Skip to content

News Links | January 21, 2021

January 21, 2021 by SBCTC Communications

System News | Opinion

Business of ... higher education

The Eastside mixes things up, too, with higher-ed options ranging from schools like Everett Community College and Kirkland’s Lake Washington Institute of Technology to coding “crash courses” for those hoping to enter the region’s thriving tech bubble. ... Five miles from downtown Bellevue, Bellevue College sits on 100 wooded acres, and is the state’s largest open-admission institution of higher learning. ... Renton Technical College is known for hands-on career training programs that lead students toward “high-wage, in-demand careers in health care, manufacturing, information technology, transportation, business, and culinary arts.”
425 Business, Jan. 21, 2021

Columbia Basin College students seek help for mental wellness

Students at Columbia Basin College are reaching out for help from the college with mental wellness in larger numbers as the COVID pandemic continues. The college reports that while the issues many students face are familiar – such as issues with anxiety, depression, and stress – there has been an increase in students seeking out the assistance of counselors for the first time.
NBC Right Now, Jan. 20, 2021

WVC student to be honored at Transforming Lives Awards virtual ceremony

Briana Pardo, a Wenatchee Valley College at Omak alumna, was selected as the WVC nominee for the Transforming Lives Award. She will be honored at a virtual ceremony by the Washington State Association of College Trustees (ACT) on Jan. 26. She will receive a $250 award from the ACT.
Wenatchee World, Jan. 19, 2021

LCC opens applications for next cohort of teacher bachelor's degree seekers

Applications for Lower Columbia College’s teaching bachelor’s degree are open again for full-time fall classes. The Bachelor of Applied Science-Teacher Education is a two-year program that adds on to an existing associate’s degree and prepares students to join the local workforce, alleviating the shortage of elementary and preschool teachers.
The Daily News, Jan. 21, 2021

PC speaker to focus on relationships between humans, nature

The STEM Club at Peninsula College, and ʔaʔk̓ʷustəƞáwt̓xʷ House of Learning, PC Longhouse are partnering with Studium Generale to bring Dr. Elin Kelsey, to a special Zoom presentation from 12:30-2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21. ... Kelsey is an award-winning author and thought-leader for hope and environmental solutions. Her work focuses on the study of the reciprocal relationship between humans and the rest of nature.
Sequim Gazette, Jan. 18, 2021

Edmonds College to host virtual Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations Jan. 21

... “As a campus community, we strive to be a place that is welcoming and respectful where every person’s contribution is heard and valued, and where everyone feels a true sense of belonging,” said [Edmonds College] President Dr. Amit B. Singh. “This annual community event gives us time to reflect together on the teachings and legacy of Dr. King and advancing equity and inclusion.”
My Edmonds News, Jan. 18, 2021

Trends | Horizons | Education

A simpler FAFSA could increase applicants

Financial aid officers have been asking for years for a simplified federal financial aid form, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). After much work by financial aid advocates and, in particular, by outgoing Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee), an overhaul was included in the Covid relief and government funding bill signed into law in December. 
Community College Daily, Jan. 21, 2021

How the pandemic is impacting college students’ mental health

College students have long been prone to stress, anxiety and depression. And three out of four Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 report poor mental health tied to the pandemic, according to the CDC. Hari Sreenivasan reports as part of our ongoing series, “Rethinking College.”
PBS News Hour, Jan. 19, 2021

Moving toward multiple assessments for placement

State systems can play an important role by providing guidance and resources to community colleges that want to expand the measures they use to assess whether students need developmental education, according to a new brief from the Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness at Columbia University.
Community College Daily, Jan. 19, 2021

Politics | Local, State, National

Biden aims to strengthen DACA

Hours after becoming the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a series of executive actions, including one that calls to “preserve and fortify” protections for Dreamers. Biden signed a presidential memorandum directing the homeland security secretary, in consultation with the attorney general, to “take all appropriate actions under the law to achieve that goal,” according to a White House factsheet.
Community College Daily, Jan. 20, 2021

GAO: Education Department should ensure data on TRIO's effectiveness are accurate

The Education Department should examine if it is getting accurate information from those receiving TRIO funds to see if the money is leading to results, the Government Accounting Office said in a report Monday. The department relies on data provided by those receiving the grants, which are aimed at increasing the graduation rate of low-income, first-generation college students. 
Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 20, 2021

President Biden extends student loan payment freeze through Sept. 30

Following President Biden's executive action signed Wednesday, the Education Department extended pandemic relief for about 41 million federal student loan borrowers through Sept. 30. "Too many Americans are struggling to pay for basic necessities and to provide for their families," the Education Department said in a statement. "They should not be forced to choose between paying their student loans and putting food on the table."
NPR, Jan. 20, 2021

Last Modified: 2/3/23, 9:37 AM
starburst graphic