News Links | April 13, 2021
System News | Opinion
Okanagan speaker shares ancestral ecological perspective for Earth Day
The Associated Students of Wenatchee Valley College at Omak presents “haʔntíxʷ iʔ‿tmxʷúlaʔxʷ uł niʕ̓íp txt̓ntsis — Respect the Earth
and She will Always Take Care of You” — with Dr. Jeannette Armstrong as part of the
Earth Day celebration on Tuesday, April 20. ... She will discuss the ethical concepts
that underpin the traditional ecological knowledge practiced from her Syilx Okanagan
perspective — how people interact with the lands they occupy is intertwined with how
they interact with each other.
Wenatchee World, April 12, 2021
Learn more about how plastics pollute
The Student Government of Olympic College is sponsoring Earth Week 2021 from April 17th through the 23rd. Earth Week is designed
to provide opportunities to learn about sustainability and to volunteer in support
of a more sustainable future. ... During the webinar, Dr. Heather Trim, Zero-Waste
Washington, will discuss a big-picture overview of plastic issues in our country and
state.
Kitsap Sun, April 12, 2021
Clark College, Vigor partner on welding program
Behind a partnership with Vigor Industrial’s Vancouver shipyard, Clark College’s welding facility will launch a six-credit marine and pipe welding course starting
in the summer 2021 term. The college announced last week instruction will be delivered
in a hybrid format featuring both online lectures and in-person labs for 10 Vigor
employees for one term.
The Columbian, April 11, 2021
Editorial: Capital budget a bipartisan boost for communities
... One of those differences regards funding for construction of a new Learning Resource
Center at Everett Community College, replacing the Library Media Center, built in 1988, following the 1987 arson that
destroyed the college library and cost the life of an Everett firefighter. The current
library serves a student body that has tripled in size since it was built.
The Everett Herald, April 9, 2021
Trends | Horizons | Education
Transfer rates drop, continue to mirror enrollment declines
Far fewer college students transferred to other institutions over the past year mainly
a result of declining college enrollments prompted by the pandemic, and community
college students again saw the biggest drops, according to a report from the National
Student Clearinghouse (NSC) Research Center.
Community College Daily, April 12, 2021
Navigating grief and memorials
The past year, for many people, has been one of pain and loss. Over half a million
Americans have died of COVID-19. Countless others have died of other causes, but because
of safety restrictions, their loved ones haven’t been able to gather to celebrate
their lives. In a year like this, college leaders -- from faculty chairs to supervisors
to presidents -- have important roles to play.
Inside Higher Ed, April 12, 2021
Coursera IPO 'Seized on the right moment'
... Coursera has three different business streams. It has an online program management
segment that works with universities to provide fully online bachelor’s and master’s
degrees, and an enterprise segment that covers training for business and government
employees. But the largest chunk of Coursera’s revenue is generated directly from
consumers -- students who make payments directly to Coursera for various certificates
and credentials.
Inside Higher Ed, April 9, 2021
Politics | Local, State, National
A big budget from Biden
On Friday, President Biden released his request to the Senate for fiscal year 2022
discretionary funding, also known as the “skinny budget,” because details will follow.
The document requests several funding increases for higher education.
Inside Higher Ed, April 12, 2021
Prospective students are open to vaccine requirements
Some Republican governors have been busy blocking colleges from requiring students
to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive
order barring the requirements at any college that receives state funds (as many private
colleges do). In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order making it
illegal for businesses to impose such requirements; it is unclear if colleges are
covered by the law.
Inside Higher Ed, April 12, 2021
Washington Legislature approves Juneteenth as state holiday
The Washington Legislature has passed a measure that makes Juneteenth a legal state
holiday. The measure making June 19 a paid day off for state workers passed the Democratic-led
Senate on a bipartisan 47-1 vote and now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature.
The House passed the measure in February on an 89 -9 vote.
The Seattle Times, April 9, 2021
Faculty ideological diversity bill passes in Florida
... The bill, which still needs to be signed into law by Republican governor Ron DeSantis,
would require the State Board of Education to ask professors annually about their
political beliefs to "assess the status of intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity."
A similar bill was introduced in Florida in 2019 and met with faculty opposition.
The same kind of bill was introduced in Iowa earlier this year, as well.
Inside Higher Ed, April 9, 2021
Commentary: Washington watch: ED seeks applications for additional HEER funds
The U.S. Education Department (ED) has not released all the higher education emergency
relief funds (HEERF) at once. The first category — and the one that drew most of the
attention — was the $20.2 billion combined formula-based institutional and student
funds.
Community College Daily, April 8, 2021