The Seattle Community Colleges Emergency Net (SCCEN) is a team of Seattle Community College employees dedicated to assisting the Colleges with emergency communications and public safety in times of disaster.
The Seattle Community Colleges Emergency Net (SCCEN) will, in a professional manner, provide auxiliary communications and other support services to the Seattle Community Colleges as necessary to support disaster response and recovery efforts. As a component of the Seattle Community Colleges’ Incident Command System (ICS), and following the guidelines of the National Incident Management System, the SCCEN will be a communications resource for the Logistics Section Chief.
SCCEN members will strive to enhance their professional skill through participation in training and drills.
The Seattle Community Colleges Emergency Net (SCCEN) was established to support the colleges’ emergency planning efforts. HAM radios have been used successfully as a back up means of communication in an emergency, and adding this resource to the College’s emergency plan will enhance the reliability of local communications in the event of a major disaster.
Under the support and guidance of the City of Seattle’s Auxiliary Communications System (ACS), and the generosity of the Puget Sound Repeater Group (PSRG), as well as the enthusiasm and encouragement of a couple of the Colleges’ own HAM radio operators, the SCCEN has grown to 14 members across the District.
The Net meets on the air every Thursday at 1500 hours (3PM) local time to keep members in practice with net operations. The net frequency for each week is 146.96 MHz, Tone 103.5 Hz, and we appreciate the generosity of the PSRG for the use of their frequency during check ins.
We’re always ready to welcome new members, so if you’re interested in learning more about the SCCEN, or want to find out how to become a licensed amateur radio operator, please contact Betty Lunceford, at betty.lunceford@seattlecolleges.edu or 206.934.4195.
City of Seattle Auxiliary Communications Services: seattleacs.com
Puget Sound Repeater Group: www.psrg.org
Green for the 21st Century in Seattle
Innovations in curriculum and operations have earned the 2009 Green Washington Award for the Seattle Community Colleges – Central, North and South. All three colleges are active members of the Seattle Climate Partnership and North was an early signer of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. A district-wide Chancellor’s Sustainability Initiative provides energy, focus and a forum for emerging training and initiatives.
Sustainability is infused into programs ranging from urban agriculture at Central to environmental science, real estate and building management across the district. Students have funded a sustainability coordinator. Campus activities include reducing the carbon footprint and promoting recycling and energy conservation, which earned a “Recycler of the Year” award for South. Last year, the college culinary operations diverted 31 tons of materials to a regional composting facility – which returned the compost to “green” the college landscape.
For more information visit www.seattlecolleges.edu/green
Helping displaced workers to ‘Start Next Quarter’
During the economic downturn, thousands of displaced workers turned to the Seattle Community Colleges at the same time regional employers reported a need for skilled workers to fill jobs in the new economy. To help both potential workers and employers, the Seattle Community Colleges developed Start Next Quarter (SNQ), a two-part initiative designed to improve the success of dislocated workers who enroll in technical education programs. SNQ invites prospective students to assess their eligibility for workforce funding online and connects them to a comprehensive two-day college success workshop held at each campus. The workshops are based on a model developed at one of the district campuses. Students who complete the workshop are more likely to complete their training programs and to obtain jobs using their new skills. The project was developed in part through a grant from the League for Innovation, funded by the Walmart Foundation Bright Futures project to serve displaced workers.
Visit www.startnextquarter.org
A Model for the Region
The Opportunity Center for Employment and Education at North Seattle Community College is a regional resource and the first integrated service center of its kind in Washington state. Since the OCE&E opened its doors in spring 2011, more than 40,000 people have come for one-stop help in finding a new job, career retraining or to sign up for public assistance benefits. Founding partners were the state Departments of Social and Health Services and Employment Security, the college, and the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County. The campus and the new LEED Gold Certified 45,000-square foot facility are in the heart of Seattle’s north end and close to a major transit hub. House Speaker Frank Chopp and Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (sponsor of the legislation and a former Seattle District trustee) championed the OCE&E in the state legislature. The center aims to provide streamlined services in a positive environment, helping clients succeed in the next stage of their lives.