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News Links | July 20, 2021

July 20, 2021 by SBCTC Communications

System News | Opinion

Sabrina Lueck named interim director of Walla Walla Community College winemaking program

Sabrina Lueck loves wine. The new interim director of winemaking at the Walla Walla Community College Institute for Enology and Viticulture said that to her, wine is more than just a drink. “Wine is a social beverage. It’s been historically and culturally significant to us for thousands of years,” Lueck said.
Union-Bulletin, July 19, 2021

‘I have a future’: how Biden’s free community college plan could transform education

... In Seattle, community college enrollment has more than doubled and graduation rates have reached twice the national average since the Promise program was launched two years ago. Chancellor Shouan Pan of Seattle Colleges praised Biden’s proposal: “It’s only going to help more students who are not in the Promise program.”
The Guardian, July 19, 2021

"Encore challenge" helping grow endowment at Wenatchee Valley College

... “If Wenatchee Valley College wasn’t here when I needed a junior college to go to, I wouldn’t have been able to keep the job I had, wouldn’t be able to get the first two years of college out of the way and then transfer to a four-year university and get my degree which is in accounting and business.”
News Radio 560 KPQ, July 19, 2021

Department of Defense turns to CBC for cybersecurity education, research

Columbia Basin College is one of four research partners teaming up with Washington State University for a new $1.5 million dollar grant from the Department of Defense to bolster cybersecurity education and research. Leading CBC’s connection to the partnership will be instructor Matt Boehnke ...
KEPR, July 18, 2021

Researchers tackle Dungeness crab population concerns

When it comes to the state of Puget Sound’s Dungeness crab population, there’s a lot of questions. You may have noticed higher prices, but according to researchers there’s a decline that may be linked to a range of issues: climate change, ocean acidification, chemicals and/or overfishing. ”I love Dungeness crab to eat,” said Russ Higley, Highline College’s MaST Center Director. [Video]
KIRO, July 17, 2021

Olympic College takes steps to welcome back more students for in-person instruction

Olympic College has introduced a new centralized check-in system on its Bremerton, Poulsbo and Shelton campuses as it resumes offering in-person student services this week for the first time since going all-virtual during the pandemic. The centralized check-in system will require students, employees and visitors to complete a self-attestation form ...
Kitsap Sun, July 16, 2021

Through state incentive program, Edmonds College awarding $1,000 scholarships to 10 vaccinated students

Edmonds College will award $1,000 scholarships on July 26 to 10 students who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The awards are part of Washington state’s “Shot of a Lifetime” vaccination incentive program. Scholarship recipients will be chosen through a random drawing. No sign up is necessary — students will automatically be entered into the drawing ...
My Edmonds News, July 16, 2021

20th District lawmakers receive tour of new southwest flexible training center at Centralia College

A new 12,000-square-foot trades education facility at Centralia College is expected to make a big impact as it opens, and lawmakers representing the 20th Legislative District got a chance to tour it Wednesday morning. The project broke ground and was constructed this year, according to a news release from Washington state House Republicans.
The Chronicle, July 16, 2021

Cultural competence, equity practices key themes of Campus Prevention Network Summit

... Ha Nguyen, director for equity, diversity and inclusion at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, said one critical component of anti-racist work is building relationships. For example, the Diversity and Equity Officers Commission was launched by the State Board to create dialogue opportunities.
Diverse Education, July 15, 2021

In-person classes will expand, and vaccines or exemptions required, this fall at SPSCC

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) on July 6 announced that it will become a fully vaccinated COVID-19 campus for the start of Fall Quarter 2021. Employees and students will need to verify that they have been fully vaccinated unless they are claiming a medical, religious, or philosophical exemption.
Thurston Talk, July 15, 2021

LCC to offer vaccine incentive scholarships

Twenty Lower Columbia College (LCC) students will be selected to receive $500 “shot of a lifetime” vaccine incentive scholarships as part of a vaccine incentive program funded by the state of Washington. LCC will award scholarships to 20 students whose names are randomly drawn and who can show they’ve received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by July 22.
The Wahkiakum County Eagle, July 15, 2021

YVC-CWU joint STEM article published in national scientific journal

An article written in collaboration between Central Washington University (CWU) and Yakima Valley College (YVC) faculty members recently appeared in a national scientific journal. Published in the spring edition of Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research (SPUR), the article looks at the importance of community college-level STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) research programs. 
YakTriNews, July 14, 2021

Trends | Horizons | Education

Accreditation during Covid

Leaders of college accreditation organizations say the pandemic, potential federal higher education regulatory changes, and the drive for greater diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are recent trends affecting their accreditation and quality assurance review efforts. Accreditors and the institutions they regulate are increasing their focus on DEI efforts, in part reflecting ...
Community College Daily, July 20, 2021

GI Bill benefits don't pay off for all

The landmark Post-9/11 GI Bill contained a massive expansion of benefits for student veterans, increasing the maximum financial aid benefit from $1,321 per month to $60,000 per semester for some veterans. But the generous subsidies do not pay off for student veterans who likely wouldn’t have attended college without the financial incentives ...
Inside Higher Ed, July 20, 2021

Protections for LGBTQ+ students

The Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Education made a clarification last month that many were anticipating -- LGBTQ+ students are protected by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, meaning students cannot be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity at institutions receiving federal funds.
Inside Higher Ed, July 17, 2021

Fellowship program advances students for Foreign Service careers

... However, for community college students interested in a career in information technology, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. The Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State, provides a path to an exciting IT career and offers funding for a bachelor’s degree.
Community College Daily, July 16, 2021

Commentary: Preparing our colleges for the post-Covid world

With Covid-19 vaccines more widely available and case counts and hospitalizations declining, community college administrators, faculty and students are preparing for the fall 2021 semester. The last academic year brought many changes. Institutions were forced to pivot to online learning, enrollment declined and administrators were required to implement new Covid-19 safety protocols.
Community College Daily, July 15, 2021

Politics | Local, State, National

Court defeat for DACA

President Biden says the Department of Justice will appeal a federal judge’s ruling against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides protection against deportation to hundreds of thousands of young immigrants known as Dreamers who were brought to the U.S. without documentation as children.
Inside Higher Ed, July 19, 2021

Washington Watch: Most Broadband Benefit funds left unclaimed

Soon after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened up enrollment for the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program on May 12, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) informed all 6.5 million award year 2020-21 Pell Grant recipients of their EBB eligibility. Community college students make up about one-third of total Pell Grant recipients.
Community College Daily, July 15, 2021

Washington Watch: ED reduces verification burden

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a temporary change in federal student aid IV verification policy that should dramatically reduce administrative burdens on student financial aid offices, while also enabling more students to qualify for Title IV aid.  
Community College Daily, July 14, 2021

Last Modified: 7/20/21, 5:24 PM
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