News Links | February 13, 2020
System News | Opinion
Economic forecast night highlights workforce, education
... Keegan said while [Skagit Valley College] focuses on providing career and technical training, he believes a liberal arts education
is more important than ever. “Our graduates will not only have multiple jobs, but
multiple careers, and that requires the ability to be flexible and accept change,”
he said. “Employers want technical skills, but also want people that can communicate,
be a member of a team, and people that can think critically.” He said there are multiple
pathways to a bachelor’s degree, such as earning a two-year degree first. He added
that those who earn a four-year degree have higher incomes over time.
Skagit Valley Herald, Feb. 12, 2020
Bellevue College introduces Tombolo Institute
Today, Bellevue College has launched Tombolo Institute. Formed from the Bellevue College Continuing Education
(BCCE) division, Tombolo Institute will offer industry-aligned non-credit courses
and programs along with industry-based certifications aligned with specific job roles
for those looking to transition into or advance in the business, technology and healthcare
fields. "Local employers are expanding rapidly, and their businesses need employees
with skills honed to their specific needs," said Al Lewis, Vice President of Economic
Workforce Development at Bellevue College.
Yahoo Finance, Feb. 11, 2020
Bellingham SCORE and Whatcom Community College mentor local entrepreneurs
... In 2018 alone, the SCORE Bellingham chapter helped 105 new businesses get started,
created 131 non-owner jobs, and provided 974 chapter services. SCORE is partially
funded by the federal government with a grant from the Small Business Administration,
but its success is due primarily to the dedication and passion of its volunteers.
SCORE is offering upcoming workshops through Whatcom Community College: “Starting Your Own Business” on February 22, 2020, and “Writing a Business Plan”
on March 7, 2020.
Whatcom Talk, Feb. 11, 2020
Battle Ground native wins aviation scholarship
Battle Ground native Sophie Robinson was recently selected as a winner of a Regional
Air Cargo Carriers Association scholarship. The $2,000 scholarship will be used to
continue education in her aviation career. Robinson follows in the footsteps of her
father, stepmother, grandfather and three aunts and uncles as a pilot. Raised in Battle
Ground, Robinson now attends the commercial pilot program at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake.
The Reflector, Feb. 10, 2020
Logan’s ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ takes Peninsula College talent show crown
With a rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey” that closed out 2020 Peninsula’s Got Talent
Show to a standing ovation, Samantha Logan of Neah Bay took top honors in the event
at Peninsula College on Feb. 7. For her effort, Logan was awarded a $500 scholarship and an opportunity
to perform at the upcoming Juan de Fuca Festival. Port Angeles Running Start student
Katie Cobb won second place and a $300 scholarship with a vocal/piano performance
of “Good Morning.”
Sequim Gazette, Feb. 10, 2020
Trends | Horizons | Education
White supremacist activity on campus hits record high
Distribution of white supremacist fliers, leaflets and stickers on college campuses
reached an all-time high last year, according to new data released by the Anti-Defamation
League this week. The U.S.-based international organization, which fights anti-Semitism
and hate directed at other specific groups of people, reported that white supremacist
propaganda distribution more than doubled in the United States in 2019 and totaled
2,713 reported cases nationwide, compared to 1,214 reported cases in 2018.
Inside Higher Ed, Feb. 13, 2020
Endowments at 2-year colleges
Large endowments often make headlines in higher education, but it's rare to see a
community college in the mix. That doesn't mean two-year colleges avoid fundraising,
though. "Within the last couple of decades, [community colleges] have by and large
started to come into their own by recognizing the power of fundraising," said Marc
Westenburg, director of the Center for Community College Advancement at the Council
for Advancement and Support of Education.
Inside Higher Ed, Feb. 12, 2020
University of Puget Sound professor helps to create math textbooks in Braille
... Now, mathematicians across the country have collaborated to automate that process.
One of them is Rob Beezer, a mathematics professor at the University of Puget Sound
in Tacoma. He developed a system called PreTeXt for converting open-source textbooks
to online versions and has adapted it to create Braille versions. Beezer said he can
transfer a file to Al Maneki, a mathematician and senior STEM advisor to the National
Federation of the Blind.
KNKX, Feb. 12, 2020
Flexibility and mission-driven accountability
... ED seeks to continue to move away from its previous “one size fits all” approach
in gauging how well colleges serve their students, Auer Jones said. Too often, determining
college success is based on the number of students a college graduates instead of
basing success on colleges’ and students’ goals, including community service and transfers
to four-year colleges, she said.
Community College Daily, Feb. 11, 2020
Politics | Local, State, National
Senate bill would build on TAACCCT
A bipartisan Senate bill introduced this week would create a grant program to help
community colleges and states address changing workforce demands. The Assisting Community
Colleges in Educating Skilled Students (ACCESS) to Careers Act would build on lessons
learned in the much-lauded Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career
Training grant program (TAACCCT), according to Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) and Todd
Young (R-Indiana), who introduced the bill. “It’s important that states make strategic
investments to set students up for success in the constantly-evolving labor market,
and the best training for high-wage, high-skill or in-demand jobs is often offered
by community colleges,” Kaine said in a press release.
Career Center Daily, Feb. 12, 2020
