Yakima Valley College (YVCC, YVC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Yakima Valley Community College (YVCC) was founded in 1928, making it one of the oldest community colleges in the state of Washington. Yakima Valley is a two-year institution offering programs in adult education, lower division arts and sciences, community services, and English as a second language. The Yakima Valley Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-serving institution. The Yakima Valley Community College is also affiliated with the American Association of Community Colleges. The college believes in two primary student learning outcomes: Critical thinking and communications. The Yakima Valley Community College had a total enrollment of 12,500 students in the year 2008-09.

The Yakima Valley Community College operates through two campuses located in Yakima and Grandview. In addition to these campuses, the Yakima Valley Community College has learning centers at Ellensburg, Sunnyside, and Toppenish. The college offers various modes of instruction. These include: summer classes, evening and weekend classes, eLearning courses, and learning communities and integrated learning.

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Information Summary

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Overall Score (about)	Insufficient Data
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$17,343
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	23 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	N/A / N/A
Enrollment Total (all students)	4,456

Academics

The academic programs offered by the Yakima Valley Community College include adult basic education, degrees and certificates, programs for high school students, and transfer degrees. The adult basic education offered at Yakima Valley Community College emphasizes on math, writing, and basic reading skills. Students find these skills useful while preparing for the GED. The adult basic education program is beneficial for students for seeking entrance in occupational programs and for improving their employment opportunities. The Yakima Valley Community College offers the Associate in Applied Sciences degree and certificate programs in technical fields. The Associate in Applied Sciences degrees are offered in various areas such as agriculture, allied health, business technology, criminal justice, medical assisting, and surgical technology. Students can also opt for the Perry Tech Coop degree program wherein they get the opportunity to obtain specialized training at the Perry Technical Institute while simultaneously pursuing the specific coursework at Yakima Valley Community College. The Perry Tech Coop degrees are awarded in areas such as Electrical Technology, Machine Technology, and Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Heating Technology.

The Yakima Valley Community College has a tie-up with the Washington state public high schools for the Running Start program wherein eligible high school juniors and seniors can enroll for regular college classes and receive both high school and college credit for those classes. The Yakima Valley Community College also offers the Associate in Arts DTA (Direct Transfer Agreement), Associate in Business DTA, and Associate in Science transfer degrees. These degrees are intended for students who want to transfer to a four-year college or university. The Yakima Valley Community College offers various certificate programs such as Beginning Word Processor, Legal Receptionist, Bilingual Office Assistant, Crime Scene Investigation, Toddler Instructional Assistant, and Ethnic Studies.

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Admissions

The Yakima Valley Community College has an open-door admissions policy. Adults who do not possess a high school diploma but are likely to benefit from the program can seek admission in the college. To apply to attend Yakima Valley Community College, students are required to submit an application for admission along with an accompanying application fee. Students are also required to take a placement test. The placement tests are required for assessing appropriate-level courses for the students. Students must submit any previous college transcripts for evaluation. All students above 16 years are eligible for the basic skills program and are only required to complete the application form. International students are required to submit their application form for admission, original/attested transcripts, TOEFL/IELTS/TOEIC/EIKEN scores (if English is not their first language), and a statement from a financial institution showing availability of funds to finance the academic and living expenses. International students are also required to appear for the placement test.

Financial Aid

Yakima Valley Community College students who do not have adequate resources to fund their education expenses can apply for various forms of financial aids. Financial aid offered to students is either need-based or merit-based. Different forms of need-based financial aids available to the students include grants, scholarships, work-study employment opportunities, and student loans. To receive financial aid, students are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education.

Different types of need-based financial aid that are available to the students of the Yakima Valley Community College include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Washington State Need Grant, YVCC Tuition Waiver, YVCC Grant, William D. Ford Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, and federal or state-funded student employment programs.

Merit-based financial aid is typically offered in the form of scholarships. Common scholarships available for the students of Yakima Valley Community College include Terry Abeyta, Dorothy l. Aiken, Allard Sisters, Robert J. & Hope Allan, and Kingsley & Jeanne Fairchild scholarships.

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Students

Yakima Valley Community College offers various opportunities for students to get involved in extracurricular activities. There are numerous clubs and student organizations to support the academic experience of the students. Students also have the freedom of forming their own clubs if existing clubs do not meet their requirements.

There is on-campus housing at the Hopf and Lyon Residence Halls, which provide a well-furnished kitchen for residents. The Hopf Union Building (HUB), within the Yakima Campus, offers food service, an espresso bar, student lounge, internet access, and meeting rooms. There is also an information desk and a bookstore within this building. Students have access to the gymnasium, weight room, and fitness center in the Sherar Gymnasium. Students interested in drama can seek the guidance of the YVCC Playmasters, who produce two to three full-length productions every year. There are various vocal and instrumental groups and a salsa band on the campus.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

Yakima Valley Community College is a member of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The college participates in intercollegiate competitions in sports such as volleyball, wrestling, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball, and women’s soccer. The Yakima Valley Community College’s athletic teams are called the Yaks. The women’s wrestling team of the college claimed their third straight National Collegiate women’s wrestling championship in March 2011.

Bibliography

Yakima Valley Community College. About YVCC. Web. 25 July 2011.

Yakima Valley Community College. Academic Options. Web. 25 July 2011.

Yakima Valley Community College. Yakima Valley Community College Catalog 2010.2011. 2010. Print.

Yakima Valley College