Washington’s Council of Presidents announced its new Executive Director, David Schumacher, today, October 12. Schumacher will join the council on October 29.

Schumacher is currently the Staff Director of the Washington State Senate Ways and Means Committee, where he has worked in several capacities for over 15 years.  Schumacher holds both bachelors and masters degrees in Economics from the University of Washington. He replaces Michael Reilly, who in March was named Executive Director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. Jane Sherman, Vice Provost for Academic Policy and Evaluation at Washington State University, has served as Interim COP Executive Director since April.

Council Chair, President Bruce Shepard of Western Washington University, welcomed Schumacher stating, “We look forward to the enthusiasm and expertise that David’s leadership will provide as we build upon the successes of the 2012 legislative session. I am confident that he will help policymakers and others to recognize the vital role our colleges and universities play in meeting the needs of business and industry and allowing hardworking students to achieve their dreams in Washington.”

The Council of President’s is a voluntary Washington State association comprised of the Presidents for the six public baccalaureate degree granting college and universities.  COP provides a forum for the Presidents and other institutional groups to meet and share common interests about higher education in Washington. It fosters coordination and collaboration among the public baccalaureate institutions as well as with other partners in the boarder education community.

Read the full announcement here.

On Wednesday, October 10, the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) held its first public meeting at South Seattle Community College. The WSAC officially came into existence on July 1, 2012, replacing the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB). The legislature eliminated the HECB in the 2011 legislative session, replacing it with the WSAC.

The first meeting of the WSAC served as a “get-to-know you session.” Each board member had an opportunity to spend a bit of time introducing him/herself to the council and audience. These introductions were followed presentations from the various departments of the WSAC on the role and function of their respective divisions.  

Following introductions, WA State Representative Larry Seaquist (sponsor of HB 2483 , the legislation establishing the WSAC) discussed the council’s role and mission from the legislature’s perspective. Among their duties, the Council has been charged with providing the strategic planning, oversight, and advocacy to support increased student success and higher overall levels of educational attainment in Washington State. It is a cabinet-level state agency.

The Council consists of nine members. They include five selected by the Governor to represent the public, and one from each of the following four education communities:  the public four-year institutions, the community and technical colleges, the independent non-profit institutions and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. One of the citizen members must be a student.  The Council is supported by a staff of about 100 employees.   

All board members were present for the first meeting. They include:

• Brian Baird – Former Congressman
• Scott Brittain – District Project Director for the Ferndale School District -K-12 Representative
• Marty Brown – Executive Director to the State Board for Community & Technical Colleges – Community College Representative
• Jose Gaitan – Managing Member of the Gaitan Group, PLLC
• Lindsey Jahn – Student Representative, Washington State University
• Raymond Lawton – Former Owner of Lawton Printing Inc. and Vice president of File-EZ Folder Inc. – Independent Colleges of Washington Representative
• Constance W. Rice – Managing Director for Knowledge Management at Casey Family Programs
• Jay Reich – Pacifica Law Group and former Deputy Chief of Staff to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke
• Jane Sherman – Interim Director to the Council of Presidents – Public Baccalaureate Representative

Last Friday, October 5th, representatives from Evergreen attended a Latino Education Policy Forum held in SeaTac, WA. Specifically, the forum explored data and research-based policy proposals that may be presented to Washington’s Governor and legislature.

Dr. Edward Lee Vargas, Superintendent of the Kent School District, lead the K-12 conversation. Following Dr. Vargas Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction, Randy Dorn, spoke to the group on what is needed in the K-12 sector. Besides a fully-funded K-12 sector, Dr Vargas and Superintendent Dorn spoke about the changing demographics in the sector. Dorn noted this issue should be looked at more holistically, and include early learning and higher education. Finally, Dorn spoke to the fact undocumented students have difficulty financing higher education because they are not eligible for most loans, or the state need grant in Washington.

After the K-12 discussion, Dr Luis Fraga presented on issues affecting the Latino/a community in the higher education sector in Washington and nationally. Dr. Fraga, Associate Vice Provost at the University of Washington, spoke specifically on 3 big policy recommendations needed. Those are: 1) Financing higher education, specifically, fully funding the state need grant and extending it to undocumented students; 2) Enhancing academic competence, specifically, funding school district, community college and 4 year partnerships; and 3) Empowering Latino families, specifically, engaging entire families, not just the student.

Following Dr. Vargas, a legislative panel presented on their views to moving forward. Panelists included, Senator Rosemary McAuliffe (Chair, Senate Education committee), Representative Larry Seaquist (Chair. Higher Education committee), Representative Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (Chair, Community & Economic Development &  Housing committee) and Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos (Chair, House Education committee). Among their recommendations, Representative Seaquist noted that we must not be slow to change in order to increase educational attainment for Latino/a students, and several panelists reiterated Superintendent Dorn’s position the K-12 sector must be fully funded.

Last Friday, September 28th, Evergreen’s Vice President for Student Affairs, Art Costantino, and Veteran’s Affairs Coordinator, Tyrone Newton, presented to the House Higher Education Committee during a work session looking at veteran services at our colleges and universities.

Touting Evergreen’s exceptional services and programming, the two joined a panel of other 2 and 4 year college representatives. Costantino and Newton spoke on the various services,  programs and financial resources available to veterans and their dependents on campus.  Among the notable programs and approaches mentioned were; our unique, holistic advising system; partnerships with other veteran organizations; specialized mental health services; and specific academic programming geared toward veteran’s needs. A former student, current employee and veteran, Newton described why he chose Evergreen, and the assistance the Veteran’s office provides for current students, faculty and staff.

You can access their presentation, as well as the entire committee meeting, by visiting the TVW webpage here.