News Links | March 3, 2020
System News | Opinion
SPSCC’s Craft Brewing & Distillery program now accepting applications
Admissions for the Craft Brewing & Distillery program at South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) opens March 2, 2020 and extends until April 30, 2020. Students in the SPSCC Craft
Brewing & Distilling program work in world-class facilities with local brewers, distillers,
and cider makers to learn what it takes to be a part of the craft beverage community.
... SPSCC is proud to be the nation’s first associate degree program in craft brewing,
distilling, and cider making, and a partner in Tumwater’s new Craft District.
Thurston Talk, March 2, 2020
Coronavirus quarantines and more
Colleges continue to grapple with how to respond to the new coronavirus, COVID-19,
as public health officials report community spread of the virus in California, Oregon
and Washington State. ... Lake Washington Institute of Technology said officials learned on Saturday that a nursing professor and 16 of its students
were at a nursing and rehabilitation facility late last week where two confirmed coronavirus
cases have been reported. The college's president, Amy Morrison, said in a statement
that the college would be closed Monday and Tuesday to continue disinfecting and cleaning
the campus, and that all large community and college events for the week are canceled.
Inside Higher Ed, March 2, 2020
Auto techs in the making: Clark College automotive program has 100 percent job placement
Not all students attending Clark College in Vancouver sit in a classroom for the entire day. Some spend the day working on
vehicles of all shapes and sizes in the automotive shop on the campus. From brand
new Honda Civics and several Toyota Prius models to 2016 Toyota Tacomas, students
in the Clark College Automotive Technologies Program get hands-on experience in auto
repair. “All of our programs are meant for career-minded students,” Automotive Technologies
Department head and instructor Tonia Haney said.
The Reflector, March 2, 2020
Demand for BBCC’s food pantry at critical mass, donations needed
Big Bend Community College's Viking Food Pantry is a popular commodity among students, faculty, and staff. However,
adequate inventory is harder to sustain due to exponential demand. [Video]
iFiber One, March 2, 2020
Clark County Public Health testing seven people for coronavirus
... WSU and Clark College have also both launched their incident response teams — groups of staff from across
the colleges who meet daily to review the latest news about the virus and decide how
to respond. ... Clark College spokeswoman Kelly Love also urged people to remember
the virus is “not contained to any one geographical region or culture” and to “provide
some grace.”
The Columbian, March 2, 2020
Bellevue College president, vice president out after mural on Japanese American incarceration was altered
The president of Bellevue College and one of the college’s vice presidents will be leaving their jobs, the school announced
Monday, in response to the vice president’s decision to alter a campus mural of two
Japanese American children in a World War II incarceration camp by removing a reference
to anti-Japanese agitation by Eastside businessmen. The college said it has “begun
to separate” from President Jerry Weber and Gayle Colston Barge, vice president of
institutional advancement. Provost Kristen Jones will serve as acting president, board
of trustees Chair Rich Fukutaki announced at a Monday news conference.
The Seattle Times, March 2, 2020
Marysville City Council president earns leadership accolade: Foundation donates $1.5 million for STEM
The Hazel Miller Foundation has given $1.5 million to the Edmonds Community College STEM campaign. Hazel Miller lived in Edmonds for more than 30 years. After her death
in 2009, the foundation was created to benefit the people of Edmonds and South Snohomish
County. The money will go toward the college’s new 70,000-square-foot STEM and Nursing
building, as well as STEM scholarships, programs and technology. The building is set
to open in September. According to the community college’s research, about 1 million
students will use the STEM and Nursing building during its lifetime.
The Everett Herald, March 2, 2020
Edmonds CC student Vinicius Armucho honored with Transforming Lives award
The Edmonds Community College Board of Trustees awarded Vinicius Armucho with its 2020 Transforming Lives award.
“Vinicius exemplifies the kind of student we hope to support and foster through an
education at Edmonds CC and is well-deserving of this honor and recognition,” said
Edmonds CC President Dr. Amit B. Singh. The award is given annually to a student whose
life was transformed by attending Edmonds CC and who also overcame significant barriers
to achieve his or her educational goals.
MLT News, March 1, 2020
Guest column | The wagon is coming – adaptability is essential – is higher education ready?
... Higher education institutions are under increasing pressure to prove the market
value of degrees and credentials – immediately and in the long-term. Increasingly,
employers believe that U.S. colleges aren’t producing enough graduates with the skills
companies need. Therefore, corporations are partnering with higher education and alternative
credentialing programs to build worker pipelines. Innovative partnerships are being
developed locally. Last fall, Wenatchee Valley College teamed up with Confluence Health to usher in a new Pharmacy Technician program designed
to meet increased community demand. This effort co-funds a program director and increases
the likelihood of local talent filling local positions.
Wenatchee World, March 1, 2020
$1.5 million Kennewick wine village opens in March near downtown waterfront
... Victor de la Luz, their current winemaker, joined Gordon in 2017, although Nelson
said they also have used top industry consultants, including Charlie Hoppes’ Wine
Boss team. “We’re not afraid to ask for expertise and opinion,” Nelson said. De la
Luz is a product of Walla Walla Community College’s winemaking and viticulture program, and joins two of his fellow program graduates,
Freddy Arredondo of Cave B and Victor Palencia of Monarcha Winery.
Tri-City Herald, March 1, 2020
RTC president awarded fellowship
Renton Technical College (RTC) President is one of 25 in the nation taking place in a prestigious fellowship. Kevin
McCarthy will be joining the 2020-21 inaugural class of the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship.
A RTC press release that’s the new initiative is meant to support community college
presidents so they can accelerate transformation change for their students. ... “McCarthy
is committed to student success and equity, and he has advanced both as president,”
Frieda Takamura, chair of the RTC Board of Trustees, stated in a RTC press release.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for him to learn even more about how to best serve
RTC students now and in the future.”
Renton Reporter, Feb. 29, 2020
She helps 2nd Harvest fight hunger. Now she’s going to help fill minds
A Second Harvest executive will now be helping to make sure students’ minds are fed
as well as their bodies. Holly Siler, Second Harvest Northwest’s senior vice president
of projects, was picked by Gov. Jay Inslee to fill a spot on the Columbia Basin College’s board of trustees. She is replacing Sherry Armijo, who reached the maximum number
of terms she could serve. Siler will serve a five-year term on the board.
Tri-City Herald, Feb. 29, 2020
Changemakers: Foundation gives college scholarships to former inmates in need of ‘second chance’
Have you ever wanted a do-over? A second chance to live your best life? Meet two local
men who know what it feels like to be down and out - and are determined to lift people
up, regardless of poor decisions they've made in the past. Kyle Von Stroberg spent
years of his life in and out of jail for drugs and petty crimes. The 38-year-old thought
the door leading to a career would be shut forever, until 2013. He was walking out
of jail - again - when a guard suggested something he never thought possible: go to
college. "Right then and there, we signed up for school," he said. Skagit Valley College not only welcomed him with open arms, the college also offered financial aid.
Q13 Fox, Feb. 28, 2020
Spokane community colleges help hungry, homeless students
A new national study has shined a light on a persistent problem across college campuses:
homelessness and hunger. The #RealCollege Survey is a national analysis of basic needs
insecurity among college students. ... Spokane Falls Community College Acting Vice President of Learning Jim Brady said the trend makes sense with rising
tuition and the cost of living. “It’s not a complete surprise that these conditions
exist, but the extent to which they are acute needs, ya, that’s always a surprise
because you don’t want that,” Brady said. Administrators with both Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College said they have had programs in place for years
to combat these issues, including a free food pantry.
KXLY, Feb. 28, 2020
WVC participates in Chelan County jail’s new reintroduction program
Wenatchee Valley College was one of eight agencies to participate recently in Chelan County jail’s newest
reintroduction classes. ... WVC Education and Career Planner Amy Olson said many people
are unaware someone with a criminal record can still enroll at the college and most
are eligible for state or federal financial aid. “Most participants had some interest
in WVC programs, and also just being able to give information about what we have to
offer and having some faces that they could seek out later on campus was beneficial,”
Amy Olson said.
iFiber One, Feb. 28, 2020
Bates: New Fire Service program director specializes in truck company and fire ground operations
Bates Technical College recently hired Todd Wernet as Fire Service Director. Wernet brings 35 years of Fire
Service background to the college. Most recently, Wernet served as the emergency preparedness
coordinator for The Boeing Company in Seattle. Previously, he was the assistant chief
of operations and the interim fire chief for the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
(DCPP) Fire Department on the Central Coast of California.
The Suburban Times, Feb. 28, 2020
W.F. West, Centralia College partnership yielding results, administrators say
The Chehalis School District and the Chehalis Foundation formalized a partnership
with Centralia College in 2017 in an effort to get 60 percent of W.F. West High School students to earn
a college or vocational credential after high school — a goal that the district calls
the Student Achievement Initiative. Three years later, they’re seeing results. Of
the graduating W.F. West class of 2017, which included about 200 students, 49 percent
have graduated from Centralia College within two years of finishing high school —
a 10 percent increase from graduates seen in 2015 and 2016, according to a press release
from Centralia College.
The Daily Chronicle, Feb. 28, 2020
Centralia College participates in statewide study finding widespread housing insecurities for students
Centralia College was one of 28 colleges that took part in a report published Monday by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges that found six out of 10 students in the state experienced hunger or housing insecurities
over the past year. Around 13,550 students from technical and community colleges took
part in the statewide survey, which was part of the nation’s largest assessment of
basic-needs security among college students, a press release from the Board for Community
and Technical Colleges said.
The Daily Chronicle, Feb. 28, 2020
Five Big Bend students headed to national ag competition
Five students from the Big Bend Community College Agriculture program have qualified to compete at the National Professional Agricultural
Student Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota next month. The national conference includes
about 600 career-ready professional agricultural students, college advisors and industry
representatives. It gives students an opportunity to network with industry professionals,
go on agriculture tours and participate in career exploration activities.
iFiber One, Feb. 27, 2020
Wells Hall mountain is a temporary feature on WVC campus
The mountain that has risen in the middle of Wenatchee Valley College’s campus shouldn’t last long enough to be identified on any new maps. The geologic
feature made from dirt excavated as part of the new Wells Hall project is the result
of lessons learned 14 years ago with the construction of Wenatchi Hall, said Brett
Riley, vice president of administrative services. In that project, contractors hit
a layer of clay soil during the excavation, which had to be removed and replaced with
fill dirt. By the time the clay was discovered, all the dirt from the initial excavation
had been hauled away. The contractor had to then haul it back.
Wenatchee World, Feb. 27, 2020
Wenatchee Valley College machining program gets $10K
A $10,000 grant to Wenatchee Valley College’s machining program will likely shorten its wish list. The Gene Haas Foundation awarded
the program for the second time recently. Over the last two years, the grant purchased
over $15,000 worth of personal tools for 10 student sand has provided $4,500 for Skills
USA students to attend state and national conferences. Thanks to the grant, first
year and second year students received all the tools required for courses in the program.
WVC machining faculty Micky Jennings said that being gifted high-quality tools removes
a financial barrier for students and sets them up for success after college.
iFiber One, Feb. 26, 2020
Trends | Horizons | Education
Education Department creates coronavirus task force
Betsy DeVos, the U.S. secretary of education, announced Thursday that the Education
Department is creating a task force to prepare for the possible impacts of the coronavirus.
DeVos made the announcement during her appearance before the appropriations committee
of the U.S. House of Representatives to discuss the Trump administration's proposed
budget. Mitchell “Mick” Zais, the deputy secretary, will lead the task force. A spokeswoman
for the department said in an email that the group will "lead the agency’s continuity
of operations plan and run point on the interagency work."
Inside Higher Ed, Feb. 28, 2020
States continue to see increases in completion rates
Twenty-seven states saw at least a one percentage-point increase in their community
college completion rate, compared to 22 states that saw similar increases for public
four-year starters, the center’s report says. The completion rate for community college
starters increased three percentage points or more in eight states: Arkansas, Mississippi,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington and Wyoming. Among
public four-year starters, only Nevada, New Mexico and Ohio made comparable gains,
the center says.
Community College Daily, March 3, 2020
A rejuvenated push for HEA
.... The JOBS Act, introduced last year by Kaine and Sen. Bob Portman (R-Ohio), would
allow students to use Pell grants for certain short-term programs, an idea that has
garnered growing support over the past few years among community college advocates
and lawmakers. Although the proposal has bipartisan support, some question whether
the earnings of students who use Pell for short-term programs would equal that of
students who use traditional Pell grants to help pay for their college, Kaine said.
Community College Daily, March 3, 2020
Politics | Local, State, National
A missing puzzle piece in the federal-state partnership landscape
With college costs on the rise and state investments dipping lower, policymakers,
communities, colleges, and universities are looking for different models of funding
to jump-start greater investment in higher education. During a keynote speech last
year, Senator Patty Murray, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor
and Pensions committee, stated that the reauthorization of a new Higher Education
Act “must include a state-federal partnership to promote new investments in our students
and families and to pave affordable pathways to higher education."
New America, March 3, 2020
What the future will look like for work, colleges
For more than a century, automotive engineers have focused much of their attention
on making vehicles as comfortable, safe and convenient as possible for drivers. They’ve
perfected the positioning of the steering wheel and gas pedal. Experimented with the
best way to arrange knobs and controls. Determined the optimum placement of mirrors
and other accessories. What happens to all of this knowledge as cars become driverless?
More important, how will an automotive engineer’s job change—and what new skills and
knowledge will become essential to performing it?
Community College Daily, March 3, 2020
Higher ed deal in the works?
Senator Lamar Alexander is seeing time ticking down on passing a rewrite of the nation’s
main higher education law this year, and during his career. Though he didn’t say it
is a drop-dead deadline, the Tennessee Republican and chair of the Senate's education
committee said in little-noticed remarks two weeks ago before a group of community
college trustees that he wants to have a bill to reauthorize the Higher Education
Act passed by his committee by the end of March -- or only about a month from now.
... “I think we can make some progress if we get out of our committee by the end of
March,” he said of working with Washington senator Patty Murray on the bill, according
to a transcript made available by his staff of his Feb. 11 remarks at the Association
of Community College Trustees’ annual legislative summit.
Inside Higher Ed, March 2, 2020
Senate might rebuke DeVos on borrower defense
For all of President Trump’s controversial policies, it has been rare for the Republican
Senate to formally condemn the administration. But lobbyists on both sides of the
debate over U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's borrower-defense rule say it’s
increasingly possible that the Republican Senate could join the Democratic House in
rebuking the administration over the rule critics say makes it harder for defrauded
students to have their education loans forgiven.
Inside Higher Ed, Feb. 28, 2020
