System News | Opinion
Vernon "Pete" Pickett: 1933 - 2026
...Pete's commitment to making higher education more accessible brought him to Longview's
Lower Columbia College (LCC) in 1980, where he served as President for 17 years. His steady leadership and deep
commitment to students left a lasting impact.
The Daily News, Jan. 10, 2026
Edmonds College leads Snohomish County education innovation with robotics, AI, and free training programs
...The Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program (CAP) at Edmonds College offers an eight-week, tuition-free 300-hour training at the Advanced Manufacturing
Skills Center in Everett.
Lynnwood Times, Jan. 10, 2026
Clark College celebrates Advanced Manufacturing Center in Ridgefield with ribbon-cutting
Clark College hosted a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony Thursday at its Advanced Manufacturing
Center in Ridgefield, celebrating a nearly two-decade effort to expand to north Clark
County.
The Columbian, Jan. 8, 2026
Teresa Rich named 17th president of Yakima Valley College
The Yakima Valley College Board of Trustees officially appointed Teresa Rich as the 17th president of Yakima
Valley College (YVC) during a meeting on Thursday. Rich, a long-time YVC administrator,
was serving as interim president since August 2024.
NBC Right Now, Jan. 8, 2026
SPSCC earns prestigious INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) has been awarded the INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement, a recognition
that highlights excellence in healthcare simulation practices.
Nisqually Valley News, Jan. 8, 2026
Head Start programs can continue diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, a federal judge rules, upending Trump executive orders
...The ruling is “good news” to Bobbi Woodral, district director of Head Start and
Early Childhood Education Assistance Program at Spokane Colleges. Spokane Colleges provide most of Spokane County’s Head Start programs.
The Spokesman-Review, Jan.8, 2026
Higher Education and Politics
Colleges in Washington worried Legislature will back Ferguson’s plan for cuts
Colleges and universities across Washington are bracing for cuts Gov. Bob Ferguson
proposed in his budget plan to the Legislature. Ferguson suggested cuts of 3% for
University of Washington and Washington State University, and 1.5% for regional universities
and community colleges, including Eastern Washington University. The reduction would
save the government an estimated $50 million.
The Spokesman-Review, Jan. 13, 2026
DataPoints: Fall enrollments
Public community college enrollment increased by 1.4% between fall 2023 and 2024,
based on an American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) analysis of newly released
data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Community College Daily, Jan. 12, 2026
Washington Watch: Rulemaking panel agrees to accountability regs
The Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce
Pell (AHEAD) negotiated-rulemaking committee on Friday reached consensus on draft
regulations that would implement a new accountability structure for nearly all Title
IV-eligible programs.
Community College Daily, Jan. 11, 2026
