System News | Opinion
Phyllis Gutiérrez-Kenney, Latina Pioneer in the Washington State Legislature, Dies at 89
Former State Representative Phyllis Gutiérrez-Kenney, one of the first Latinas to
serve in the Washington State Legislature, passed away Tuesday at the age of 89. The
news has prompted a wave of recognition and respect for her legacy of public service
and unwavering commitment to educational and economic equity.
Lynnwood Times, May 14, 2025
Engines of opportunity: How higher education powers the Tri-Cities
Higher education doesn’t just change individual lives, it powers entire communities.
In the Tri-Cities, Washington State University Tri-Cities and Columbia Basin College are doing exactly that: serving as engines of opportunity that fuel financial success,
workforce development and long-term economic growth.
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, May 15, 2025
CBC adds additional undergraduate degrees to its offerings
...Offering four-year degrees is a deliberate response to industry seeking highly
trained professionals which set up graduates for successful futures, [Columbia Basin College] officials say, though serving students who pursue a two-year associate degree continues
to be the main path of most CBC graduates.
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, May 15, 2025
Pulitzer-winning author explores ‘Little House’ legacy and its link to modern politics
Peninsula College’s Writer-in-Residence for 2025 is set to address Port Townsend audiences about how “Little
House on the Prairie” has retained a surprising relevance in today’s political climate.
Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader, May 14, 2025
Centralia College spring musical contemplates marriage with ‘Company’
...“I think that this play is timeless in that it’s about marriage,” said Centralia College theater teacher and “Company” director Emmy Kreilkamp. “It’s about those central questions
that most adults have to face: Do I get married? Who do I get married to? You know,
why? Or is it better to be single? … That’s central to the play.”
Centralia Chronicle, May 14, 2025
Wenatchee Valley College names 2025 Distinguished Alumni
...Sanchez is a 1994 graduate of Wenatchee Valley College, earning a Associates degree in Arts and Sciences. She is now the Director of Counseling
and Support at WVC, spending over a decade guiding students through both academic
and personal challenges.
News Radio 560 KPQ, May 8, 2025
Higher Education and Politics
50-plus groups write to Trump protesting his attack on Higher Ed
Dozens of higher education associations publicly called on President Donald Trump
to restore the “historic compact” between American universities and the federal government—the
latest sign of growing public opposition to the GOP’s attack on higher ed.
Inside Higher Ed, May 15, 2025
Trump nominates Iowa regent to be Assistant Secretary of Postsecondary Ed
David Barker, a member of the Iowa Board of Regents, was nominated by President Donald
Trump on Friday to be the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
Inside Higher Ed, May 12, 2025
The future of student loan repayment, explained
Congressional Republicans are quietly working toward one of the most consequential
overhauls in the history of the federal student loan program – one that would affect
the lives of millions of borrowers.
NPR, May 12, 2025
