News Links | December 10, 2020
System News | Opinion
Bruno and Evelyne Betti Foundation gives $2.5 million for SPSCC automotive, welding, and nursing students
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) and the SPSCC Foundation today announced its largest gift in school history, a $2.5
million gift from the Bruno and Evelyne Betti Foundation. The gift will impact the
college’s Professional Technical degree programs, as well as Healthcare programs in
the Dr. Angela Bowen Center for Health Education.
Thurston Talk, Dec. 9, 2020
The show must go on: GHC spring musical presents a whole new challenge
Andrew Gaines isn’t going to allow a little thing like a pandemic stop him from organizing
GHC’s annual spring musical. “We had to think through what would be the safest, most
enjoyable and most achievable way to continue to have a musical,” said Gaines, who
heads the drama department at Grays Harbor College.
The Daily World, Dec. 9, 2020
Whitman College, Walla Walla University to welcome students back to campus in January
... Walla Walla Community College President Chad Hickox, meanwhile, said while the Warrior Flex model can be adjusted
like a dial to offer more or less in-person instruction as needed, he doesn’t expect
that dial to be turned at this time. “Unfortunately, with cases rising in the communities
we serve, we do not expect to expand in-person teaching, at least not early in the
winter quarter,” Hickox said.
Union-Bulletin, Dec. 8, 2020
Bear destroys beehives used for research at local college
... The hives had been part of a partnership with Green River College to teach beekeepers best practices, and to do research. Danny Najera, a professor
who oversees a team that works on the hives, said the goal was to use the hives for
research on overwintering bees.
KIRO, Dec. 7, 2020
Skagit Valley College completes first 'Parent School'
Skagit Valley College held a unique graduation Saturday, and not just because it was done on Zoom. About
25 parents and grandparents graduated from the college’s first Escuela de Padres —
or Parents School — program, which is designed to give parents information they need
to help not only their children but themselves.
Skagit Valley Herald, Dec. 7, 2020
Seattle’s hip-hop history spans decades, cultures — and a hotel skybridge
... Tracing the saga of this 40-year cultural phenomenon — encompassing rap music,
MCing, DJing, graffiti art and break-dancing — is a new book, “Emerald Street: A History
of Hip Hop in Seattle” (University of Washington Press), by longtime Seattle Central College humanities professor Daudi Abe.
The Seattle Times, Dec. 3, 2020
Trends | Horizons | Education
Moody's sees negative outlook for community college
Community colleges are expected to take financial and enrollment hits through 2021. Moody's
Investors Services announced its 2021 outlook for the sector is negative, as is its
outlook for four-year public and private institutions. The poor outlook for community
colleges is mostly due to the sharp enrollment declines this fall.
Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 10, 2020
Fewer new high school grads attended college this fall
Although the pandemic appears to have had little effect on the number of high school
students graduating this spring, there was a 30% drop among those graduates who enrolled
in community colleges this fall, with a staggering 37% fewer students from low-income
high schools, according to preliminary data from the National Student Clearinghouse
Research Center.
Community College Daily, Dec. 10, 2020
Low-income community college students most likely to cancel plans
Students' incomes appear to have had major impacts on whether they continued at community
colleges or left completely during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new analysis
from the Community College Research Center at Teachers College of Columbia University. The
analysis, published in a blog post, used U.S. Census Bureau data that has been collected
every two weeks since the summer from 100,000 random addresses.
Inside Higer Ed, Dec. 10, 2020
Federal guidance on foreign students remains same for spring
Federal guidance for enrolling international students in programs operating in hybrid
or online modes due to the pandemic remains the same for the spring term, a spokeswoman
for the Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program said
Tuesday. "Nonimmigrant students should continue to abide by SEVP guidance originally
issued in March 2020," said the spokeswoman, Carissa Cutrell.
Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 9, 2020
11th-hour policy and politics
The United States Department of Education is implementing a first-of-its-kind “hotline”
at the agency for students and faculty members to file complaints of censorship on
campus, federal officials announced Tuesday. But free speech advocates and higher
education representatives are doubtful this move will have any impact on colleges
as a new administration is poised to take over the agency, replace political appointees
and other department heads, and possibly move the agency in another direction or dismantle
the hotline.
Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 9, 2020
Report: $1 billion needed to improve Hispanic institutions
Hispanic-serving institutions received only $87 in federal funding per Latinx student
in 2019, compared to $1,642 historically Black colleges and universities received
for each of their students, according to a Center for American Progress study. And
it would take an additional $1 billion in funding just to bring HSIs' funding level
up to half that of HBCUs.
Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 9, 2020
Politics | Local, State, National
Gov. Inslee extends Washington’s COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings, restaurants, gyms
Washington’s latest round of sweeping COVID-19 restrictions will stay in place through
the holiday season and into the new year. Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, Gov.
Jay Inslee announced a three-week extension of the wide-ranging limits he ordered
Nov. 15 — which include shutting down indoor dining and gyms and limiting social gatherings
— through Jan. 4.
The Seattle Times, Dec. 8, 2020
Congress close on simplifying FAFSA
Congressional education leaders are hopeful about reaching a deal in the coming days
to simplify applying for student aid, a major priority for Lamar Alexander, the chairman
of the Senate education committee, who is retiring shortly after the new year.
Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 7, 2020
