Area Report for Board of Trustees

IA staff have been busy in October, with work including support for Sound Transit Resource Fair, annual Foundation Audit, prep for Thunderbirds Soar, support for ASHC DC Trip and planning for 12/3 Legislative Breakfast, planning for FWLE Opening on 12/6, attendance at candidates forums and community events, rooting on the Seattle Mariners, participating in Short Term Study Abroad celebration, providing support for Faculty and Staff of Color Conference, attending Aerospace Expo, City of Des Moines Focus Group, meeting with HPS and Mt. Rainier Pool about capital needs, launching academic department websites, provided support for Indigenous People’s Day activities, producing student videos, reporting on Highline’s nomination for the Aspen Prize and contributing to the Highline’s response to the pause in SNAP benefits.

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

• IA views the opening of Kent Des Moines (KDM) Station and the operation of Federal Way Light Rail Extension as a key to removing barriers and creating access to higher education in our community. Comm/Marketing provided significant support for ST Community Resource Fair on 10/9 (shout out to Student Support- EDT for their work in hosting this excellently attended event). Government Relations continues to actively participate in planning for 12/6 opening, including participating in a station walkthrough on 10/22.
• Communications and Marketing have launched new sites for Geology, Criminal Justice and Outreach/Recruitment and are close to launching sites for Math, English, Human Services, Business, Respiratory Care, and Placement.  Testing site is also currently undergoing a reorganization.
• Foundation Board approved fy26 budget, including additional $100,000 to provide funding to campus partners (Student Support and Community Pantry) to provide food assistance to students and community members in response to temporary pause of SNAP benefits.

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

• Grants team met with Foundry 10, who have previously provided significant grants to support Nursing, STEM, and ACHIEVE program to discuss and draft fy26 funding proposal. Also met with May and Stanley Smith Foundation along with Julie Pollard to discuss impact of 10 years of funding for ACHIEVE and outlook for sustainable funding for ACHIEVE.

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

• IA staff attended, volunteered at and led a variety of community events, including Soroptimist of Seattle Southside Fall Fundraiser (volunteer and attendee), Seattle Southside Candidates Forum (attendees), Highline Schools Foundation Burien Brat Trot (volunteer) , Mt. Rainier Pool 50^th Anniversary (college rep) , Aerospace Expo at accesso Showare Ctr (Sponsor and exhibitor), AKHO Awards in support of Highline Heritage Museum (attendee), Success Foundation Garden Gala (volunteer and attendee).
• Attended a City of Des Moines focus group for strategic planning for the city. Hosted a meeting with Highline Public Schools to discuss aligned and collaborative capital planning. And attended a meeting with reps of Mt. Rainer Pool to learn more about their future capital needs.

Division Honors and Achievements

• Institutional Advancement reported on Highline College being named an Aspen Prize – Top 200 Community College nationwide and will continue to support Highline’s participation in the Aspen Prize process.
• Congratulations to Annie Thant, Program Specialist 3 for completing 1 year as a member of the Foundation Staff Team.

Report submitted by Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Joshua Gerstman