News Links | June 16, 2015

SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS

Big Bend awards degrees at commencement Big Bend Community College has a lot of students like Kim Fuller — who was not, his son said, the oldest graduate in the class. Fuller graduated Friday evening with a degree in mechanical maintenance, his second career, he said. Columbia Basin Herald, June 16, 2015 WSU, Bellevue College move toward potential partnership Washington State University and Bellevue College have taken another step toward a potential future education partnership. Under the proposed partnership, Bellevue College keep offering community college classes in Seattle's eastern suburbs, while adding four-year degree options under the WSU name. The Bellingham Herald, June 15, 2015 CPTC: End-of-quarter presentation highlights CIT students Students enrolled in Clover Park Technical College’s Computer Information Technology program presented their end-of-quarter projects June 15 at the McGavick Event Center. The Suburban Times, June 15, 2015 From homeless to graduate: one CBC student’s journey Jason McPherson had just started at Columbia Basin College in the summer term of 2013 and was already wondering if he’d bit off more than he could chew. It had been a long time since McPherson, then 26, had been in a classroom, and he was taking math and other prerequisite courses in a bid to become a machinist. Summer classes meet more frequently and cover material more quickly. Being homeless didn’t make it any easier to keep up with his classwork. Tri-City Herald, June 14, 2015 Skagit Valley College embraces sustainable building practices Staff and students at Skagit Valley College pride themselves on fostering an environmentally friendly learning environment and encouraging sustainability in Skagit County. The college recently achieved another sustainability goal with the new Charles Lewis Hall receiving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Skagit Valley Herald, June 14, 2015 Edmonds CC Foundation honors community contributors The Edmonds Community College Foundation celebrated the achievements and distinctive contributions from college supporters at Fanfare last month on campus. “The college makes it a priority to recognize businesses, organizations, and alumni that contribute to and support our community,” said Edmonds Community College President Jean Hernandez. My Edmonds News, June 13, 2015 Olympia police shooting sparks another push for citizen review board The recent officer-involved shooting in Olympia has renewed a call for an independent citizen review board to ensure more police accountability. ... However, some argue that an independent third party should handle the investigation instead of another local law enforcement agency. That sentiment is echoed by Gregory Gilbertson, a private investigator and former police officer who teaches criminal justice at Centralia College. The Olympian, June 13, 2015 Celebrations abound as Centralia College holds commencement ceremony Proud families, friends and loved ones gathered by the clock tower at Centralia College on Friday to witness a milestone for those they care about. The college completed its 89th continuous year of service to Lewis County, as students finished their educational careers at the community college to further pursue their dreams, educations and careers. Centralia Chronicle, June 12, 2015 Nuclear education program The U.S. commercial nuclear energy industry realized that [STEM] was an area in the United States that we need. Nuclear is no different.  We have great paying jobs there in your state and Columbia Basin [College] is making sure that people have the basics in science knowledge and basic skills so they can work in the nuclear industry. KONA, June 12, 2015 Twenty-five years of making music at Centralia College comes to end for instructor Donna Huffman comes from a long line of musicians. Her mother and her father’s uncle were both first violinists in a symphony, and her father performed in a family orchestra with seven siblings. “I think I was destined to pick music because it fascinated me and it was easy for me,” Huffman, 61, of Olympia, said. The music professor at Centralia College spent her last day working on campus at the graduation ceremony on Friday, bringing her 25-year career at the college to an end. Centralia Chronicle, June 12, 2015 Boeing, AGCO to develop coursework addressing skills gap Four community colleges and six businesses will begin working later this month on course material to help alleviate the skills gap in high-demand industries. The College Employer Collaborative, announced Thursday by nonprofit group Jobs for the Future and digital learning company CorpU, will enable employers to develop new content utilizing CorpU's social learning platform. Once completed, the material will be blended into classroom and online learning at Alamo Colleges in Texas, Everett Community College in Washington state, LaGuardia Community College in New York and Neosho County Community College in Kansas. Manufacturing.net, June 11, 2015 YVCC class of 2015 graduation Scenes from the Yakima Valley Community College graduation ceremony at Parker Faller Field in Yakima, Wash. Yakima Herald-Republic, June 11, 2015 My Edmonds restaurant news: We dish on patio dining and College Cafe fare I managed to get a table this week at a local eatery, the College Café. The student-run restaurant at Edmonds Community College Culinary Arts Program, at the end of the quarter showcased students’ mastery of fine cuisine, plated artfully and seasoned to perfection. My Edmonds News, June 11, 2015 Graduates find NUCP prepares them well for nuclear careers When Georgia native Jakob Evans, the son of two nuclear employees, joined the industry himself through the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program, he found “not only a job, but a career.” ... With many nuclear energy facilities obtaining 20-year renewed operating licenses from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, “the need for a younger, more diverse body of highly skilled and trained technicians became evident,” says Stacey Presnell, manager of the nuclear technology program at Columbia Generating Station in Washington. The Columbia nuclear power plant partners with Columbia Basin College. Nuclear Energy Institute, June 10, 2015 Competency-based education giving colleges accelerated, flexible options Community colleges are finding that competency-based education (CBE) programs can provide them with new opportunities to engage with business and help students gain skills for the job market. CBE programs offer credits and degrees based on demonstration of student learning, or competencies, rather than the amount of credit hours or seat time that students accrue. ... Washington: Bellevue College, Columbia Basin College, Edmonds Community College, and Spokane Falls Community College. Presidents of these colleges said their CBE programs helped them create new partnerships. Community College Week, June 9, 2015

TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION

By the book A group of renowned disability studies scholars are seeking to clarify what makes a book accessible with a set of guidelines that authors can use to help publishers make their books readable by anyone. The guidelines, a one-page template letter, read a little like an ultimatum. The letter opens by asking a would-be publisher to confirm in writing that print books and accessible formats will be made available simultaneously, then launches into an explanation of how publishers should handle everything from digital rights management to authoring software. Inside Higher Ed, June 16, 2015 Millennials are in search of a different kind of career There have been many labels thrust upon the Millennial generation, especially when it comes to their work ethic. The group has been called lazy, entitled, and spoiled — but at the same time the generation has also been heralded for its collective innovation and desire to work for something other than money. While America may still not know quite how to pin down the drive and desires of this generation, it does seem that their views on jobs and careers differ from their Boomer parents and the Gen Xers who came just before them. The Atlantic, June 12, 2015 Lingua franca for credentials Credentialing has exploded in type and number in recent years, as job seekers earn a growing range of certificates, badges, experiential transcripts, industry certifications and licenses, in addition to traditional college degrees. That expansion has led to a chaotic, fragmented system, according to the Lumina Foundation. Students and employers often are confused about what credentials represent and whether rigor is behind them. ... The foundation on Thursday announced that it has begun a national dialogue to bring some clarity to credentialing. Inside Higher Ed, June 12, 2015 Even Baby Boomers think it's harder to get started professionally than it used to be A soft economy and rising student debt are just two factors that Americans say make things more difficult for today’s young adults. The Atlantic, June 11, 2015 New standards to be set for high school computer science training A new state law aims to expand computer science education in high schools, something supporters say will help prepare Washington’s graduates to fill high-paying computer science jobs. The measure Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law Wednesday requires the state to adopt computer science learning standards for K-12 students, as well as new standards for teachers to earn a computer science endorsement. The News Tribune, June 10, 2015

POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL

Clinton vows to help students with debt In a speech billed as a campaign opening, Hillary Clinton, favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination, pledged Saturday to take steps to help students afford higher education. Inside Higher Ed, June 15, 2015 'Debt-free college' is Democrats' new rallying cry Debt-free college, a concept that seemed wildly improbable just months ago, is quickly becoming a centerpiece of the 2016 presidential campaign. Already, two Democratic candidates have endorsed some version of the idea. Hillary Clinton, who will officially open her campaign this weekend, has hinted that she may embrace it, too. The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 12, 2015 Christie opposes free higher ed New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, an undeclared candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, used a speech at Iowa State University Thursday to attack the idea (gaining ground in Democratic circles) of free higher education. And he got in a few digs at college spending. But the governor also spoke of the value of higher education and singled out some federal aid programs he supports. Inside Higher Ed, June 12, 2015 Impact of Pell surge Federal spending has surpassed state spending as the main source of public funding in higher education, and the primary reason is a surge in Pell Grants in the last decade. Federal and state funds have different missions. The majority of state funding is used to fund specific public institutions, whereas federal funding is generally awarded through student aid and research grants. State funding goes primarily to public institutions, while federal funding goes to student at public, private and for-profit colleges, and to researchers at public and private universities. Inside Higher Ed, June 12, 2015 Federal dollars finance ever-greater share of higher education, analysis shows In debating the merits and value of higher education, knowing who pays for what can be an important part of the discussion. When it comes to government funding, the decline in state support is well documented. But a report released on Thursday by the Pew Charitable Trusts shows just how much the balance of responsibility has shifted from the states to the federal government. The report, which includes a state-by-state analysis, shows that from 2000 through 2012 spending from federal sources per full-time-equivalent student increased by 32 percent, while state spending dropped by 37 percent. The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 11, 2015 House passes testing reform, change in grad requirements The state House of Representatives on Thursday passed an updated version of a bill that would temporarily eliminate the need to pass a science test for graduation, but as previously, it is likely to stall in the Senate. The News Tribune, June 11, 2015