System News | Opinion
WVC receives grant for Indigenous leadership, character education project
Wenatchee Valley College has received a grant to develop a community-centered project focused on Indigenous
perspectives on leadership, character education and tribal sovereignty. The Educating Character Initiative Capacity-Building Grant from Wake Forest University
will support WVC’s “Indigenizing Leadership and Character Education” project through
June 2027.
The Leavenworth Echo, Aug. 19, 2026
Demand for Washington’s Job Skills Program hits record high
Washington state is investing millions in grants to help workers level up through
its Job Skills Program and demand for the funding in the most recent cycle was the
highest in the program’s 40-year history. The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges grants match dollar-for-dollar with employers to provide customized, short-term training
for employees provided by the state’s community and technical colleges.
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, Aug. 18, 2026
STEM at Work: Exploring the cosmos through the SFCC Planetarium in Spokane
The planetarium at Spokane Falls Community College in Spokane gives viewers a chance to step inside a dome and learn more about the science
in space. The planetarium sits on the SFCC campus in Spokane and offers a few public
shows during the academic year, and viewings for 4th and 5th grade classes.
KHQ, Aug. 18, 2026
Spokane Community College launches practical nursing program in Colville
Spokane Community College (SCC) is now accepting applications for the first cohort of students in its Practical Nursing
(PN) certificate program at the college's Colville campus, expanding access to nursing
education for students in Stevens County and surrounding communities.
KREM, Aug. 18, 2026
A one-of-a-kind partnership gets community college students housed
...Since 2020, Highline College has paired students facing homelessness with housing vouchers provided by the King
County Housing Authority, covering their rent for up to four and a half years or until
six months after they graduate.
The Seattle Times, Aug. 17, 2026
Skagit Valley College receives $1.4M grant to grow teacher pipeline program
Skagit Valley College recently announced that it has been awarded a $1.4 million grant from Ballmer Group
to support the growth of its Maestros para el Pueblo program, which aims to help students
move from high school through college and into careers as educators in their home
communities.
Skagit Valley Herald, Aug. 17, 2026
How to stargaze like a pro
Just last week, a meteor flashed across the skies of the Pacific Northwest, visible
in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. NonStop Local spoke with Prisco Blanco, the director of the CPCCo Planetarium and
Observatory at Columbia Basin College, about the phenomenon, which might be more common than you think.
NBC Right Now, Aug. 17, 2026
New $28M student hall is ‘building more community.’ Take a look inside
Students at Columbia Basin College are already making their mark as they begin moving into a new $28 million residential
hall. A smiling Brandon Dugas strolled through the front entrance of Hawks Landing
Hall on a smoky afternoon.
Tri-City Herald, Aug. 17, 2026
Higher Education and Politics
First look at outcomes for grads of WA short-term credential programs
Every community and technical college in Washington offers short training programs
designed to move students quickly into the workforce — preparing them for jobs such
as truck driver, medical assistant, welder, automotive technician or teaching assistant.
The Seattle Times, Aug. 19, 2026
Accreditation overhaul moves ahead
The Trump administration has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on accreditation
that will be published in the Federal Register on August 20. ... If adopted in a similar
form to what’s proposed, which is a given, the accreditation regulations could profoundly
impact higher education.
Community College Daily, Aug. 19, 2026
