Area Report for Board of Trustees

The past month has included trips to Olympia and preparations for upcoming legislative activities, news from DC about funding for the Sportsfield, heard some great updates from alumni, opened a special stem/tech scholarship application, completed the fy 25 Foundation audit, made progress on department websites and posted on social media including coverage of the raising of the Flag of the 12s- Go Seahawks!

Core Theme 1: ACCESS, Reduce Barriers and close equity gaps to access for all community members

• IA/Government Relations have made multiple trips to Olympia on 1/19, 1/26 and 2/5  to support college leadership and student leaders with their legislative visits. The team is also preparing to host a 33rd District Town Hall on the afternoon of Sunday, 2/22 in B8 and the tri-college legislative reception in Olympia on the evening of 2/23.These visits have been so support advocacy to preserve funding of operations, Running Start and Washington College Grant so students continue to have access to resources and support during their pursuit of their education.
• The Webteam’s original fy26 goal was to launch 8-10 academic department sites to Modern Campus CMS. To date, 10 department sites have been migrated and the team has now officially surpassed its fy26 goal.

Core Theme 2: STUDENT LEARNING, Increase educational success, collaborate to improve

• Foundation is working with faculty from Pure and Applied Sciences on a special scholarship application for Spring Quarter to award between $25-40,000 from two STEM/Tech/Aerospace focused funds.

Core Theme 3: COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, Create a more inclusive working environment and a more valued , visible relationship with communities we serve

• Congressman Adam Smith’s office has confirmed that $1.2 million toward the sportsfield project have been included in the recently approved federal budget through a community funded project. Funds are contingent on the Highline College and the HCF securing remaining funds and being able to initiate and complete construction of the sportsfields. 
• In Des Moines, efforts are underway to form a Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. Highline College is represented and active in this effort while also continuing its participation in Seattle Southside, Greater Federal Way, and Kent Chambers of Commerce. 
• Andrew Powers, business advisor with SBDC/StartZone, gave an excellent presentation on using AI in your business at the Federal Way Chamber monthly lunch on 2/4/24. 
• At the Highline Forum on 1/25/26, IA members shared the college’s legislative priorities  and shared opportunities for community leaders to get involved at Highline College. 

Core Theme 4: CULTURE & CAPACITY: Become an anti-racist college through intentional development of employees, facilities, and systems that support student success and close equity gaps

• Directors with management responsibilities attended performance evaluation training hosted by HR and on 1/29/26 attended the workshop by Dr. Jorge Michael (Mike) Cuellar in the topic of Grounded Leadership. Special thanks to EDT and OTP for providing this training.

Division Honors & Achievements

• Work of Highline College’s SBDC/StartZone is highlighted in the statewide annual SBDC report. This report includes a story about Scott Schaefer, owner of South King Media and a Highline College Alumnus, and his experiences getting assistance through Highline’s SBDC. 
• Highline’s Alumni Office has been contacted by Elume Raymond, alumnus, about a book he has published Soccer is Football: Recognizing the Global Influence of Football on the American Sports and Entertainment Culture. Published just in time to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Report submitted by Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Joshua Gerstman