| An online magazine dedicated to sharing best practices and providing in-depth coverage of issues and trends affecting the Washington State community and technical college system. |
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| October 2005 Edition 5 |
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College News |
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Main Story
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Senator Murray helps Homeland Security Institute secure $1 million transit system security grantOn October 25, U.S. Senator Patty Murray announced that the Olympia-based Homeland Security Institute (HSI) will receive a $1 million federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maritime transit security grant. The grant was secured with the help of a letter of support written by Murray, who is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and a national leader on port and ferry security issues. Last April, DHS issued a request for proposals on homeland security training for transit security, specifically to improve training for cross-disciplinary response for first responders, under the DHS Competitive Training Grants Program Solicitation program. The goal of this program is to use a blended learning approach to help ships’ crews, riders, and public safety professionals become an integrated part of the overall maritime security effort. As opposed to much of the funding allocated by DHS – which is federal formula funding that is allocated based on state population–this training grant was part of a competitive process. According to HSI’s John Fortugno, Senator Murray’s letter of support for HSI’s proposal was written in May, and played a major role in the success of the organization’s proposal. The Homeland Security Institute, founded in January of this year, is a unit of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges in Olympia. HSI is contracted with the state Emergency Management Division to address training, standardization, certification, and credentialing issues for Washington’s emergency responders. Governor Gregoire visits BBCC campus, discusses transportation and water issuesGovernor Christine Gregoire talked about the need for Washington’s citizens to work together to invest in the infrastructure of central Washington, and the state as a whole, when she addressed a luncheon crowd at the Grant County Advanced Technologies Education Center on the Big Bend Community College campus earlier this month. Gregoire admitted that she was frustrated about the idea that there is an eastern Washington and a western Washington, and said they need to come together through public/private partnerships in ideas like educational research. In addition, she discussed the potential of Grant County and cited an educated workforce, low electrical rates and large tracts open for industrial development as the drawing points to the region. On her recent trips to Asia and Europe, the governor said she has seen other countries show enthusiasm for Washington products like quality wine, cherries and potatoes. To ensure the future of the region, Gregoire said that the fundamental goals should be to find a solution to the water supply problem and invest in the transportation needs of central Washington. Gov. Gregoire to discuss adult literacy programs with participantsGov. Chris Gregoire met with adult literacy program participants to discuss their challenges and successes during a visit to Everett Community College Thursday as part of Adult Literacy Week. During her visit, Gov. Gregoire met with several current students in adult literacy programs to hear how their education is preparing them for work. She also met with several local business leaders who have benefited by having their employees gain better skills through adult literacy programs at Everett Community College, Edmonds Community College and Snohomish County Literacy. Graduates of these adult literacy programs, who are now holding livable wage jobs, shared their stories with the governor. Currently one in six adults lack the education and training necessary to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Washington state’s economy depends on its ability to have a highly skilled workforce. As the baby boomers are retiring at a rapid rate, the workforce will need to be filled with adults who currently need to upgrade their basic skills. ABW Technologies Inc. in Arlington shared its partnership with Everett Community College, which provides English education and welding job training to students. Providence Everett Medical Center showed how it hires graduates from Everett Community College’s Nursing Assistant Certified program, which combines nursing assistant training with English as a second language instruction . National Transportation Driver Training Centers featured Everett Community College students who are receiving truck-driving training along with English language instruction. Molina Healthcare representatives introduced the governor to current employees who graduated from Edmonds Community College’s vocational healthcare training program. Verizon, the largest private sector supporter of adult literacy in the country, was available to share its efforts that support adult literacy. Education program wins awardEverett Community College was one of many partners being honored for their support of the EAGER (Entry, Assessment, GED, Employment, Retention) program – a program that helps Snohomish County job seekers earn their General Educational Development certificates. The EAGER program received one of six Governor’s Awards for best practices in workforce development. In north Snohomish County, one-third of adults on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families have not graduated from high school or earned their GED – a stumbling block to finding employment. As a pilot project during the last school year, EAGER participants got a reprieve from job-seeking requirements so they could focus solely on their studies. The program helped 75 clients earn their GEDs, a 68 percent success rate, while 55 percent found jobs within one academic quarter. The goal remains to help 100 adults earn their GEDs. The first certification ceremony this school year is today, with 10 participants so far. The program’s partners include: WorkFirst and the Department of Social and Health Services; Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development; Employment Security Department; Everett Community College; Sky Valley Community Service Office; Smokey Point Community Service Office; Snohomish County Workforce Development Council; and the Office of Financial Management. Sacred Heart Medical Center transfers radiology tech program to Spokane Community College Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane has transferred administration of its School of Radiologic Technology to Spokane Community College, effective fall quarter 2005. The 22-month program, which currently serves about 40 students at eight clinical sites, will continue to use Sacred Heart’s instructional lab and clinical space, with instructors gradually transitioning their employment from the medical center to SCC. Complete transition of classes and lab facilities should be in place at SCC by summer quarter 2006. New and current radiology students began registering for SCC classes in mid-September and start earning community college credits applicable toward a two-year associate in applied science degree this fall.Upon completion of the program, students take state and national certification exams that prepare them for licensure as ASRT Technologist qualified to work in x-ray, CT, MRI and other imaging specialties. The program transfer was made possible in part through a high-demand grant coordinated through the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. New Higher Education Center dedicated at Highline Community CollegeDirector of the Office of Financial Management Victor Moore presided over the public dedication of the new Higher Education Center at Highline Community College on October 25. The Higher Education Center is a partnership of Central Washington University (CWU) and Highline Community College (HCC) and contains both HCC classrooms and CWU offices and classrooms (CWU-Des Moines) on the campus of Highline Community College. With the opening of the new facility, students will be able to earn a two-year associate’s degree from Highline, and then complete their bachelor’s degree by taking upper-division courses from CWU right on the Highline campus. Students also may earn associate’s degrees at other community colleges and transfer to CWU-Des Moines. The “2+2” programs at the Higher Education Center will address the education needs of employers and residents in South King County . CWU-Des Moines offers programs leading to bachelor’s degrees in accounting, business administration, general studies, law and justice, and elementary and early childhood education, as well as master’s degree programs in education and engineering technology. As resources allow, CWU and Highline will establish other programs to meet the needs students and businesses. Designed to serve 1,275 full-time equivalent students, the new Higher Education Center accommodates an additional 675 full-time equivalent students at Highline and 600 FTE at CWU-Des Moines. Lake Washington Technical College Foundation receives Verizon Foundation grantThe Lake Washington College Foundation recently received a $15,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to fund a project that will establish an online prototype for integrating streaming media into manufacturing curriculum at Lake Washington Technical College (LWTC). Streaming media will allow a student to view actual reproductions of lectures, demonstrations, site visits and other traditional classroom activities via computer. The project funded by the Verizon Foundation will develop the prototype for use in the manufacturing curriculum. The model can then be expanded to include a variety of curricula taught at Lake Washington Technical College. The Verizon Foundation gives out millions of dollars nationally each year focusing on literacy, domestic violence prevention and technology. Leveraging the power of networks and technology, Verizon Foundation technology grants help local and national nonprofit organizations enhance their management capabilities through technology grants, best-in-class training partners, and online tools and resources. By effectively integrating technology and technology applications into daily operations, nonprofit organizations have the ability to significantly improve the delivery of services to constituents. BCC receives national equity awardBellevue Community College has won the Charles Kennedy Equity Award from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). The national honor recognizes the work of the college and its employees in ensuring equitable treatment for minorities and women in such areas as enrollment, program completion, campus environment, and employment and promotion. Specifically, the Association recognized the values and policies that promote pluralism at BCC; the numerous events and projects presented by the college’s employee diversity committees, student clubs and Center for Liberal Arts; student recruitment programs that reach out to under-represented populations; support services provided by the Multicultural Services office, Women’s Center and TRIO program; and the design of the BCC curriculum, which includes depth in cultural diversity as one of five general education requirements for all degrees. Receipt of the national Equity Award follows BCC’s selection for ACCT’s Regional Equity Award in August. ACCT is a not-for-profit association composed of more than 6,500 trustees who serve on 600 community and technical college governing boards in the United States, Canada, and England. Cascadia Community College unveils mural completed by students from many homelandsCascadia Community College celebrated the unveiling of a mural created by students depicting their memories of homelands around the world on October 7. “The mural is so beautiful and filled with the stories of the artists” said Debora Barrera Pontillo, the Cascadia faculty member working with the students. “The growth and insight gained by students in listening to each others stories has been amazing. It has also been a pleasure for me to be part of this process.” The mural project, underway for a year, has been the focal point of classroom conversations about each student’s emigration to a new home and their memories and connections to their native countries. Students have learned about the cultures of other countries, which has given them perspective on their own experience in their homeland and in their new country. Tacoma Community College reopens mall site with new focusThis fall, Tacoma Community College will open the Washington Institute for Service Excellence: A Skills Assessment and Training Center. The institute will be located at the Tacoma Mall, in the space that was previously TCC’s Information Technology Certification and Testing Center (ITCC). The ITCC has been relocated to the college’s main campus. A primary goal of the institute is to work with employers to help assess new and current employees. Program offerings will integrate adult basic education, workplace skills, retail sales and customer service. Students in TCC’s WorkFirst program will receive integrated basic skills education in reading, writing and math along with retail training via a partnership with the National Retail Foundation (NRF). Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to test for a national certification in customer service. Open not just to WorkFirst students, the institute will also be the new home of TCC’s Cus tomer Service Academy, a nine-module series providing training in key areas of service and equipping participants with skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace. The program is particularly suitable for existing employees of an organization or business and can be delivered on site. The college is also working with the NRF to provide sales and service training, certification and testing. The curriculum is based on national skill standards and provides a foundation for people new to services industries, particularly retail sales. AmeriCorps volunteer’s new blog encourages students to talk about issues, and to make a differenceAmeriCorps volunteer Luzviminda “Lulu” Carpenter is the voice of Edmonds Community College’s new blogwww.edcc.edu/afterwords. The blog will tell students more about the guest speakers who come to the college as part of its lecture series of thought-provoking talks by activists, authors, celebrities and experts on a variety of social, political and multicultural issues. Carpenter’s blog will encourage people to keep talking about the issues and give them ideas about what they can do to make a difference if they’ve been inspired. Carpenter will also write about upcoming volunteer projects and her own experience as an AmeriCorps volunteer. Carpenter is a poet and playwright who studies multicultural issues. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and her master’s degree in American Studies at Washington State University. She also studied at the University of the Philippine. She is one of two full-time AmeriCorps volunteers at Edmonds Community College this year. The college, in partnership with Washington Campus Compact, has a strong AmeriCorps and service-learning program. More than 100 part-time AmeriCorps Students in Service will each serve 300-900 hours in the community this year. New business degree offered by Cascadia Community CollegeCascadia Community College will offer a new two-year Associate in Business degree beginning this fall designed to prepare graduates to transfer to a baccalaureate program at a 4-year college or university. Students will also learn the skills in business analysis, finance and management to help them begin working in a business setting or to select a business field or occupation for their future. Business Administration is one of three baccalaureate programs at the University of Washington, Bothell (UWB) participating in the new dual enrollment program with Cascadia Community College. Students who have earned 45 credits at Cascadia Community College are eligible to apply. Admitted students become official students at both the community college and UWB starting their sophomore year. Students complete their associate degree while taking upper level courses at UWB.
Do you have an item for the next "All in the Family?" Email the Creating Opportunities staff at: ezine@sbctc.ctc.edu
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