News Links | August 4, 2020

System News | Opinion

Summer camp combines creativity, coding

Summer carnivals and fairs may be canceled this year, but that didn’t stop three Skagit County students from replicating some of the fun in their own homes. As part of a Kid’s College summer course at Skagit Valley College, the students used technology, including coding and circuitry, to create what the course termed kinetic sculptures.
Skagit Valley Herald, August 4, 2020

The dirt: Spokane Falls Community College files for permit to build fine, applied arts building

Spokane Falls Community College’s new fine and applied arts building is one step closer to fruition, according to a building permit application filed with the city of Spokane last week. The two-story, 57,000-square-foot building would be on the north side of campus at 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive.
The Spokesman-Review, Aug. 2, 2020

Skagit Valley College receives Job Corps grant

Skagit Valley College is the recipient of a federal grant that will allow it to continue to serve students facing barriers to higher education. The college was notified June 30 by the Department of Labor that it will receive about $1.2 million to help it serve Job Corps-eligible students.
Skagit Valley Herald, July 31, 2020

Hospitality and Ecotourism degree through GHC

The newest degree program at Grays Harbor College prepares students for jobs on Coastal Washington and the Olympic Peninsula. In the Fall Quarter, Grays Harbor College will launch a new Associate of Applied Science degree, focused on Hospitality and Ecotourism. 
KXRO, July 31, 2020

SCC student residence hall awarded prestigious LEED Green Building Certification

Shoreline Community College is pleased to announce it has been awarded official LEED Silver certification for its student residence hall, 7000 Campus Living, which opened in fall 2019. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. 
Shoreline Area News, July 31, 2020

GHC plans for mostly online classes in fall

This fall, Grays Harbor College will be offering a full schedule of classes while prioritizing the health and safety of its students and the community. Classes and services will be offered remotely utilizing online, Zoom, Canvas, YouTube, and other relevant technologies, with the exception of a few programs that require hands-on application.
The Daily World, July 30, 2020

Seattle-area 'baking brigade' makes homemade bread for families in need

What started as a Facebook group has turned in to a passion project that’s benefiting communities in need. Katherine Kehrli is an associate dean at Seattle Central College's Culinary Academy and spends her off-time leading an impressive group of volunteers who have spent the last few months baking in support of coronavirus pandemic relief efforts.
King 5, July 30, 2020

Local receives agricultural degree

Levi Allen was one of six students in the first class to graduate with a bachelor of applied science in agricultural systems, June 11. This is the first class to receive a four-year degree from the college. Allen, 24, graduated from Washtucna in 2014 before getting his Associate of Applied Science degree, a prerequisite to the bachelor program, at Walla Walla Community College.
Ritzville Adams County Journal, July 30,  2020

Whatcom Community College student receives top national award for adult learning

Whatcom Community College student Cecilia DeLeon is the 2020 National Adult Learner of the Year. Cecilia was honored with the prestigious award by the Coalition of Adult Basic Education (COABE) at the organization’s virtual conference and award ceremony earlier this month. The award is annually given to a student who demonstrates leadership and has overcome difficult circumstances to pursue adult learning.
Whatcom Talk, July 29, 2020

The arts scene: Virtual exhibition highlights some 'possible projects'

My colleague John Bissonette began teaching at Yakima Valley College in the fall of 2014. Having previously taught at the University of Tennessee, he was a welcome addition to the faculty. I had seen his artwork before he arrived, and then each year during the Student and Faculty Exhibition at the Larson Gallery. It was a pleasant surprise to see this new exhibition of his work through Columbia Basin College.
Yakima Herald, July 28, 2020

Trends | Horizons | Education

U.S. institutions affected by Blackbaud cyberattack

Criminals may have accessed private information from donors to at least 16 U.S. universities as part of a cyberattack on cloud computing company Blackbaud. Hackers were unsuccessful in blocking access to Blackbaud files but did make a copy of a subset of data. 
Inside Higher Ed, July 31, 2020

Opinion: Invest in our state’s future by investing in higher education

As Washington’s K-12 and higher education leaders continue to plan what might happen this fall, the Washington Roundtable’s new report highlights what our students need to support their longer-term success. The recent report, “Path to 70% Credential Attainment: Restarting Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic,” draws our attention to the critical importance of postsecondary education to pandemic recovery.
The Seattle Times, July 30, 2020

Impact of mandatory FAFSA filing policies

Mandatory Free Application for Federal Student Aid filing policies aren't a magical salve, but they can greatly increase the number of students who complete the financial aid form and enroll in college, according to a report. The Century Foundation examined state policies that mandate FAFSA completion for high school students, as well as the outcomes of that policy in Louisiana, the only state so far that has fully enacted its policy.
Inside Higher Ed, July 30, 2020

Ninth Circuit adopts 'simpler' method for accused student claims

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit delivered a win for students accused of sexual misconduct on July 29, reinforcing the use of a “far simpler standard” for judges to determine whether colleges discriminated against these students based on their gender while investigating them for sexual assault or harassment.
Inside Higher Ed, July 30, 2020

Opinion: Roueche Center forum: Diversifying the undergraduate engineering education pathway - An opportunity for the community college

... The present study offers an important opportunity to bridge research, practice and policy across the undergraduate engineering education and community college engineering education transfer sectors. A review of evidence-based interventions to facilitate the pathway from community college to engineering careers suggests the following action agenda ...
Diverse Education, July 29, 2020

Survey: Student opinions on transfer credit

A new survey examined students' perceptions about their experiences with credit transfer. The American Council on Education and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers surveyed roughly 1,000 students about their opinions on transfer credit loss, available information on transfer, barriers to transferring credit and their thoughts on credits that didn't transfer.
Inside Higher Ed, July 29, 2020

Politics | Local, State, National

Discrimination against colleges serving minorities?

It’s a wonky difference. But colleges that disproportionately educate students of color could be shortchanged billions of dollars if Congress divvies up money between institutions in the next coronavirus relief package in the same way as it did in the last, warn a number of advocacy groups. ... The problem, said the groups, is that the method doesn’t recognize that students at community colleges, who are more likely to be minorities or low income than those at four-year institutions, are also more likely to enroll part-time, as they juggle having other jobs and raising children. 
Inside Higher Ed, August 3, 2020

Biden links loan forgiveness to racial equity

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, linked the forgiving of student debt on Thursday to dealing with racial inequities in the country. At the virtual convention of the American Federation of Teachers, Biden was asked by Marguerite Ruff, a Philadelphia classroom assistant for special needs children, what he planned to do to reduce disparities. Biden reiterated his campaign pledge to eliminate large portions of student debt. The union endorsed Biden on Wednesday.
Inside Higher Ed, July 31, 2020

Will relief package help DACA students?

The proposal for the next coronavirus relief package unveiled by Senate Republicans Monday would continue to exclude college students who are undocumented immigrants from receiving emergency aid during the pandemic, potentially setting up a politically charged debate with Democrats. ... California’s community colleges and the Washington State attorney general have challenged DeVos’s determination. Federal judges in both states have imposed preliminary injunctions, although the judge in the Washington State case on Friday ruled against granting a summary judgment to permanently rule against DeVos. 
Inside Higher Ed, July 29, 2020