News Links | January 13, 2022
System News | Opinion
A 'double whammy'
Tacoma Community College launched a marketing campaign in early December to inform local community members
and potential students that more in-person instruction would be offered on campus
during this year’s winter quarter. A full third of classes would have a face-to-face
component—nearly two years after most U.S. colleges first shifted to remote education
in response to the pandemic.
Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 12, 2022
Bill aims to help homeless and former foster care college students
... Participating institutions have experienced higher retention rates within their
homeless and former foster care populations. South Puget Sound Community College, for example, had a 76% retention rate for students in its program, which gives students
a fully furnished apartment. Austin Herrera, a student at South Puget Sound Community
College and a former marine who is now disabled, spoke with emotion as he recounted
his experience with homelessness.
Kitsap Daily News, Jan. 12, 2022
Confluence Health career fair in Wenatchee seeks job candidates
... Confluence Health has a new program which pays applicants a wage and their tuition
to go through a certified nursing assistant fast track program at Wenatchee Valley College. The college program lasts about four weeks and then moves to a six-week residency
at Confluence Health. So far, 21 people had enrolled in the program as of last Saturday,
according to Brack.
Wenatchee World, Jan. 11, 2022
Yakima Valley College introduces Agricultural Sciences bachelor’s program
With the region’s vast agricultural ties and rich farming land in mind, Yakima Valley College has introduced a new Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Agricultural Sciences.
Starting in the Fall of 2022, students will have an opportunity to build on various
agricultural associate’s degree and certificate programs offered at Yakima Valley
College by studying a concept that’s essential to their community.
YakTriNews, Jan. 10, 2022
Clark County business briefing
... The governor has also appointed Denise Gideon to the Clark College Board of Trustees. Gideon is a seasoned health care leader with an extensive record
of service to communities. She is currently the system vice president of Operations
& Program Integration at PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, where she also serves as
the executive sponsor for the Black and Allies Network Group.
The Columbian, Jan. 9, 2022
Yakima college student is nominated for Transforming Lives Award
Meet Michael Schantz, the Yakima Valley College’s nominee for Washington state’s Transforming Lives Award. According to a press release
from the YVCC, “the Washington State Association of College Trustees (ACT) Awards
Committee recognizes the accomplishments of nominees from each of the state’s community
and technical colleges for the Transforming Lives Award. “
YakTriNews, Jan. 4, 2022
Trends | Horizons | Education
Hopeful sign among first-time enrollments
A new national report on college enrollments for this fall confirms the continued
drop of students attending community college during the Covid pandemic, though at
a much lower rate. It also supports a promising sign: Enrollment of first-time freshmen
at public two-year colleges may be stabilizing. The data from the National Student
Clearinghouse (NSC) Research Center released today show overall enrollment at public
two-year colleges is down -3.4% (161,800 students) for fall 2021, compared to -10.1%
in fall 2020 and -1.4% in fall 2019 (pre-Covid).
Community College Daily, Jan. 13, 2022
Perceptions of affordability
... “This new analysis reveals that students are more likely to enroll in college
if they believe their family can afford to send them. A student’s belief in their
ability to afford college may have important implications for how they search for
information on paying for college while in high school or whether to apply.” The study
also looked at the relationship between perceptions of affordability, parental education
level and college enrollment.
Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 12, 2022
DataPoints: How manufacturers are addressing the skills shortage
Like many other industries, U.S. manufacturers are currently facing a shortage of
qualified workers. About 85% of 389 manufacturers responding to a recent survey report
having unfilled positions for which they were struggling to find qualified applicants.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturers had more than 1 million
open jobs in October 2021.
Community College Daily, Jan. 12, 2022
Closing the gender gap in mechatronics
Men vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college. Gender gaps are
exceptionally and needlessly high in some of the fastest-growing and highest-paying
jobs like mechatronics, robotics, cyber defense, math and health sciences. According
to the National Girls Collaborative Project statistics, women represent only 28% of
the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Community College Daily, Jan. 11, 2022
Why community colleges lost so many men
Hands-on technical programs typically dominated by male students and largely dependent
on in-person coursework were hard hit by the pandemic and led to steep declines in
male enrollment at community colleges across the country, according to a new working
paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 11, 2022
Politics | Local, State, National
TAACCCT-ical assessment
... All these efforts are a result of the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Community
College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant program, which provided nearly $2 billion
over four years to help community colleges meet employers’ needs more effectively
in response to the 2008 recession. As the pandemic continues to disrupt industries
and create a demand for professional reskilling, Congress has considered reviving
the TAACCCT program to address a new set of challenges.
Community College Daily, Jan. 9, 2022