skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, November 8, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

CT voters pass no-excuse absentee voting amendment; Biden urges Americans to 'bring down the temperature' after Trump's US election win; As FSA loan changes aim to support farmers, advocates say more needed; As leaves fall in AZ, calls renewed to incentivize electric lawn equipment.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

President Biden asks Americans to turn down the temperature, House Speaker Mike Johnson promises an aggressive first 100 day agenda and Democratic governors vow to push back on Trump's plan for mass deportations.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Texas women travel some of the longest distances for abortion care, Californians the shortest, rural living comes with mixed blessings for veterans, an ancient technique could curtail climate-change wildfires, and escape divisive politics on World Kindness Day.

WA community, technical colleges work to meet rural career needs

play audio
Play

Monday, August 5, 2024   

Four-year universities aren't always able to serve every student, so Washington state has found a way to ensure students have other options through community and technical colleges.

Unlike some other states, all 34 community and technical colleges in Washington are authorized to offer applied bachelor's degrees.

Valerie Sundby, the director of transfer education for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, said many of the schools offer teacher certification programs.

"For our rural communities that have a very hard time attracting teachers to their areas," said Sundby, "it creates an opportunity for them to really 'grow their own.'"

Sundby said the bachelor's degree programs at these community and technical colleges have high retention and graduation rates, and have led to employment opportunities at high rates, as well.

The state has 165 degree programs, including nursing.

Sundby said these programs ensure students get hands-on work training.

"They are very focused bachelor's degrees," said Sundby, "that - although they have the breadth of a bachelor's degree, and give them some of those general educations and things like that - they also have a very clear technical and employment outcome at the end of it."

Sundby said it's no accident that students are able to find a job when they graduate from the bachelor's programs at community and technical colleges in the state.

The schools themselves ensure there's a need in the region before deciding to offer degrees in a certain field.

"Our colleges do a lot of work with their local economic development groups, with their local workforce boards," said Sundby, "looking at all of that workforce data and understanding, what is the current gap and then, what is the projected future gap? And making sure that there are clear employment outcomes and opportunities for students."

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.




get more stories like this via email

more stories
While Amendment 3 protects the right to abortion in Missouri, it does not mandate state funding for abortion procedures, so Medicaid and state funds are not used for most abortions. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Strong reactions are pouring in from both sides as Missouri voters made history by adding abortion rights to the state constitution. The decision to …


Social Issues

play sound

If the election season made one thing clear, it is neither side can hear what the other is saying and one expert believes it is because most of us …

Social Issues

play sound

Roughly 30% of Minnesota's private-sector employees do not have a work-sponsored retirement plan but some business owners and consumer advocates hope …


Pima and Maricopa counties are the only ones in Arizona currently offering vouchers to residents and commercial users for electric lawn equipment. (Tyger Gilbert/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

It is finally cooling down in Arizona, which means more leaves on the ground as well as heightened use of lawn equipment to keep Arizona properties …

Social Issues

play sound

Connecticut voters approved an amendment enshrining no-excuse absentee voting in the state's constitution. Passing by a little more than 57% of the …

Social Issues

play sound

New federal loan adjustments aim to ease financial burdens for farmers but advocates said lasting change requires legislative action. The U.S…

Social Issues

play sound

Young people convicted of crimes in Pueblo can now avoid serious and long-lasting consequences when they are unable to pay fines or victim restitution…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021