News

Inside Higher Ed | A Line in the Sand

June 17, 2011

As the use of adjuncts has proliferated, opponents of the practice often base their objections on social and economic justice grounds. Adjunct faculty, they say, tend to be exploited and seldom benefit from meaningful job security.

But, in a contract dispute in Washington state, those seeking to temper the use of adjuncts have focused more narrowly on what they say is another consequence of the practice: its impact on educational quality. [full article]

Seattle Times | Cuts hit classes that lead to jobs

When it comes to cutting millions of dollars out of state community- and technical-college budgets this spring, perhaps the most vexing issue is that the very programs that could kick-start new careers won't be available for all the students who want to enroll.

The Legislature last month sliced $84 million from the community- and technical-college budgets for the next biennium, while authorizing 12 percent-a-year tuition increases for the next two years. [read full article]

Seattle PI-online | Claws come out as community college faculty, students protest budget cuts

The faculty at Seattle community colleges are fighting back with everything they have -- including a hoard of fashion design students.

That's who packed the halls at Seattle Central Community College Wednesday afternoon, toting bright signs warning that Seattle might go naked if the college's apparel design program falls victim to Washington state's ever-shrinking budget. [read full article]

Thousands flock to state Capitol, join demonstration

Robin Hindery, The Associated Press | April 9, 2011 | The Olympian

Thousands of union members from all over Washington poured onto the grounds of the state Capitol on Friday, calling on lawmakers to "put people first" by ending corporate tax breaks and painful cuts to public programs.

The protest was by far the largest of four days of boisterous demonstrations in Olympia over spending cuts legislators are considering in order to help close a looming $5 billion budget deficit for the next two-year cycle.

Tax breaks need scrutiny | Spokesman-Review | 2/19/11

Rep. Andy Billig, guest columnist

As a freshman legislator, I often feel like a rookie relief pitcher, knowing the home team is counting on me to make the right decisions. One of those decisions is my sponsorship of legislation that will create a closer examination of tax exemptions, institute sunset dates so continuing tax preferences are required to be reauthorized at regular intervals and eliminate tax exemptions that can’t be justified. These measures will protect funding for our kids and communities, and bring more accountability and transparency to the tax exemption system. [more]

The Seattle Times | Dec. 15, 2010 | Give Community Colleges More Flexibility to Help Students, Economic Recovery

Guest editorial by Amy Kinsel

Amy J. Kinsel is a U.S. history instructor at Shoreline, chair of the college's Strategic Planning and Budget Committee and first vice president of the Shoreline Community College Federation of Teachers (local 1950).

THIRTEEN of Shoreline Community College's 129 full-time instructors have received layoff notices, along with staff and administrators, and we have been warned that more cuts are coming.

Recently named Washington's top community college by StateUniversity.com, Shoreline is not alone. Colleges across the state expect to absorb a projected 18 percent cut in the next biennium. [read full article].

'Superman' documentary doesn't tell full story about education challenges

Seattle Times | Oct. 7, 2010 | Guest columnist
The new documentary "Waiting for Superman" doesn't tell the whole story about the challenges facing public schools, writes guest columnist Sandra Schroeder. She highlights some of those challenges that need to be considered for widespread success in schools. Read full article.

The News Tribune | 6/25/10 | Ruling Upholds Layoffs at Bates Technical College

Bates Technical College followed the law this year when it made plans to layoff five faculty members, a state administrative law judge has concluded.

But the union, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), says the law is flawed. [read full article]

Layoffs coming at Bates Technical College | The News Tribune Blog | 4/20/10

Posted by Kris Sherman on April 20, 2010 at 11:17 am

Some 25 staff members at Bates Technical College are to be laid off because of state budget cuts, a spokeswoman said this morning.

The Tacoma-based trade school issued 45 reduction-in-force notices to faculty members and support employees on Monday, spokeswoman Edie Jeffers said in a prepared statement.

Olympia Newswire | 1/27/10 | Two-Year Colleges Can't Afford to Absorb More Cuts

By Amy Kinsel, Professor of History, Shoreline Community College

The cruel irony of last year’s legislative session is that Washington State deeply cut funding to higher education just as enrollment skyrocketed. As unemployment grew last year, many Washingtonians decided to enter or return to college, only to find that they were being asked to pay more for less. (read full article)