System News | Opinion

Olympic College's new president will start in May

Chantae Recasner has formally accepted the Olympic College board of trustees’ offer to serve as the college’s 16th president and is expected to begin her role on May 18, the college announced today.
South Sound Magazine, March 30, 2026

Colleges work to respond to nursing shortage and need for training in Yakima Valley

...[Yakima Valley College] takes pride in its simulation lab to train nursing students. During simulations, students are learning essential skills, including taking vitals, inserting catheters, and administering intravenous therapy. 
Yakima Herald-Republic, March 30, 2026

What’s drawing more WA students to community colleges?

Washington college enrollment cratered during the pandemic, and some state universities are still struggling to rebound. But many of the state’s 34 community and technical colleges are seeing a different trend: strong growth over the last three years. [Edmonds College, Cascadia College, Highline College, Seattle Central College]
The Seattle Times, March 30, 2026

GHC resumes community classes at Ilwaco campus 

Grays Harbor College is re-establishing its presence on the Long Beach Peninsula following a multi-year disruption brought on by the covid-19 pandemic.  
Chinook Observer, March 29, 2026

Kitsap County’s master of pizza teaches fundamentals to Olympic College’s culinary students

Earlier this month, Will Grant, owner of Kingston’s Sourdough Willy’s and Bainbridge Island’s That’s a Some Pizza, returned to his alma mater, Olympic College’s Bremerton campus, to guest-teach the fundamentals of pizza-making to its culinary students.
South Sound Magazine, March 25, 2026

Higher Education and Politics

Pay-for-performance: A new frontier for apprenticeship funding

While apprenticeships are surging in popularity — bolstered by a 2025 executive order aiming for one million new federal registered apprenticeships — some experts suggest that tying funding to results could be the key to long-term sustainability.
Community College Daily, March 29, 2026