System News | Opinion
First Centralia College spring nursing program cohort celebrates new careers
Friends, family and faculty gathered on the Centralia College campus last week to celebrate 20 students and welcome them into their new careers
as registered nurses. The Centralia College nursing program hosted a pinning ceremony
on Friday afternoon at the TransAlta Commons to celebrate the graduation of the newest
class of nursing students to complete their studies.
Centralia Chronicle, March 23, 2026
Newsmakers
...Ivan L. Harrell II, president of Tacoma Community College (Washington), has received the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, Phi Theta Kappa’s
highest honor for community college presidents.
Community College Daily, March 22, 2026
BBCC awards tenure to 4 faculty
...“Every single one of the faculty that we tenured today, absolutely love the students
and the classroom experiences that they are providing, are preparing them for wherever
they’re going and whatever field they’re going into,” said [Big Bend Community College] President Dr. Sara Thompson-Tweedy. “
Columbia Basin Herald, March 20, 2026
Washington's co-op preschools face existential crisis after new state rules threaten funding
...In the Parent Education Program, which got its start in the 1930s, preschools serve
as laboratories where parents join their children one day a week. As classroom teachers
lead the lessons for kids, college faculty teach evidence-based parenting skills to
the preschoolers’ parents...[State Board for Community and Techical Colleges, Shoreline Community College, North Seattle College]
KUOW, March 20, 2026
Olympic College extends offer to president finalist
The Olympic College board of trustees voted Tuesday to extend a public offer to Chantae Recasner, current
interim president of Seattle Central College, to serve as the 16th president of Bremerton-based
Olympic College, which also has campuses in Poulsbo and Shelton.
South Sound Magazine, March 18, 2026
Higher Education and Politics
Federal student loans will move to Treasury, further shrinking Education Department
The Trump administration announced Thursday a three-phase transition that will move
significant management of and responsibility for the nation's federal student loan
portfolio from the U.S. Education Department to the U.S. Treasury Department.
NPR, March 19, 2026
Labor soliciting applications for TRIO grant on ED’s behalf
...“These actions further align the postsecondary and workforce education programs
of ED and DOL and will position DOL as the central hub for America’s postsecondary
education and workforce development programs,” ED said in a news release.
Inside Higher Ed, March 18, 2026
