News Links | April 21, 2020

System News | Opinion

WVC offers students curbside food pantry

Wenatchee Valley College is offering students facing food insecurities an opportunity to receive prepackaged food and hygiene items while maintaining social distancing. The college’s food pantry, Knights Kupboard, is offering curbside pick up. “We’re going to offer that twice a week,” said Libby Siebens, community relations executive director.
560 KPQ, April 18, 2020

SPSCC receives $2.6 million in coronavirus funding

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) has received $2.6 million in federal funding in response to COVID-19. The funding comes from the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, which was passed by Congress on March 27. Nearly $1.5 million of the funding awarded to SPSCC will be used for student emergency aid, such as technology, tuition support, food, housing, health care, child care, and other basic needs. 
Thurston Talk, April 17, 2020

City Briefs: TCC online degree program earns accreditation

The Health Information Management Bachelor of Applied Science degree program (HIM BAS) offered by Tacoma Community College has earned accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). “This is an exciting milestone,” said Corinne Jarvis, M.Ed., RHIA, CHDA, manager of TCC’s HIM program.“Not only does accreditation assure our program’s quality, it means our graduates qualify to take the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam.”
Tacoma Weekly News, April 17, 2020

Poet Derek Annis’ new work largely inspired by his troubled youth

... During this time, “for the sole purpose of trying to look good in court,” Annis started working to earn his GED, taking several classes at Spokane Falls Community College. His English classes, more than any, would prove unexpectedly instrumental to his recovery. “When I walked into that classroom, I believed I was stupid,” Annis said. “I thought I would never be able to succeed in an academic setting.” But, with the assistance of an understanding teacher, his abject self-image began to change dramatically.
The Spokesman-Review, April 18, 2020

Commentary: WWCC steps up to help financially struggling students

Walla Walla Community College has always been dedicated to making education affordable to students, whether they’re seeking workforce training or credits to transfer to a university. That dedication is even more critical today, with students and their families facing the many financial challenges brought on by COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders that have cost many their paychecks.
Union-Bulletin, April 16, 2020

SPSCC, Evergreen commencements to go virtual in June

South Puget Sound Community College and The Evergreen State College will celebrate spring commencement virtually this June. Nearly 1,500 SPSCC graduates will be honored at its virtual event at 10 a.m. June 20, as well as on a special new graduation website. “This was not an easy decision to make,” said SPSCC president Dr. Timothy Stokes said in a statement. “We know this isn’t the ceremony we all expected, but we’re extremely proud of our graduates for completing their degree during this challenging time. They deserve tremendous recognition.”
The Olympian, April 16, 2020

Take inspiration from these kid heroes who changed the world

... Avi Schiffmann: In December 2019, even before the virus had escaped China, the 17-year-old Mercer Island High School/Bellevue College student created a live-time database (ncov2019.live) — which has more than 100 million visitors — of worldwide coronavirus cases. Schiffmann’s been programming since he was 7 years old. Past projects include a Mars weather website and one compiling protest information.
The Seattle Times, April 16, 2020

Trends | Horizons | Education

Colleges have been waiting for guidance on how they can send stimulus money to students. Here it is.

Over the past few weeks, college administrators have been grappling with how to distribute coronavirus stimulus money to their students. On Tuesday, they got some clarity — as well as some new complications. In newly released guidance, the U.S. Department of Education informed administrators that they are only allowed to issue funds to students who are eligible for Title IV financial aid. That cuts out international students and undocumented immigrants — including those receiving Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections — from receiving any of the roughly $6 billion that the Cares Act allocates directly to emergency student aid.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 21, 2020

9th Circuit amends Title IX liability considerations

A panel of appeals court judges amended a previous opinion on the liability of colleges and universities for “pre-assault claims,” or the argument that inadequate Title IX policies created a “heightened risk” of sexual misconduct. The judges changed the language in their ruling to be more specific and in line with past United States Supreme Court opinions.
Inside Higher Ed, April 21, 2020

Student SNAP waivers denied

Advocates have long argued against requirements college students must meet to be eligible for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Dozens of states pleaded the same case as the coronavirus pandemic spread throughout the country. The federal assistance program requires students who attend college at least half-time to work 20 hours per week to qualify. As the pandemic causes a recession and unemployment skyrockets, state officials said students are being left in the lurch.
Inside Higher Ed, April 21, 2020

Seattle will give high-school students A’s or incompletes; colleges urged to adopt generous grading

... Meanwhile, Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib called on the state’s colleges and universities to adopt “generous and consistent grading policies” to help students maintain their GPAs, meet financial-aid award requirements and make progress toward earning a degree at a time when many students’ academic lives have been severely disrupted by COVID-19.
The Seattle Times, April 20, 2020

Latinx enrollment, Hispanic-serving institutions increase

The number of Hispanic-serving institutions has increased by 93 percent over the past decade, but the majority of Latinx enrollment is concentrated in less than 20 percent of colleges and universities. A new analysis from Excelencia in Education, a nonprofit focused on Latinx student success, serves as a primer on where Latinx and Hispanic students are enrolling for higher education.
Inside Higher Ed, April 17, 2020

Politics | Local, State, National

Washington Watch: ED releases additional stimulus funds, guidance

The U.S. Education Department (ED) on Tuesday released the institutional share of the formula grants that the CARES Act provides to colleges, along with guidance about how those funds can be used.  ED also released more details about the emergency student grants that it announced earlier this month.
Community College Daily, April 21, 2020

Commentary: How are community college students different?

... Decisions about higher education funding and public policies are being made all the time, and they are always important. But the COVID-19 pandemic has created a new sense of urgency around better understanding the differences among colleges and their students, before some critical decisions that are about to be made in the weeks and months ahead. Please know that all “higher education” is not the same.  
Community College Daily, April 20, 2020