[Wsssc] SBCTC Response to Seattle Times Article

[Lauren Hibbs]

Hello Folks,

In case you did not see the SBCTC response to the recent Hechinger Report, below I share Executive Director Paul Frances response letter to the OpEd.



From: Paul Francis <pfrancis at sbctc.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 2:49 PM
To: SBCTC All Staff <SBCTCAllStaff at sbctc.edu>
Subject: Response to 4/3 Seattle Times Article

Colleagues -

FYI - Today I submitted the below Letter to the Editor in response to the April 3 article<https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/more-than-a-third-of-community-college-students-have-vanished/> by The Hechinger Report as published in yesterday's Seattle Times:

The April 3 article by The Hechinger Report about community and technical colleges missed the mark here in Washington. The article used non-Washington examples that drew unfounded correlations to our state's community and technical colleges. It said little about the pandemic's effect on enrollments or on our students, many of whom are first-generation and low-income students who had to prioritize work, family and financial pressures. There is no recognition of Washington's nationally-acclaimed transfer agreements, or the fact that the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University ranked Washington #1 in the nation for transfer students completing bachelor's degrees.  Washington residents consistently give community and technical colleges high ratings. The Association of Washington Business and the Washington Roundtable are clear in stating our colleges' role in building a strong workforce. Do we still have work to do? Definitely. We are striving to improve completion rates and redesign the student experience so students have clear pathways through college and into careers, with advising and support to stay on track. Our colleges are facing many national trends, but we are working locally to break down barriers and serve students in a post-pandemic environment. Students, communities and employers count on it.

Paul Francis
Executive Director
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges


[Title: SBCTC logo - Description: Compass]Paul Francis
Executive Director
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
pfrancis at sbctc.edu<mailto:pfrancis at sbctc.edu> * o: 360-704-4355
sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/> * Twitter: @SBCTCWashington<https://twitter.com/SBCTCWashington> * Facebook: @WASBCTC<https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/>

SBCTC Vision - "Leading with racial equity, our colleges maximize student potential and transform lives within a culture of belonging that advances racial, social, and economic justice in service to our diverse communities."

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