News Links | January 21, 2021
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
