News Links | June 23, 2020
System News | Opinion
Opinion: The unstoppable spirit of 2020 graduates
Being a college chancellor comes with a calendar bursting at the seams with meetings
and functions, issues to address, decisions to make and budgets that never go as far
as you’d hope. But there’s a moment every year that makes it all worth it: commencement.
Every June, I have the honor of shaking the hands of the graduates of the Seattle Colleges as they cross the stage and accept their diplomas, formally congratulating them on
the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
The Seattle Times, June 22, 2020
SVC's first applied management class to graduate
Two years ago, Shailene Gronemyer was a stay-at-home mom with dreams of taking college
classes to help her become a small business owner. After taking a class about social
capital in Skagit Valley College's applied management program, Gronemyer is now interested in helping students succeed.
... This week, Gronemyer will be one of 23 students graduating with a Bachelor of
Applied Science in applied management. They make up the program's first graduating
class.
Skagit Valley Herald, June 22, 2020
Editorial: Deep cuts at WWCC hurt, but were necessary
Walla Walla Community College trimmed $3.1 million — or about 12% — from its budget for the next school year to
offset the dramatic revenue shortfall from the coronavirus pandemic. It had to be
done. And, unfortunately, even deeper budget cuts could be demanded in the near future. The
coronavirus hit at a time when higher education — particularly at the two-year college
level — was facing enrollment challenges.
Union-Bulletin, June 21, 2020
At LCC, COVID-19 showed the benefits of digital and the need for tradition
In the future, Lower Columbia College students may spend half the week in online class and half in the classroom. Or they
may continue to video chat with tutors and check out library books remotely. But even
as the novel coronavirus pandemic changes the face of college instruction, one centuries-old
tradition will continue: The pandemic has shown how irreplaceable face-to-face instruction
and interaction is.
The Daily Chronicle, June 21, 2020
Clark College holds first-ever virtual commencement ceremony
After an unprecedented spring term, Clark College honored its 84th graduating class with something never before done at the college:
a virtual ceremony. Due to COVID-19, the college moved to remote operations in March
and all students to their spring classes online. In April, the college announced that
it would move to a virtual ceremony instead of the traditional version.
The Reflector, June 20, 2020
Commentary: The search for selfhood
I am not aware if everything that is lost can be found, but teaching at community
colleges in Washington did make me realize that what really matters is the desire
to find. ... Being a part of Highline College has introduced me to a new definition of diversity— one enriched by the private struggles
to find a sense of belonging.
Federal Way Mirror, June 20, 2020
Locally Writ: Local poet Irv Broughton releases two latest poetry collections
... Today, Broughton writes a bit of everything – screenplays, song lyrics, fiction,
nonfiction, a musical or two – regularly working on three or four projects at once.
When he isn’t writing, he busies himself grading coursework from his English and film
students at Spokane Falls Community College where he has taught since 1976.
The Spokesman-Review, June 20, 2020
Grays Harbor College to conduct virtual graduation
Grays Harbor College will celebrate its students’ academic achievements with a virtual graduation ceremony
to be streamed online at 6 p.m. Friday, June 26. “While a bit different than an in-person
ceremony, we are committed to providing an experience as close to it as possible for
our students, their families and their friends,” said GHC President Jim Minkler.
The Daily World, June 19, 2020
Supreme Court DACA decision resonates in the Wenatchee Valley
For Lizbeth Rivera, Thursday’s decision by the Supreme Court to block the ending of
the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was bittersweet. ... Washington
state has about 16,000 DACA enrollees, according to the Northwest Immigrant Rights
Project. Rivera, 22, is attending Wenatchee Valley College to get her associate’s degree. She plans to finish up her education at a four-year
university, but isn’t sure yet of her major.
The Wenatchee World, June 19, 2020
Clark College grad overcomes denial to pursue his destiny
Denied. Denied. Denied. That’s what Evans Kaame, a 23-year-old Clark College graduate, watched in 2018 as he waited in line to apply for a student visa to the
United States. Again and again, those waiting in line with him in his native country
of Kenya were denied visas. But still, Kaame waited. He’d had a vision, he said. After
a life of extreme poverty, living on the streets, scrounging in landfills, this was
his calling — to pursue an education in the United States, where his foster mother,
RJ Swanson, was waiting for him.
The Columbian, June 19, 2020
Photos: Centralia College grads make last trip back to pick up diplomas
Cindy Broadbent, TRiO Program Specialist at Centralia College, waves pom-poms as a graduate drives their car down S. Rock Street Thursday afternoon.
...
The Daily Chronicle, June 19, 2020
High court ruling brings joy and relief for ‘Dreamers’
... Everett Community College President Daria Willis called the decision “very good news” in a letter shared with
the campus community. “Today is a day to celebrate. More than 700,000 young immigrants,
also known as Dreamers, who came to the United States as children are able to stay
and renew their work permits,” she wrote.
Everett Herald, June 18, 2020
‘It’s very painful, it’s very difficult’: SCC & SFCC to furlough staff, cut $11 million from budget
More budget cuts are coming. This time, to the Community Colleges of Spokane. It’s bracing itself for one of its biggest cuts in its history. The Washington State
Office of Financial Management is asking the school to prepare for a 15% reduction
in state budget allocation. That’s almost an $11 million dollars hit. While the school
hasn’t laid off any people, it has announced this week, every staff member must take
a 40-hour furlough during the next year to help make up for the shortfall.
KXLY, June 18, 2020
Protest Book Club: Great reads for change with Seattle's hip-hop professor
Dr. Daudi Abe along with KUOW's Ross Reynolds and public radio listeners explore recommendations
for revolutionary reads. ... His forthcoming book, Emerald Street: A History of Hip-Hop
in Seattle, will be published in the fall of 2020 by the University of Washington
Press. Dr. Abe holds an MA in human development, and a PhD in education from the University
of Washington. He teaches at Seattle Central College.
KUOW, June 18, 2020
Transitions: Bennington College and Ohio State U. select new presidents
... Gary Locke, a former governor of Washington, has been named interim president
of Bellevue College. He will replace Kristen Jones, who has served as acting president since Jerry Weber’s
resignation following the defacement of a mural honoring Japanese Americans.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 18, 2020
A new take on the CPTC all-college celebration
Clover Park Technical College hosted an end-of-year celebration event the afternoon of Tuesday, June 16 to recognize
the achievements of the 2019-2020 academic year and to honor staff and faculty award
winners. As has become the norm for 2020 gatherings, this year’s event was hosted
via Zoom.
The Suburban Times, June 17, 2020
Grays Harbor College passes budget, prepares for potential major cuts in state funding
The Grays Harbor College Board of Trustees approved a 2020-21 operating budget Tuesday, acknowledging that
anticipated cuts in state allocations to the school due to COVID-19 revenue shortfalls
will need to be addressed in the coming months.
The Daily World, June 17, 2020
Civil war, new country, new language, life | Vasquez overcomes it all to earn WVC degree
When 18-year-old Angelica Vasquez returned home one afternoon from one of her classes
at the University of El Salvador, where she was studying to become a pediatrician,
her father pulled her aside. He had something urgent that he needed to tell her. “He
said, ‘Tomorrow you’re leaving the country,’” said Vasquez, now 52, who on Friday
will earn her associate’s degree from Wenatchee Valley College.
The Wenatchee World, June 17, 2020
GHC's 10-minute play Play Fest goes online Saturday
Grays Harbor College is staging its annual 10-Minute (or less) Play Festival online this Saturday evening.
Andrew Gaines, head of GHC’s drama department, has been developing four productions
for this event since April. The plays were written by Harbor students, community members
and others, but all acted by students of his spring Introduction to Acting class as
part of their coursework.
The Daily World, June 17, 2020
Pandemic forces budget cuts at Walla Walla Community College
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Walla Walla Community College to shave an additional $3.1 million off its budget for the 2020-21 school year. To
achieve that, seven positions have been eliminated and another eight will remain vacant
for a total of 15 affected positions, according to information from the college. Two
of the employees laid off were faculty members.
Union-Bulletin, June 17, 2020
Trends | Horizons | Education
Supporting hands-on education during a pandemic
After thirteen straight weeks of record unemployment claims, it is clear we are facing
the most serious economic downturn since the Great Depression. And on top of the economic
fallout, training to help people reconnect to the labor market will be more difficult
to provide because of the nature of this crisis. As community colleges try to learn
from the pivot to remote learning this spring, serve students this summer, and enroll
their classes for fall, they are faced with one particularly difficult problem: continuing
to offer hands on career and technical education in fields like advanced manufacturing,
automotive, healthcare, and building trades during a pandemic.
New America, June 23, 2020
Where credit is due
At a time when many students and families are increasingly questioning the cost and
value of traditional four-year college degrees, attaining milestones based on stackable
credentials has received more attention as a viable way to prepare students for the
workforce. Particularly at community colleges, where students may or may not matriculate
to a four-year institution, it’s critical that every course contributes to a student’s
progression along their career path.
Community College Daily, June 22, 2020
Preparing for this fall — and beyond
Leaders of seven community college-based organizations on Thursday addressed an array
of issues pertaining to the pandemic and equity, but two topics seemed to permeate
through most of the discussion: Ensuring students have the technology needed to continue
with remote learning and including faculty in plans to help students succeed in the
new college environment.
Community College Daily, June 22, 2020
ED launches new workforce training grants for states
The U.S. Education Department on Friday announced a new CARES Act-funded grant program
focused on short-term job training for in-demand occupations and entrepreneurship
development. The CARES Act provided $307.5 million for discretionary grants, which
Education Secretary Betsey DeVos plans to divide between two competitions ... The
deadline for state applications is August 24. A pre-application webinar for prospective
applicants is scheduled for June 29. ED aims to award grants by October.
Community College Daily, June 21, 2020
Education Dept. is making it harder for colleges to boost student aid during crisis
The U.S. Department of Education is making it harder for colleges to reconsider —
and potentially increase — financial aid for students who have lost jobs or family
income in the current economic crisis. The department has shelved guidance that once
encouraged colleges to do more to help students affected by a downturn.
NPR, June 19, 2020
Politics | Local, State, National
Trump expands immigration restrictions
... Significantly for higher education, Trump’s order does not affect the optional
practical training program, which permits international students to work in the U.S.
for up to three years after graduating while staying on their F student visas. The
decision not to impose new restrictions on the OPT program at this time came as a
relief for higher education organizations and administrators who have joined with
business groups in strongly advocating for keeping the program in place.
Inside Higher Ed, June 23, 2020
Call for doubling Pell, forgiving debt
Amid concerns the coronavirus pandemic could worsen racial disparities, even as protests
worldwide call for greater equity in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, former
U.S. Education Secretary John B. King Jr. on Monday called for Congress to forgive
some student debt and to double the award size of Pell Grants.
Inside Higher Ed, June 23, 2020
