Area Report for Board of Trustees
Throughout 2021-2022, IA has focused on the success of Highline students by focusing on supporting completion and increased learning opportunities, equity gains and fiscal effectiveness. This area report reflects on some of the activities and accomplishments in June 2022 that are aligned with these goals.
Grants and Government Relations
Highline College, along with partners Highline Public Schools, Northwest Educational Access and Becoming a Man (with SWYFS), have been attending a series of meetings with King County and PSESD to plan implementation of King County Promise. Following a successful application for the $1.6 Million is funding is a rigorous period of planning and negotiation to start the work of the project.
June is also a time of reporting to funders on grants, and the team has been supporting ACHIEVE in reporting to the May and Stanley Smith Foundation on their $100,000 in funding, Welcome Back Center to Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation on their $72,000 grant, Welcome Back Center to Port of Seattle on the South King County Fund and annual reports to NSF and other government agencies.
Communications and Marketing
The Communications and Marketing team has been hard at work getting the Highline College name out into the community. In addition to bringing back ads on the sides of Metro Busses on routes along Pac Hwy and two billboards that feature Highline College North and South of campus, we have numerous ads on our social media platforms as well as in movie theaters in our area to support our enrollment efforts. We continue to increase our presence in local high schools through installation of large posters by our Printshop and Outreach team at Choice Academy, Decatur High School, Highline High School, Mt. Rainier High School, New Start High School, Puget Sound Skills Center, Thomas Jefferson High School. We will continue to work with other schools in our district at the start of next school year.
Outreach and Recruitment
The Outreach and Recruitment Team has been at work promoting Highline at local and regional events, including the Dare to Dream Academy (online event) Highline Campus tour, Highline Transition Day, and the Evergreen High School College Fair. Roughly 270 potential students were reached through direct contact at these programs. Our online presence continues through social media, OTP, Geofencing, and YouTube. A new weekly podcast, King County Local Drive, now includes a 15 second “live read” ad for the College during each episode. This ad will run through August. News stories have featured a new funding opportunity for our Running Start students during Summer quarters, an announcement on the name of the new light rail station, and recognition of Highline College as one of the best Colleges in Washington for the 2022 year.
Foundation and Alumni Relations
The College celebrated our 2022 graduates with an on-campus and virtual Commencement celebration on June 16th. This year’s Commencement included a “block party” theme, with photo booths, food trucks, music and tables staffed by employees to promote their areas. The Alumni Relations team staffed a table during Commencement and connected with countless graduates and their families as they exited the Student Union. The team was able to hand out swag such as our famous 60th anniversary socks, and information about joining the Alumni Association.
The Foundation concluded its 60th Anniversary series with a retiree and campus/community social on June 2. The event was held in Building 8 and included the debut of the Foundation’s 60th Anniversary video.
The Foundation is preparing for the annual Board retreat on August 3rd at the Federal Way HUB and are looking forward to a day of reflection of the past year and planning for the year ahead of us.
Report submitted July 12, 2022, by Vice President Josh Gerstman