no cost and simultaneously connect with all interested students, alumni, and community residents. Through the Consortium website, www.collegecentral.com/ccjobnet, employers can easily post a job once and have it instantly available at all consortium member schools for free. … Chicago, like most major cities in this economy, needs to remove as many barriers as possible, if employers are to easily recruit the region's entry-level talent. The CCJobNet website does exactly that. It makes the process free for employers, and centralizes the task so that recruiters need only post once to reach all twelve colleges," says JoAnne Morgan, Coordinator of Career Development & Jobs Center, South Suburban College. "These twelve colleges have prepared our graduates to move directly into the workforce. We invite all employers to take advantage of this service and hire local Chicago area talent."
Digital Journal, August 16, 2011
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/392872
Virtual and Artificial, but 58,000 Want Course
A free online course at Stanford University on artificial intelligence, to be taught this fall by two leading experts from Silicon Valley, has attracted more than 58,000 students around the globe — a class nearly four times the size of Stanford's entire student body. … The online students will not get Stanford grades or credit, but they will be ranked in comparison to the work of other online students and will receive a "statement of accomplishment." … Dr. Widom said that having Stanford courses freely available could both assist and compete with other colleges and universities. A small college might not have the faculty members to offer a particular course, but could supplement its offerings with the Stanford lectures.
The New York Times, August 16, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/science/16stanford.html?_r=1
End of a Military Full Ride?
Defense Department is said to be considering changes to its tuition assistance for active-duty military members that would make students responsible for up to 25 percent of tuition costs. The budget-cutting move would affect more than 300,000 students who receive tuition assistance, especially those who pay less than $250 per credit hour -- a group that includes many community college students as well as students at for-profit institutions, which frequently tie their tuition prices for military service members to the maximum benefit payment.
Inside Higher Ed, August 17, 2011
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/08/17/possible_changes_coming_to_tuition_benefits_for_military
In Our View: No Bricks or Mortar
Online, nonprofit WGU Washington offers great alternative for nontraditional students
The Columbian, August 18, 2011
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/aug/18/in-our-view-no-bricks-or-mortar/
Cutting Their Losses [State Authorization rules for distance learning]
In response to a survey on new "state authorization" rules, many colleges say they plan to abandon certain states rather than obtain permission from all 50 … In response to the rule, some institutions will abandon some states altogether, a survey released today by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association and the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies has found. Many of those colleges cited Massachusetts, Minnesota and Arkansas as places where they will no longer enroll students. At least 19,000 students total will be turned away, the colleges who responded to the relevant survey questions estimated.
Inside Higher Ed, August 18, 2011
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/08/18/survey_on_state_authorization_requirements
POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL
Post-Pork
In an "earmark-free" era, universities that for years relied on friends in Congress try to win grants like everyone else -- by applying for them.
Inside Higher Ed, August 16, 2011
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/08/16/without_earmarks_wvu_msu_try_to_win_competitive_grants
The only thing trickling down is the pain
Overwhelming evidence suggests that state investments to help children and families remain economically secure in the wake of the recession would be a wise investment in our children's – and our own – future. Too bad Washington is doing exactly the opposite. The most recent budget passed in our state significantly undermines our children's opportunities for success in life by making cuts like the following:
· Eligibility for Working Connections Child Care was reduced from 200 percent of the federal poverty line to 175 percent, making it harder for thousands of families to find child care so they can work;
· Funding for higher education was cut so severely that tuition at Washington's four-year institutions and community and technical colleges increased 11 percent to 16 percent, reducing affordability;
Congress and many states continue to pass legislation that disproportionately benefits the super-rich under the myth that investing in them will trickle down to the rest of us. Most economists agree that this is exactly the opposite of what we should be doing. We need to make stronger investments in all our children and families at the federal and state level if we want to put our country on a path to prosperity. Until federal and state governments decide to make those investments, the only thing trickling down will be the pain.
Schmudget, August 17, 2011
http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/the-only-thing-trickling-down-is-the-pain
Compiled by the Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
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