News Links | March 17, 2020
System News | Opinion
Inside YVC's shift to mostly online learning
Yakima Valley College, like other community and technical colleges across the state, is shifting its operating
model in response to last Friday's directive from Governor Jay Inslee. For the next
six weeks, the college will offer limited on-campus services, with in-person instruction
only in cases in which such interactions are necessary. Many programs at YVC are industry-certified
or lab-oriented, and require "hands-on" learning for graduation. The governor's directive
made allowances for such instruction to happen safely during this time.
KIMA, March 16, 2020
WCC, WWU delay start of spring quarter
College students in Whatcom County will have a long spring break. Whatcom Community College has delayed the start of spring quarter by eight days and Western Washington University
will follow suit, pushing back their start date one week. Both schools also announced
they will continue to hold classes online in the spring.
KGMI, March 16, 2020
Centralia College student tests positive for COVID-19
Centralia College announced Monday afternoon that a student has tested positive for COVID-19. “We are
working diligently to identify areas and people this student may have been in contact
with. In the meantime, we know this student took classes in the TEC building,” CC
posted on Facebook. “We have started the process of closing that building temporarily
for deep cleaning starting Tuesday. Beginning Tuesday, classes will be held remotely
in accordance with an order from Gov. Jay Inslee. Additional areas of campus may be
closed based on what the college learns from the investigation.
The Chronicle, March 16, 2020
Big Bend CC takes courses online due to COVID-19
Facing a Friday announcement from Gov. Jay Inslee that all public and private colleges,
universities and technical programs in the state are barred from conducting in-person
classes, Big Bend Community College is going online starting Tuesday. Except for certain professional technical courses,
all classes will be moved online through Canvas or video conferencing, according to
college officials. In addition, the start of the spring quarter has been delayed until
April 6, and classes will remain exclusively online at least for the start of the
quarter.
Columbia Basin Herald, March 15, 2020
LCC expands math class changes to help more students succeed
For the first time, Lower Columbia College student Susan Uhlich is enjoying a math class. “I’ve taken other math classes here,
but this one is definitely unique,” Uhlich said. “I love it. We use a lot of great
examples.” Instructor Terri Skeie uses examples, makes students work in groups and
brings in bike tires, beans and other props to reinforce lessons about circumference
and probability. She focuses on big-picture, not memorization.
The Daily News, March 15, 2020
Clark College restricts activities on campus
To slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health, Clark College will move to remote operations beginning Tue., March 17. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee
signed an executive order restricting activity at all community colleges statewide.
The restrictions are in place beginning March 17 through April 24, 2020. Under the
governor’s directive, in-person finals must be complete by the end of day Mon., March
16. Online finals can continue throughout the week. Friday was the last day of spring
quarter classes at Clark.
Clark County Today, March 15, 2020
Letters: Transforming lives through education
As the president of Lower Columbia College, I often hear from our students how LCC has changed their lives. Entire families
are impacted by the power of education. Access to an affordable education is at-risk
due to the rising costs of education. Textbooks alone can exceed $900. This is why
Lower Columbia College developed the Student Success Fund, a nationally acclaimed
program. The Student Success Fund allows counselors at LCC to award small emergency
grants to students in jeopardy of dropping out or not graduating because they are
short on funds needed for tuition, books, childcare, transportation, emergency housing,
or tools and school supplies.
The Daily News, March. 14, 2020
Whitworth, Community Colleges of Spokane extend spring break; WSU cancels Mom’s Weekend
... Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College refrained from canceling in-person classes until Friday afternoon, when Inslee announced
that all higher education institutions in Washington must teach online instead. In
an announcement, Community Colleges of Spokane, the entity that oversees both community colleges, said it “will move the majority
of our courses to online delivery or alternative methods” beginning Tuesday and continue
teaching online at least through April 24.
The Spokesman-Review, March 13, 2020
Grays Harbor College COVID-19 update
Starting March 17, Grays Harbor College will move face-to-face instruction to online delivery except for labs and hands-on
career technical programs. Core student support services remain open, but social distancing
will be practiced to avoid the convening of large groups of people. Students will
be contacted by their instructors regarding plans for the rest of Winter Quarter.
Grays Harbor Talk, March 13, 2020
For homeless LCC student, Student Success Fund grant was a lifeline
At this time last year, Julianne Vanas was living in a tent with her granddaughter,
fighting to keep up her grades at Lower Columbia College while battling the cold and rain and the urge to give up hope. “Water started coming
into the tent after three days of raining,” Vanas said. “At first it was just little
puddles next to the bed. I had my electronics in my lap saying ‘OK, we’re going to
make it through this.’ And it just started coming in one morning really bad when I
woke up, and I said, ‘I have to go. I can’t do this.’” Now, she and her granddaughter
are living in an apartment. She is nine months away from graduating and is looking
for jobs in information technology. It was all possible, she said, thanks to LCC’s
Student Success Fund.
The Daily News, March 13, 2020
Wenatchee Valley College to move most classes online, delay start of spring quarter
Wenatchee Valley College leadership made the decision to move the majority of classes online through the end
of the academic year and to suspend all on-campus events involving more than 20 people.
This decision affects both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses. At this time, neither
WVC campus will close and most offices will remain open and operational. WVC instructors
on both campuses are being asked to suspend all face-to-face finals next week and
make preparations for online finals.
560 KPQ, March 13, 2020
Edmonds CC campus closed to the public March 18-April 3, spring quarter start delayed one week
In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the greater community, Edmonds Community College will be closed to the public March 18 to April 3. The campus will be open to employees
only, and the college will serve students and the community remotely beginning Wednesday,
March 18 through Friday, April 3. During remote operations, all services will be conducted
online or by appointment. The college will reopen for in person services on Monday,
April 6, pending further notice.
MLT News, March 13, 2020
Area colleges adjust to coronavirus concerns
... [Walla Walla Community College] administrators are in close contact with public health officials here, Hickox said,
as well as coordinating with other Washington state education experts and emergency
response leads at Whitman College and Walla Walla University. Planning is underway
in the case of a complete campus shutdown, and an incident management team has been
established.
Union-Bulletin, March 13, 2020
Edmonds CC moves most classes online, says campus visitor tested positive for COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Edmonds Community College says it has moved most of its classes online for the remainder of winter quarter.
Many college services are also available for the remainder of winter quarter, including
the learning support center and advising, the college said. In addition, Edmonds CC
President Dr. Amit B. Singh said in a message to students and staff that an individual
who was on campus for a brief visit to one location on Feb. 26 has tested positive
for COVID-19.
My Edmonds News, March 12, 2020
Two Clover Park students accepted to 2020 All-Washington Academic Team
Two Clover Park Technical College students have been accepted to the 2020 All-Washington Academic Team. The All-Washington
Academic Team program recognizes and honors our state’s finest higher education students.
The students who make up the All-Washington Team reflect the diversity of the state,
maintain high standards of excellence, and contribute positively to the community.
Their stories are often inspiring, sometimes surprising, and always reflective of
the larger story of the state’s community and technical college students.
The Suburban Times, March 11, 2020
Trends | Horizons | Education
The Census, students and COVID-19
The U.S. Census Bureau aims to complete its 2020 Census as scheduled. The bureau said
in press release this week that it is monitoring the coronavirus and making some changes
to how it collects Census data. So far, it is keeping to its schedule to have the
Census completed by the end of July, though “that date can and will be adjusted if
necessary as the situation evolves in order to achieve a complete and accurate count.”
In the meantime, the bureau is encouraging individuals to respond to the Census questionnaire
online, over the phone or by mail.
Community College Daily, March 16, 2020
Coronavirus, community colleges and the equity gap
... When a university with more affluent students closes its dormitories, issues prorated
refunds for housing and meal plans, and converts to online teaching, most of their
students return to comfortable homes with family support networks, laptop computers,
and broadband internet access. They complete their courses as planned, and as a result,
they retain their financial aid, which is largely in the form of private- or university-provided
scholarships. Most community colleges do not have dormitories and meal plans. Our
students are older. They work while going to school, and are often raising families
of their own. They commute. They also struggle to make ends meet.
Community College Daily, March 15, 2020
Answers from experts on regulatory flexibility
The U.S. Department of Education has issued guidelines that seek to give colleges
and universities more regulatory flexibility as they close campuses and move classes
online amid coronavirus concerns. A March 5 guidance document included temporary waivers
from the feds and accreditors on new or expanded distance education programs.
Inside Higher Ed, March 13, 2020
Awarding credit for work experience
Prior learning assessment credits could greatly benefit community college students,
according to a new report from the Association of Community College Trustees. Nearly
70 percent of community college students work while going to college, and about half
are 25 and older, according to the report. These students, as well as veterans, would
benefit from receiving credits for their past work experiences.
Inside Higher Ed, March 13, 2020
Blackboard to sell open LMS
Education-technology company Blackboard announced plans this week to sell its open-source
learning management system business. Blackboard Open LMS, formerly known as Moodlerooms,
will be acquired by Britain-based corporate education company Learning Technologies
Group for $31.7 million. “This further simplification of our business will enable
the company to continue accelerating investment and innovation in our unique ed-tech
platform,” said Bill Ballhaus, chairman, CEO and president of Blackboard.
Inside Higher Ed, March 13, 2020
Admissions counselors move to change code of ethics from mandatory to best practices
The National Association for College Admission Counseling’s Board of Directors approved
at its March meeting last week a motion to change its Code of Ethics and Professional
Practices from a mandatory code to a statement of best practices. NACAC moved to make
the change after a U.S. Department of Justice antitrust investigation, said its president,
Jayne Caflin Fonash, in a note posted online Thursday and sent to members. The change
still must be approved by NACAC's member delegates at its national conference in September
before it takes effect.
Inside Higher Ed, March 13, 2020
Politics | Local, State, National
Will Trump's promise really help borrowers?
Three days after President Trump announced he is waiving the interest on federal student
loans “to help students and their families” during the coronavirus crisis, the Education
Department hasn’t released any details about the plan, leaving unanswered questions
about whether borrowers’ monthly payments will actually go down and if the president
even has the authority to make such a decision.
Inside Higher Ed, March 17, 2020
Biden and Sanders spar on free college
Joe Biden, the former vice president, attempting to reach out to progressives, is
adopting rival Bernie Sanders’s plan to make four-year public colleges and universities
tuition-free -- though only for families whose income is below $125,000. Biden had
previously only proposed making community colleges free in his higher education plan.
“I never said everything Bernie has said was wrong,” Biden quipped during Sunday night’s
CNN debate.
Inside Higher Ed, March 16, 2020
Democrats in Congress introduce bills to limit financial harm to students during the coronavirus pandemic
Democrats in Congress are trying to limit the impact of the coronavirus on students,
as K-12 schools and higher education institutions close or move online because of
the coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, Sen. Patty Murray, introduced the Supporting
Students in Response to Coronavirus Act alongside Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Rep. Bobby Scott, chair of the House Committee on Education
and Labor, introduced a sister bill in the House of Representatives.
Diverse Education, March 16, 2020
