News Links | January 26, 2021
System News | Opinion
Opinion: Local View: Protecting student pathways supports economy
Students at Clark College and WSU Vancouver have big dreams for their futures. They are on track to become
engineers who create software and design buildings, nurses who care for sick people
and teachers who support the next generation of learners. The jobs that await these
students in a post-pandemic economy share a common feature – they demand a post-high
school credential, such as a degree, apprenticeship or certificate.
The Columbian, Jan. 24, 2021
Locally: Community Colleges of Spokane’s Nancy Zacher retires after 43-plus years of service
The surrogate mother to hundreds of Community Colleges of Spokane student-athletes for more than four decades is getting some well-deserved “me” time.
Nancy Zacher, administrative assistant in the CCS athletics department since 1977,
retired earlier this month after more than 43 years in which she worked for four athletics
directors and counseled and consoled hundreds of athletes. Maury Ray, who was her
second boss, recalled in the announcement of Zacher’s retirement, “Nancy and I started
working together in 1978 as we consolidated the two athletic programs” from Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College into the current program.
The Spokesman-Review, Jan. 24, 2021
New donation helps award-winning agriculture program at CBC
Northwest Farm Credit Services has committed a gift in the amount of $135,000 which
will be utilized by Columbia Basin College Foundation to support the college’s award-winning Agriculture program. The money
will help purchase equipment for farming operations, add precision control equipment
for irrigation, acquire “farm-tough” laptops for student use, and redesign the colleges
hydroponic greenhouse.
KEPR, Jan. 24, 2021
WWCC asks students, faculty, staff and community members to complete survey
Walla Walla Community College is asking for input as it works through its strategic planning process to ensure
the institution is responsive to the needs of its communities. ... “We want to understand
how to position WWCC in the communities we serve,” said Chad Hickox, the systemwide
president of the college. “We want to be a reliable partner and a leader in economic
development, training and social engagement.”
The Lewiston Tribune, Jan. 23, 2021
100 percent of W. F. West class of 2020 graduates were accepted into a postsecondary education program
... The district has a strong partnership with Centralia College that has allowed them to offer support to their former students even after graduation.
Of the W.F. West class of 2018 who attended Centralia College, 54% have earned a credential,
compared to the college’s 37% average completion rate, according to the Chehalis School
District website.
The Daily Chronicle, Jan. 22, 2021
WCC awarded more than $130,000 to enhance Computer Information System's program
Whatcom Community College has been awarded a $130,780 grant from the Washington State Employment Security Agency
to enhance its associate degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS). This is the
College’s second Career Connected Learning grant, establishing WCC as a leader for
work-based learning opportunities, as well as information technology and cybersecurity.
Whatcom Talk, Jan. 22, 2021
Restaurant News: Thursday treat — Triton Taste food truck comes to downtown Edmonds
Are your New Year’s resolutions for better eating falling a bit short? Help is here…or
rather it is “there”…on a food truck parked at 4th and Dayton on Thursdays, during
the winter quarter at Edmonds College. Many of us made resolutions to eat better, eschew high-fat meats, try out healthier
vegetarian fare, and of course support our local restaurant community.
My Edmonds News, Jan. 21, 2021
WWCC's American Dream Academy starts Feb. 1
Walla Walla Community College is recruiting area students and parents for its American Dream Academy. This program
prepares families with little or no higher education experience to successfully manage
their students’ transition from high school to college. WWCC offers a series of five
free classes designed to provide all the information students need to make college
a reality.
Waitsburg Times, Jan. 21, 2021
When does food go bad in a power outage? ‘Best to err on the side of caution,’ experts say
When in doubt, throw it out. That’s the motto federal food safety organizations offer
to those deciding whether to keep refrigerated food products after a power outage.
... Not everything in the fridge or freezer warrants the bin in the event of an outage,
however. Charlie Martin, an instructor with Spokane Community College’s hospitality program, said foods with higher acid contents typically keep better in
outage situations.
The Spokesman-Review, Jan. 20, 2021
Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a time of tumult
In 2021, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is more important than ever, two community leaders
said. ... “He stood for unity. This day gives us a great sense of pause for us to
really think about democracy, the state of our country and who we want to be,” said
Daria Willis, president of Everett Community College. “I still think Dr. King’s dream is alive and well, but what the current events have
shown us is we still have a long way to go.”
Everett Herald, Jan. 18, 2021
Trends | Horizons | Education
Commentary: How community college students can increase their visibility with employers
Finding a job after college can be a daunting task for any student. The process is
especially intimidating for community college graduates, who are often also competing
against the graduates of four-year institutions, who have historically received special
attention from recruiters and hiring managers. Community college students and graduates
are more than qualified for — and deserving of — a great job.
Community College Daily, Jan. 26, 2021
10 months in
Nearly one year into the pandemic that upended higher education, students continue
to be concerned about mental health, catching COVID-19 and the quality and challenges
of online education. New polling data collected in December for the nonprofit organizations
New America and Third Way highlight some of these concerns, along with attitudes about
college and university leadership, vaccines, and internet access.
Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 22, 2021
S&P issues 4th straight negative outlook for U.S. higher ed
S&P Global Ratings is keeping in place a negative outlook on the U.S. not-for-profit
higher education sector’s bond rating stability for the fourth straight year and also
has a negative outlook for universities it rates outside the country. The ratings
agency issued the outlook this week in an annual report on the higher education sector.
Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 22, 2021
Politics | Local, State, National
Biden orders up more COVID guidance for colleges
President Biden signed an executive order Thursday directing the secretary of education
to provide, in consultation with the secretary of health and human services, “evidence-based
guidance to institutions of higher education on safely reopening for in-person learning,
which shall take into account considerations such as the institution’s setting, resources,
and the population it serves.”
Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 22, 2021
A long and complicated road ahead
Joe Biden entered the White House this week with high and wide-ranging expectations
from higher education leaders, advocates for survivors of sexual violence and students
for how his new administration will require colleges to handle and reduce sexual assault
on college campuses.
Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 22, 2021
Appointees for senior ED posts
The Biden-Harris administration on Thursday announced its senior political appointees
for the U.S. Education Department (ED), including a former community college student.
Among the dozen appointees is Rich William, who would serve as chief of staff for
the office of postsecondary education. He most recently helped to lead an initiative
at Pew Charitable Trusts on policies to better support student loan borrowers.
Community College Daily, Jan. 21, 2021