Published February 2005

Education Briefs

EvCC faces $800,000 budget shortfall
Flat enrollment and the changing makeup of students has left an $800,000 shortfall in Everett Community College’s budget.

The college will plug the hole without layoffs through a series of spending and hiring delays and $175,000 from a reserve account.

The college has a $30 million budget this year.

Michael Kerns, EvCC’s vice president of administration, identified several causes for the deficit, including:

• Flat enrollment.
• More students taking heavier loads, with the college receiving less per credit for students taking more than 10 credits but having to hire more instructors to meet the increased demand.
• A drop of more than 300 worker-retraining students, who received government and private grants that paid full tuition, and an increase in students seeking high school diplomas and learning English as a second language, who pay $25 a quarter, along with state money.

EvCC President Charlie Earl said he believes enrollment will rebound quickly, with record high school graduation rates projected in the next few years.

Fluke recognized for its
support of education
Everett-based Fluke Corp. recently received the Stanley O. McNaughton Leadership Award from the Independent Colleges of Washington, which created the award in 1999 to recognize companies, legislators and leaders that have demonstrated passion for and commitment to the state’s independent colleges and universities.

Fluke has long been a supporter of ICW, making its first contribution to the organization in 1962 with a check for $100. Since then, the company has given more than $2.1 million, primarily in new equipment donations for research labs on the campuses of ICW member colleges.

Cascadia receives $9,000 grant
from Verizon Foundation
The Cascadia Community College Foundation received a $9,000 grant for its public housing work-force transition program from the Verizon Foundation.

“This grant is important for the college and the people we serve,” said Amy Persell, work-force education program manager. “The money will assist us in outreach efforts as we link people who live in public housing with the training necessary for future employment.”

In addition, the grant money also will provide needed support services such as tuition, books, tools for training programs or uniforms required for employment, the Bothell community college said.

In the past year alone, public housing residents in targeted communities successfully completed a total of 86 quarters of school at six different colleges, and 20 residents found employment with an average wage of $11.20 per hour, Cascadia noted.

Remodeled Rainier Learning Center
opens at EvCC
A new and improved Rainier Learning Center opened in January at Everett Community College for students needing extra help.

The $250,000 remodel of the bottom floor of Rainier Hall was completed over winter break “on time and on budget,” said Bill Sperling, EvCC’s dean of learning services.

Sperling calls Rainier “a center of centers.” It houses areas devoted to tutoring, writing and academic readiness.

The remodel is part of a five-year, $1.82 million federal grant aimed at increasing chances for students to gain skills to attend college and to help those already there succeed. The grant also has allowed the college to increase tutoring and offer counseling services.

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