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South Puget Sound Community College credits I‑BEST and new‑arrival funding for growth; refugee student describes pathway to cybersecurity
Summary
South Puget Sound Community College officials told the committee that state new‑arrival funds and I‑BEST expanded local English and transition programs; a Ukrainian student described using ESL and I‑BEST classes to enter a cybersecurity program.
OLYMPIA — South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) told the House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee on March 25 that state new‑arrival funds and the I‑BEST model have allowed the college to add sections, adopt new curriculum and expand supports for refugee and immigrant students.
Jennifer Barber, dean of Transition Studies at SPSCC, said the college serves about 1,600 students in its English as a second language (ESL) classes and has taken in more than 150 refugees in the past two years. “The new arrival funds have been tremendously helpful,” Barber said. “They’ve allowed us to add additional sections to our English language program, adopt new curriculum, offer faculty additional training, as…
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