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News Links | October 21, 2021

October 21, 2021 by SBCTC Communications

System News | Opinion

COVID-19 cases highest among 18- to 24-year-olds as students return to campuses

... Whatcom Community College follows the requirements of the governor’s mandate to ensure their status as fully vaccinated campus. Though the college has not implemented additional safety measures, administrative policy states that specific programs reserve the right to do so. ... In addition to following the governor’s proclamation, Bellingham Technical College requires all unvaccinated students or employees to wear a KN-95 respirator. Skagit Valley College (SVC) requires students to demonstrate their vaccination status by Nov. 8, the latest of all the local institutions.
Salish Current, Oct. 20, 2021

Why Biden's plan for free community college likely will be cut from budget package

... Washington state has subsidized community colleges for more than a decade, but because the costs of housing, child care, transportation and books are so high in the Seattle area many students still drop out to work despite the subsidy, said Timothy Stokes, president of South Puget Sound Community College.
Wall Street Journal, Oct. 20, 2021

LCC reports 90.9% vaccination rate, K-12 schools see lower percentages of staff choosing shots

... At Lower Columbia College, Vice President of Foundation, Human Resources and Legal Affairs Kendra Sprague said along with the 90.9% of staff who are vaccinated, about 40 people will continue working with exemptions and 28 will be terminated.
The Daily News, Oct. 20, 2021

Eleven full-time Wenatchee Valley College employees granted exemptions, six others gone

Of Wenatchee Valley College’s full-time employees, 92% are fully vaccinated while eleven have been granted exemptions and six were terminated or retired. Those numbers do not include part-time employees, student employees, volunteers or contractors.
560 KPQ News Radio, Oct. 20, 2021

First community COVID-19 testing site opens at Spokane Falls Community College

More than 25 cars and trucks were lined up for COVID-19 testing in the early afternoon Monday at Spokane Falls Community College. The new SFCC testing site opened Monday morning, the first of two new testing sites set to start up this month in Spokane County.
Spokesman-Review, Oct. 19, 2021

Funding roundup

Everett Community College (EvCC) will use a $25,000 donation from Washington health plan Coordinated Care to train the next generation of healthcare students. Ten $2,000 scholarships will help students in nursing, medical assisting, phlebotomy, pre-medicine or other healthcare programs. 
Community College Daily, Oct. 18, 2021

Construction projects to watch: October 2021

Bothell : The University of Washington Bothell. The campus is set to debut a new academic building in fall 2023. The building will house UW Bothell and Cascadia College students taking science, technology, engineering, and math classes.
425 Business, Oct. 18, 2021

Washington state workers largely comply with Monday’s vaccine deadline, data show

South Puget Sound Community College: The college has 448 full-time employees, faculty, and adjunct faculty. In addition to the 425 employees who are fully vaccinated, three are in the process of becoming fully vaccinated and 19 have approved exemptions, the college announced.
Olympian, Oct. 17, 2021

Skagit Valley College president announces retirement

Tom Keegan, whose first experience on the Skagit Valley College campus was as a student in the 1970s, will in August retire as the college’s president. “I’m grateful and honored to be able to come back and lead Skagit Valley College,” he said. “It’s the college that set me on my path, both educationally and career wise.”
Skagit Valley Herald, Oct. 15, 2021

Amazon expands collaboration with Bellevue College for job training, student assistance

Bellevue College (BC) students will get more opportunities to earn Amazon Web Services (AWS) certifications and pursue internships and employment with AWS customers and partners under a new collaboration announced this week between the Bellevue College Foundation and Amazon.
425 Business, Oct. 13, 2021

Trends | Horizons | Education

Gauging students about paying for college, safety and support

Nearly one-quarter of surveyed community college students said they had problems this spring paying for college due to the pandemic, according to a new report. Another 20% said they struggled to pay for college, but it wasn’t related to the pandemic.
Community College Daily, Oct. 21, 2021

ATE prepares technicians for what’s next

The 28th Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Principal Investigators’ Conference opened Wednesday with a discussion of the nation’s supply chain that provided insights about the opportunities for community colleges and their students that exist amid the challenges of the skilled technical workforce in every industry from coast-to-coast.
Community College Daily, Oct. 21, 2021

Politics | Local, State, National

White House drops free community college from its spending bill

The Biden administration's program to make community college tuition-free will not become a reality in this round of the president's spending priorities, leaving progressive groups disappointed.
NPR, Oct. 20, 2021

One last cut?

Tuition-free community college is presumed to be on the chopping block in President Biden’s Build Back Better Act, but there are still ways that lawmakers can lower the cost of the program without scrapping it completely.
Inside Higher Ed, Oct. 20, 2021

Commentary: Washington Watch: Senate Democrats release FY 22 funding bills

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) has released the nine fiscal year (FY) 22 appropriations bills that the committee has not yet considered. The bills do not have bipartisan support and serve mainly as a marker for Senate Democrats’ funding priorities.
Community College Daily, Oct. 19, 2021

Last Modified: 2/3/23, 9:38 AM
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