Shoreline Community College (Shoreline) is tackling the challenge of students experiencing homelessness head-on with the launch of a groundbreaking pilot program. Partnering with King County Housing programs and Best Starts for Kids, the initiative provides students experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in the Center for Education and Career Opportunities (CECO) program with stable on-campus housing, integrated directly with academic and employment support services.
Breaking Down Barriers to Success
Many students struggle to juggle educational pursuits with the instability of experiencing homelessness. The constant stress of finding shelter makes it difficult to focus on studies and maintain enrollment. Recognizing this critical barrier, CECO designed this pilot program to empower students experiencing homelessness to achieve their academic and career goals.
What is CECO?
CECO serves youth aged 16-21 who have dropped out of high school, assisting them in obtaining their secondary credentials and supporting them through their post-secondary education (gaining their certification, associate’s degree, career) tuition free. Despite the program’s success, certain student groups, particularly those facing severe mental health challenges or experiencing homelessness, have historically struggled to persist. This new partnership is designed to address these barriers directly.
“We have discovered a significant number of students facing housing instability,” Guru Dorje, Director of CECO at Shoreline explained. “Our goal is to ensure these students not only achieve their educational credentials but as one of the benefits of this they are able to secure permanent housing, breaking the cycle of homelessness.”
Addressing Critical Needs Through Housing and Support
This new initiative was originally slated to start in Summer Quarter 2024 but began ahead of schedule due to urgent student needs. The program aims to house students on campus for eight quarters, integrating housing with comprehensive educational and employment support. Currently, four students are benefiting from this program, with plans to expand to twelve students by Spring 2025.
The program is rooted in the belief that “stable housing, coupled with a dedicated case manager who supports both educational and employment goals, is crucial for student success,” said Dorje. “Other programs typically separate housing and educational support, but our approach integrates them, providing a holistic support system.”
The program’s early results are promising. All three students currently enrolled in the pilot are on track to earn their high school equivalency diplomas and seamlessly transition to post-secondary education.
“Our ultimate aim is to see these students complete their education, transfer if appropriate, secure stable employment, and maintain permanent housing, said Dr. Jack Kahn, President of Shoreline Community College. “Our hope is to see positive outcomes with our initial students and expand this program and work with others to do the same”
Looking Ahead
Partnering with King County Housing programs, and the Shoreline Community College Foundation the initiative provides students experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in the CECO program with stable on-campus housing, integrated directly with academic and employment support services. Initial 2-year grant funding for the program is being provided by King County and generous donors who give through the Shoreline Community College Foundation. Long-term funding to ensure the program’s continued success and expansion is needed. Donors and funders interested in learning more can reach out to the Shoreline Community College Foundation (sccfoundation@shoreline.edu).
This initiative is the first of its kind, combining housing with educational and employment support to a single point of contact in a community college setting. The insights gained from this pilot will inform future strategies to address homelessness among students, with the hope of expanding similar programs across other community and technical colleges.
The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3:00pm on Memorial Day for one minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the United States. For the fallen and for the missing, we carry the torches of their memories.
It’s that time of year again—time to celebrate the outstanding faculty who make Shoreline Community College a great place to learn and grow. We’re excited to announce the call for nominations for the Exceptional Faculty Awards!
Since 1998, the Shoreline Community College Foundation, with support from the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, has been honoring exceptional faculty members. This prestigious award recognizes dedication, expertise, and outstanding service in teaching, advising, counseling, and librarianship.
Who Can Nominate? Anyone! Whether you’re an administrator, alumni, classified employee, faculty member, Foundation Board member, student, or trustee, your voice matters. Faculty members can also nominate themselves.
Nomination Criteria*: Nominate an individual or a group of faculty members who have shown:
Exceptional dedication, knowledge, or achievement in their field
Outstanding teaching, advising, counseling, or librarianship skills
Superior service in their duties
*For more detailed information, please see the criteria listed below.
Eligibility:
Individual faculty members need at least 9 quarters of full- or part-time work.
Groups need a combined 18 quarters of full- or part-time work.
Previous individual winners are eligible again after 5 years, and group winners after 5 years as well.
Submit by end of business on Friday, June 14, 2024.
Let’s show our amazing faculty how much we appreciate their hard work and dedication. Get your nominations in and help us celebrate the exceptional educators who inspire us every day!
SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
EXCEPTIONAL FACULTY AWARD SELECTION CRITERIA
Exemplary Work Performance: Enriching the classroom, counseling/advising center or library with knowledge, experience, and vitality; demonstration to a superior degree the characteristics of good college teaching/advising; knowledge of subject, enthusiasm, clarity of presentation, ability to involve students, creativity, and student empathy. Achieve high ratings for teaching/counseling. Constantly strives to find effective ways to teach/counsel.
Other criteria that may be considered include the following:
Positive Impact on Students: Being a mentor to students and/or an exemplary advisor/ counselor. Providing service and special assistance to students. Direct impact upon and involvement with students. Specialized individual tutoring and instruction or promotion of methods that enhance a student’s understanding of and enthusiasm for the course material. Ability to accommodate varying learning rates or capabilities. Generates excitement for learning.
Professional Achievement: Unusual achievements of scholarly activities such as publishing efforts, presentations to scholarly organizations or community groups, research and consulting workshops, or continuing education courses. Evidence of excellence achieved in a faculty member’s area of responsibility. Possession of high scholarly standards for both the rigor and currency of course content. Service to professional organizations through holding office, committee work, etc. Recognition by peers in the profession.
Commitment to Diversity: Demonstrating a commitment and service to special student and community populations, either in a leadership role, contribution of time and energy, or promotion of diversity in the curriculum and classroom. A demonstrated commitment to student success strategies for minority, disabled and/or disadvantaged students.
Cooperative Spirit: That many of the activities of the faculty member are viewed by faculty and/or staff as having a positive impact on his/her professional capacity at the College; strong interpersonal skills. Maintaining a positive learning environment inside and outside the classroom. Makes positive contributions to the progress, well-being of his/her academic unit and of the College. Builds and maintains self-esteem of others.
Leadership: Innovative with curriculum or teaching methods. Unusual efforts devoted to ensuring the quality of the student’s educational experience at Shoreline Community College. Enthusiasm for teaching, for a subject area. Sought out by others for advice on general academic matters or governance issues or teaching methods, processes, or approaches.
Contributions to the College or Community: Participation in community organizations/College committees/campus activities. Evidence of exemplary service to the community. Extended learning and teaching beyond the classroom into community by involving students in special community activiti
Shoreline Community College is pleased to announce Brian Crisanto Ramos as the new Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. When asked about his new role, Brian said, “I am so thrilled and humbled to be joining the Shoreline community this summer! We have some exciting and challenging work ahead of us, but I truly couldn’t be more honored to be in community with each of you. As a graduate from our local community college system, I know firsthand the passion we bring and the impact we are going to make as we co-create a more equitable and inclusive campus for all staff, faculty, and students.” He will begin his new role on July 1, 2024.
Brian is a proud member of the Pipil, Lenca, and Mayan Nations of Manawara, often referred to as El Salvador and Costa Rica. As a son to Salvadoran refugees and a first-generation TRIO student, he is the byproduct of a resilient community dedicated to the uplifting of all people.
Ramos holds a master’s degree in Cultural Studies from the University of Washington, and also received a bachelor’s in political science from Seattle University, and an associate’s degree in political science from Edmonds College. For over ten years, Brian has served within the WA State Community College system. He began his career within student services at Everett Community College, working hands-on with students in Financial Aid and Workforce Funding. During this time, he worked to co-create and implement a new framework of equity, and thus transitioned to the Associate Director of Retention. Brian brought together various Tribal Nations and the campus community to create a space for Indigenous Students called huyadadaličəɬ, “The Place of Our Way,” where Native students were directly supported in an effort to increase Native student retention.
Most recently, he has served within the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. In this role, he focused his work on reviewing and redesigning institutional systems through an equity lens, creating avenues to learn and grow as a campus community, providing guidance to departments, staff, and faculty on co-creating equitable changes. Brian brings a passion for relationship building and has created and fostered relationships at both Everett Community College & Lake Washington Tech with Tribal Nations, bringing Land Acknowledgements to life through accountability & actions.
Through his Indigenous roots, Brian has learned to challenge systems designed by, and for the dominant culture while maintaining himself rooted in the voices of his ever-resilient communities. Along with this, Brian is supported by an amazing fluffy white Dog named Appa, his service dog & best friend! Every week he recharges by playing board games, Magic the Gathering, and exploring new places while playing Pokémon GO.
Shoreline Community College & Bloodworks Northwest are hosting a campus blood drive on Wednesday, May 8 from 11:00am-5:00pm in the PUB Quiet Dining Room (9208). SCC students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to make an appointment to donate by going to https://bit.ly/SCCgiveblood24 but walk-ins are welcome (space permitting).
ESPN journalist Brady Henderson is scheduled to talk to The Ebbtide staff at 2:30 p.m. Monday, May 6, Room 9101 in the PUB. Henderson is planning to speak about his career and how he got into sports journalism, how he built a social media following and some of the stories that he’s covered reporting on the Seattle Seahawks. All are welcome to attend. Please email Ebbtide faculty adviser Jim Davis at jimdavis@shoreline.edu if you’re planning to attend.
Throughout May, the WAVES Program coordinated a series of events and activities to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, and we extend a warm invitation to all students, staff, and faculty of the Shoreline Community College family to join in. These events are not only opportunities for us to learn more about AAPI cultures but also to foster greater understanding, unity, and inclusivity within our workplace.
Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store:
Cultural Workshops
Guest Speaker Series
Film Screening
Celebratory Events
There are many more events happening on campus in May, so please look at the AAPI Heritage Month Calendar and save these dates!
We encourage all to partake in these events and celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with us. Let’s embrace
Please join us for an evening with acclaimed documentarian, National Geographic Explorer, and NY Times best selling author, Matika Wilbur as she shares her presentation “Changing The Way We See
Please join us for an evening with acclaimed documentarian, National Geographic Explorer, and NY Times best selling author, Matika Wilbur as she shares her presentation “Changing The Way We See Native America: Dismantling Native American Stereotypes.
Light refreshments will be served from 5:30-6PM with the presentation immediately to follow.
