Area Report for Board of Trustees
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a nice break with family and/or friends. The break seemed rather fast since now we’re in winter quarter. The past few weeks have been quiet as many of our students, staff and faculty were finding their way back to campus. In the meantime, I have been preparing for legislative sessions in Olympia, which started Jan. 14, and will continue for the next few months. More on that later. I wanted to provide the campus with a few updates that involve our own Gov. Jay Inslee.
On Jan. 3, Gov. Inslee visited the Early Childhood Learning Center on campus, which is home to Children’s Home Society of Washington, to discuss his commitment to and support of early childhood education. Gov. Inslee complimented the facility, staff and Highline College for taking care of our “young” students. For the 2019–21 biennium, Gov. Inslee is proposing $173 million to provide universal newborn screening assessments and home visiting services, expand and improve preschool opportunities, connect families with early learning services and build more facilities. Gov. Inslee stated, “I am proud that my budget invests in early learning services that will ensure that all children receive the support necessary to enter kindergarten prepared and well positioned for success in school and life.” Gov. Inslee then met with children and their parents, some who were Highline students, to discuss how early learning programs benefit the youngest learners.
In addition, I was able to spend a few minutes chatting with the governor about issues such as financial assistance for our students, increasing financial aid and programs such as Guided Pathways, which provides students a “student-centered” approach to achieve their career goals (certification, graduation or transfer). It was wonderful to have Gov. Inslee on our campus and he is welcome back anytime.
On Jan. 11, I was asked to attend a Career Connect Washington press event at the Puget Sound Skills Center in Burien where Gov. Inslee toured the program and discussed his proposed budget of $23 million for our system for “career connected learning.” His focus is to invest in our students since there will be thousands of jobs open in Washington within the next five years. The investment will provide access to education and training for students, making it possible for them to be competitive for jobs. Gov. Inslee spoke with students who, in time, hopefully will become Highline College students.
Later that afternoon, I also was invited and traveled to the University of Washington Tacoma where Gov. Inslee detailed his plan to transform the State Need Grant into the Washington College Promise Scholarship, guaranteeing a source of financial aid to over 90,000 students. This promise will allow many students to pursue their dreams and career goals. Gov. Inslee spoke with students from the local community colleges and four-year institutions throughout King and Pierce counties. As expected, student voices are often full of conviction, resilience and frank honesty about their financial challenges and roadblocks in trying to achieve their goals. These three events were all quite powerful and I’m honored that Highline College was present and asked to participate by Gov. Inslee’s team.
As stated earlier, the legislative session has begun and I will be visiting our state capital numerous times in the next few months, advocating for college programs and initiatives as well as staff/faculty funding so we can not only recruit the best individuals to serve our students, but also retain them. I will also work to identify other sources of funding for capital projects to address our older and aging facilities. As our college will grow in the future, we will need better facilities to serve our communities. I will keep the college updated on my trips and information coming out of Olympia.
Lastly, my office is identifying dates in February for the listening sessions. I encourage everyone to participate by attending, submitting information or stopping by my office. I want to hear from the campus as we identify goals and priorities for Highline College.
If possible, please attend the amazing events during Martin Luther King Jr. Week, Jan. 22–25. The MLK planning committee has created an exceptional and powerful lineup of lectures and discussions. And as you attend the events, reflect on the MLK theme in your work and efforts: “Nothing to Lose: Preserving Humanity in the Face of Trauma.” How do you create, support and challenge your community to provide hope, respect and love for one another?
Report submitted Jan. 15, 2019, by President John R. Mosby, Ph.D.