Student Development

1400.000 STUDENT SERVICES PROCEDURE

Services and programs are available to enrich student experience at Wenatchee Valley College. Additional information may be found in Wenatchee Valley College publications such as the catalog or the student handbook.

A. STUDENT SERVICES

Student services provides critical core student-centered services and programs designed to improve retention, enhance success, and facilitate student learning and development that will insure a successful collegiate experience.

1. Assessment/Testing
   Assessment is an important part of student success. WVC employs ASSET and COMPASS as its assessment instruments. ASSET is a nationwide program developed specifically for community college students. COMPASS is a computer-adapted assessment program. Students seeking a college degree or certificate and who plan on taking math or English in college for the first time will need to schedule an assessment appointment.
   
   Both ASSET and COMPASS measure reading, math and language-usage skills. This information is helpful to both student and adviser. Students who use ASSET or COMPASS when choosing courses are more likely to succeed. A fee is charged for ASSET or COMPASS.
   
   Several testing programs are administered through Student Development Services. The General Educational Development (GED) test and the WVC assessment program (ASSET or COMPASS) are given several times each quarter. The ACT, SAT and Math Placement Test are given periodically.
   
   
2. Educational Planning
   New students or students returning to WVC after some absence will meet with an appropriate educational planner. Educational planners provide entry level advising and assist students in interpreting ASSET or COMPASS scores, selecting classes, and registering for the first quarter.
   
   
3. Registration
   Students may register via Web-registration from campus or home computers with Internet access. Students registering for one class only may register using the print form found in the Discover class schedule.
   
   
4. Academic Advising
   Following initial registration and based on ASSET or COMPASS information, students are assigned an appropriate faculty adviser. Advisers are usually faculty members who can help with everything from developing a long-range educational plan to selecting appropriate classes each quarter. WVC tries to match advisers with students according to desired educational program. Students typically meet with their adviser at least once a quarter, usually just prior to registration.
   
   
5. Financial Aid
   Wenatchee Valley College participates in a broad range of federal and state aid programs designed to assist students unable to meet all of their college expenses.
   
   
6. Job Services
   A job specialist from the Wenatchee branch of the state WorkSource Department has an office on the WVC Wenatchee campus. Students may visit the job service office to search for local and statewide job opportunities, learn effective interviewing techniques, and create résumés.
   
   
7. Special Populations
   Wenatchee Valley College serves all students on both campuses who have documented disabilities or special needs by providing appropriate and reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids. Students should contact the special populations office, which:
   1. Supports and advocates for students with disabilities.
   2. Requests the classroom accommodations and auxiliary aids
   3. Keeps confidential records of documentation
   4. Promotes awareness of disabilities to faculty, staff and students and advises the DSU (Disabled Students Union) club
   5. Helps in the training of faculty and staff to enhance skills and awareness of ADA and Section 504 laws with respect to higher education
   6. Maintains effective partnerships with and makes referrals to other agencies such as DVR, L & I, and community agencies as needed.
   7. Helps in the educational planning and advising of students with disabilities.
      
      
8. Veterans
   Services for veterans seeking educational benefits are available through the WVC financial aid office.
   
   
9. Childcare
   State funds received for the purpose of providing limited childcare services to students will be implemented through modest childcare grants. These grants are administered through the WVC financial aid office.
   
   
10. At-Risk Intervention
    Wenatchee Valley College counselors provide a range of counseling services for students considered academically or emotionally at-risk. At-risk students may be identified in a number of ways: through self-referral, referral by an instructor or staff member, or from the quarterly list of students who have been placed on probation, suspension or dismissal status. Students with poor academic performance are sent a letter requesting that they visit a counselor. Students are offered individualized services such as brief personal counseling, crisis intervention, referral to tutor center, agency referrals, and tips and techniques for effective studying, exam-taking, and life-problem solving. Workshops are given quarterly to groups of new students. Class presentations are provided to instructors who wish their students to have general or specific information regarding counseling services or college academic policies.
    
    
11. Career Planning
    Career planning resources and services include:
    1. Consultations with career center coordinator regarding work-based learning opportunities (internships, work experience for credit, mentorships, job shadows).
    2. Assistance in developing a resume.
    3. Assistance with interviewing techniques.
    4. Computerized career/college search programs and assessment inventories.
    5. A large collection of training sites/college catalogs.
    6.  Information on employment opportunities, trends, job-search strategies and labor market information; job placement board with current job openings in the WVC service area.
       
       
12. Counseling
    The community college counselor is a human-development professional who can provide the students with a variety of services. Counseling services are available at the Wenatchee campus. Services include:
    1. At-risk intervention.
    2. Problem-solving techniques.
    3. Career and life planning.
    4. Crisis intervention.
    5. Re-entry counseling.
    6.  Referral to and from outside agencies.
    7. Short term personal counseling.
    8. High School completion.
       
       
13. Health Services
    Nearby off-campus medical facilities make a campus health service unnecessary. In case of emergency, college staff members will help the student obtain medical assistance. Student medical insurance is also available and may be purchased through the cashier station.
    
    
14. High school Completion
    This program allows any student whose high school class has graduated, or is at least 19 years old, to earn a Washington state high school diploma through Wenatchee Valley College.
    
    
15. Multicultural Affairs
    Wenatchee Valley College values diversity throughout its district. The college fosters a supportive environment for all ethnic backgrounds by providing the multicultural affairs office which:
    1. Supports and advocates for ethnic students and provides assistance in achieving academic success.
    2. Oversees the recruitment and retention of ethnic students.
    3. Offers opportunities to develop leadership skills to ethnic students through the cultural diversity club and through visits to district middle schools and high schools.
    4. Promotes appreciation and awareness of cultural heritage represented by WVC students through the district.
    5. Helps in the training of faculty and staff to enhance skills, awareness, and abilities in working with ethnic students.
    6.  Helps in the recruitment of multicultural staff and faculty.
    7. Presents the annual Summer Impact Institute, designed to help ethnic students make the transition to college.
    8. Works and maintains collaborative partnerships with community members and agencies.
       
       
16. Running Start
    Running Start is a statewide program which allows academically qualified high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to take college courses as part of their high school program. Students may enroll in high school and college courses at the same time earning college credits that apply to each institution simultaneously. Running Start creates an alternative way for students to transition to college. Tuition is paid by the public school district in which the student is enrolled, however, some quarterly and class fees may be charged.
    
    
17. Student Programs
    
    1. Intercollegiate Athletics (Wenatchee campus only)
       Wenatchee Valley College is a member of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC). This conference regulates men’s and women’s athletics in Washington and Oregon. NWAACC intercollegiate athletic competition is offered in a variety of men’s and women’s sports. All athletic events are free for any WVC student with an ASWVC identification card. For more information please contact the athletics department.
    2. Intramural Sports (Wenatchee campus only)
       Each quarter there are opportunities for participation in men’s, women’s and co-ed intramural sports. Some of the programs that may be offered are flag football, volleyball, basketball, bowling, tennis, softball, racquetball, ping-pong, billiards, dodge ball and soccer. Some activities have student officials and, in some cases, student coaches. This allows all students the opportunity to participate and provides a greater learning experience.
    3. International Students and Programs
       WVC welcomes international students. In recent years, students from Honduras, Peru, Brazil, Canada, India, South Korea, Peoples’ Republic of China, Japan, Russia, and Mexico have enrolled at WVC. Every summer, WVC works with nursing students from the Shimane School of Nursing in Japan.
    4. Alcohol and Drug Awareness
       The Wenatchee Valley College drug and alcohol prevention task force:
       1. i.    Develops procedures that meet state and federal compliance guidelines concerning drug awareness and prevention.
       2. ii.    Distributes drug/alcohol awareness and prevention materials to students.
       3. iii.   Conducts surveys, in conjunction with the Chemical Dependency Studies Program, related to drug and alcohol use on campus.
    5. Student Government
       The student senate is the governing body of the Associated Students. Officers are elected from the student body. The student senate manages annual student budgets, charters student organizations, and sponsors a wide variety of cultural, social, recreational, service learning, educational and athletic programs. Sponsored programs include dances, lectures and entertainment which are planned, coordinated and conducted by students to supplement classroom learning experiences throughout the academic year.
       
       The activity council, composed of representatives of each ASWVC-sponsored club or organization, approves all student-sponsored programs on campus in cooperation with the ASWVC student senate.
       
       The constitution and bylaws of the Associated Student Body are reviewed and updated annually and printed in the Student Handbook. For further information regarding the constitution and bylaws, contact the Student Government Office.
       
       Omak campus student senate is the governing body of the Omak campus students. The student senate manages annual student budgets, sponsors a variety of cultural, social and educational programs, and charters student organizations. Programs may include films, dances, lectures and entertainment. These are planned by the students and scheduled throughout the academic year.
       
       
    6. Student Clubs and Organizations
       The student programs office maintains a current list of registered student organizations at both campuses.
    7. Tutoring
       Students who seek extra help in their classes can obtain free tutoring services through centers which provide a dynamic atmosphere of collaborative learning guided by a philosophy of students helping students.
       
       Tutoring can be a valuable supplement to regular class attendance, communication with the instructor and individual study. For further information contact the Tutor Center Coordinator.

Wenatchee Valley College’s academic programs of study are approved by the Washington state Higher Education Coordinating Board’s State Approving Agency (HECB/SAA) for enrollment of persons eligible to receive educational benefits under Title 38 and Title 10 U.S. Code.

Supersedes: 7.A.05/07/23/39/47
Approved by the president’s cabinet: 8/23/05
Presented to the board of trustees: 9/21/05
Last reviewed: __/__/__
Policy contact: Student Services

Related policies and procedures
400.000 Student Services Policy