YAKIMA VALLEY COLLEGE Campus Update, Fall 2019
Board of Trustees: Patrick Baldoz Sara Cate, M.D., Board Chair Neil McClure
Letter from the President
Rosalinda Mendoza
It is hard to believe that we are well
Robert Ozuna
into the month of December already. Produced by:
The fall quarter has been full of
Jay Frank
engaging activities, new initiatives, and
Stefanie Menard
encouraging projects. Among the many activities were a
Contributing Photographers:
visit from our veterinary technology
Jay Frank Stefanie Menard
accreditors. We were pleased to learn
Melodie Smith
that we have the best vet tech facility the accreditor has ever visited. We also have
Published: December 2019 If you would like to be added or removed from our mailing list, please contact us: Yakima Valley College Community Relations PO Box 22520 Yakima, WA 98907-2520
begun to update our strategic plan to identify our priorities for the next five years. We will soon be requesting your participation in this process. In the area of new initiatives, we are elated to have been chosen as one of ten colleges in the country for the “Caring Campus� Initiative. This grant will enable our staff to receive professional training that will promote a more welcoming learning environment for our students. Examples of encouraging projects include our new partnership with
communityrelations@yvcc.edu
the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical
509.574.4646
Sciences. This partnership will enable our advanced biochemistry students
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to directly enter the pharmacy school with an associate degree. Another example is our collaboration with Big Bend Community College in offering Unmanned Arial Systems Classes. You will read about these and many other activities in this issue of the Campus Update. We hope that you find this issue to be informative and inspirational. We thank you for your ongoing support of YVC as we strive to provide educational opportunities and promote economic growth and stability throughout the communities we serve in the Yakima, Kittitas and Klickitat counties.
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/school/yakimavalley-community-college/
Sincerely, Yakima Valley College does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, genetic information, or age in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. All inquiries regarding compliance should be directed to the Executive Director of Human Resource Services, YVC, South 16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima, WA 98902; or call 509.574.4670.
Linda Kaminski, Ed.D. President
Contents 3 4 6 7 9 10
Campus News Program News Larson Gallery & Athletics Annual Report Student Activities YVC’s People
Cover Photo: YVC BAS-TE Student Cindy Mejia works with a child at John Campbell Elementary in Selah. This Page: Top: YVC’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream collaboration with Warehouse Theatre Middle: YVC’s Cadences dressed as Dickens Christmas Carolers gearing up for the holiday season Bottom left: Commander Lloyd Gabriel speaks during the Veterans Day Panel Bottom right: GSC Ambassador Ester Lopez-Frias during the Student Life Paint Night Back Cover Photo: A banner in Raymond Hall celebrates YVC’s mission
CAMPUS NEWS
From left: Sheila Delquadri, Skye Field, Tomás Ybarra, Director of Higher Education Mary Chikwinya, Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib, Dr. Linda Kaminski, Marc Coomer, Dr. Paulette Lopez, Dilbar Chhokar, Marivy Vasquez, Kevin Hager, Jacqueline Staley, and Richard Miller
Lieutenant Governor Visits YVC
This September Yakima Valley College was honored by a personal visit from Washington Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib. Since his election, Lt. Governor Habib has publicly emphasized the importance of access to higher education. During his visit, the Lt. Governor met with YVC President Dr. Linda Kaminski, Vice President of Instruction and Student Services Tomás Ybarra along with Dean’s Leslie Blackaby, Dr. Paulette Lopez and Marc Coomer among other college staff. He took particular interest in the college’s efforts to improve outreach and retention of adult students. Lt. Governor Habib also showed curiosity in YVC’s distance learning options, and he shared the work being done at the state level to improve the experiences of distance learners. “To create equitable access to higher education in our state, we need to first promote the life-changing value of higher education to students who may not yet think of themselves as being ‘college material,’ said Lt. Governor Habib. “As one of our state’s most diverse schools, Yakima Valley College is doing incredible work engaging a student population that is predominantly first generation and often has to overcome major obstacles in order to successfully pursue postsecondary education.”
Caring Campus Initiative
Yakima Valley College is one of just ten institutions in the country selected for the Caring Campus initiative, a program of professional development designed to help staff establish better relationships with students and help them succeed. The initiative was created by the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC), a higher education consultant group from southern California, and is fully funded by a grant from Ascendium Education Group. “This is not going to cost Yakima Valley College or the neighboring community anything,” says IEBC Vice President Jordan Horowitz. “We want to make sure students feel comfortable enough to come on campus, know they’ll be welcomed, and know they won’t be alone.” YVC was chosen for a number of factors, including its relatively rural location, its status as a Hispanic Serving Institution, its ability to generate performance data, and its record of successfully implementing emerging industry practices. Horowitz will make several visits to the campus, helping train staff to be more “intentional” in their relationships with students. Changes implemented by other colleges who have received the same training range from staff wearing name tags to staff welcoming students in parking lots the first week of school.
Major Incident Table Top Exercise
Prior to the start of fall quarter, YVC hosted a “table top” emergency preparedness exercise, welcoming to campus representatives of the major emergency response agencies in the Yakima Valley. The exercise imagined an active shooter on campus, and challenged both the responders and a selected group of YVC leaders to respond in an “on-the-clock” timed format. “I feel that the greatest value of getting responders together was the exchange of expectations and suggestions should a horrific event such as an active shooter occur on our campus,” explains Campus Safety Supervisor Mike Lane. “I think we gained a better understanding of our strengths and areas that we need to work on.” A number of lessons learned from the exercise have been incorporated both into YVC’s active shooter trainings and YVC’s crisis communication plan. 3 Yakima Valley College
Chris Weedin, School Safety Project Manager for ESD 105 speaks to YVC staff and administrators during the table top exercise
PROGRAM NEWS Jessica Villarino and Sabino Rivera
Teana Robbins with CJ Students
Vet Tech Experiential Learning
Pre-Pharmacy Signing Day
YVC AST Students Awarded Scholarships Two YVC Automotive Service Technology students were recently awarded scholarships from the Sun Country Mustang Club (SCMC) during their 28th Annual Ponies in the Sun Car Show. Students Jessica Villarino and Sabino Rivera were both presented with a $750 scholarship. These funds help cover the costs of tools necessary for the program, and position them for success starting out in the automotive service industry. “The SCMC has embraced our students and AST Program since the first point of contact,” stated AST Instructor Murray Ruggles. “They are eager and willing to support our community. Tools are a major investment for any technician and to get a head start is significant to students who are making a sacrifice at this moment to better themselves and community tomorrow.”
Criminal Justice
YVC’s Criminal Justice (CJ) Program participates with law enforcement and corrections to enhance students’ education. This fall students in course CJ111 had the opportunity to participate with Adjunct Criminal Justice Instructor Teana Robbins in a demonstration of cadaver dog practices for the Yakima County Sherriff Search and Rescue K-9 Team in Larson Park. The training allowed students to see first-hand a K-9 team’s ability to successfully identify the presence of human remains in an assigned area. Experiences like this help CJ students decide what career paths to follow within criminal justice, while exposing students to unique, hands-on training. “They get some experiential learning,” says Criminal Justice Instructor Janet Foster Goodwill. “We talk about how evidence gets admitted into court, but here we show what you have to do to get it admitted into court and have it proven to be credible.”
Veterinary Technology Hosts Veterinary Board
Faculty and students in YVC’s Veterinary Technology program hosted the Washington State Veterinary Board of Governors this fall for their quarterly meeting. After the regular meeting, members of the Board had the chance to visit YVC’s Veterinary Technology program and to share a presentation with students. This opportunity allowed YVC to highlight its state-of-the-art facilities, while providing students the opportunity to network with veterinarians from around the state. “This visit was a great opportunity for our students to learn about the work being done by the Board. Students were very interested to view their success and are excited to join the profession,” stated Veterinary Technology Instructor Dr. Susan Wedam. Later in the quarter students had the opportunity to participate in a leadership camp conducted by Daniel Haley of Trajectory Consulting and Solutions. This camp included team-building, goal setting, strategizing, and reflection activities.
Pre-Pharmacy YVC has signed an agreement with Washington State University’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS), developing a pre-pharmacy track to prepare YVC students to apply to pharmacy school. Because of this partnership, for the first time, local students can now become pharmacists without ever leaving the Yakima Valley for their education. Admission into pharmacy school is traditionally very competitive; however, a bachelor’s degree is not required to apply to CPPS. Chemistry Instructor Dr. Sam Mazhari helped promote development of the new track, inspired by the success of pre-pharmacy programs elsewhere. “We thought maybe we can do that here,” Mazhari says, “and that can bring students into our upper lever chemistry classes like organic chemistry, biology for majors, and a new condensed biochemistry course that we just put together to form the pre-pharmacy track.” Fall 2019 4
PROGRAM NEWS Unmanned Aerial System
2019 Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education Cohort
Growth in YVC’s BAS-TE Program
Luke Sharaf and RuthAnn Laurvick work on their STEM research
This fall YVC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education (BAS-TE) welcomed its second cohort of students. The degree program prepares individuals for a Washington State Teacher Certificate in Elementary Education (K-8). This year’s cohort includes 41 students on the Yakima Campus. A partnership with the Grandview School District has enabled YVC to offer the curriculum for the first time on its Grandview Campus, which this fall enrolled ten lower valley students in the BAS-TE program. “Engaged partner districts and school staff are essential to teacher education programs,” stated Early Childhood Education Instructor Dr. Melissa Matczak. “The BAS-TE program is fortunate to have Grandview School District as an active partner in this work. This type of collaboration ensures each of our students, regardless of circumstance, has an equitable opportunity to succeed.”
YVC Awarded New Job Skills Program Grants
This fall the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) approved Job Skills Program (JSP) grants to help build and improve local employee skills. The grants awarded for McClarin Plastics and Shields total $736,426 and will help both organizations provide necessary training to employees. Both organizations reached out to YVC and the SBCTC about starting a program to help improve their employees’ skills. The JSP provides funding to licensed educational institutions in Washington and provides half of the training cost, while partner employers provide a cash or in-kind match to fund the other half. “JSP grants stem from Washington State legislation that strongly encourages a cooperative relationship between businesses, industry and educational institutions,” stated WorkFirst Director Lonni Rodriguez-Funk. “YVC has a great opportunity to partner with different companies who are looking to train employees.”
Undergraduate Research in STEM
YVC continues to be a leader in offering research opportunities to undergraduate students. In 2019 the college created 15 projects and mentored 40 students. Janet Cervantes and Maribel Solano Alcantara, students working with mentor Claire Carpenter, were featured on a KIMA Action News segment for their project “The Effect of Lifestyle Choices on Microbial Diversity in Homes.” Their findings encouraged viewers to consider the benefits of house pets and open windows, among other things, in better preparing the human immune system to combat harmful microbes. These projects are possible through funding awarded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Education.
Unmanned Aerial Systems
This fall, YVC entered into a partnership with Big Bend Community College, offering classes and even a one-year certificate in Unmanned Aerial Systems, preparing students to safely operate commercial drones. “For the online class you actually enroll through YVC,” explains YVC Part-Time Instructor Kevin Carlascio. “You would come sit in one of our beautiful new classrooms and be a part of the online community through Big Bend. And through that process they’re going to teach you the ins and outs of the drone.” The program includes six key courses to provide the knowledge and skills to use small Unmanned Aerial Systems commercially. Workplace applications include agriculture, law enforcement, sales/advertising, modern manufacturing and many other public and private sector careers. For students who simply want to prepare for the test for federal licensure, there is a two-credit course designed just for that purpose, covering the basics of drone operation. 5 Yakima Valley College
Corynn Vigil
YVC’s soccer team enjoyed another winning year, compiling an impressive record of eleven wins, five losses, and four draws. In the highly competitive east region of the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC), the record was good for a fourth-place finish, leaving the team just short of qualifying for post-season play. Standout freshman Abigail Uhart, a 6”1’ defender, found herself named to the NWAC All-Star team in just her first season of college play. Sophomore Corynn Vigil led the team with 12 goals scored, the sixth highest individual total in the conference. “This group was a top NWAC team and was ranked the highest in program history at 5th among all other NWAC teams,” says Head Coach Abigail Drollinger. “It was a talented group from top to bottom and it is going to be hard to say good-bye to 10 sophomores who contributed greatly to the program over the last two seasons.” Drollinger adds that she expects all ten sophomores to go on to play a contributing role at four-year institutions next season.
Softball Honorary Members This fall, YVC’s softball team added two very special team members. Six-year-old Holley Estrada and nine-year-old Haley Holly Estrada and Haley Cook Cook are sisters who have both faced serious medical challenges, and are now honorary members of the Yaks softball squad. The two received team gear and signed unofficial “letters of intent” in an outdoor ceremony featured prominently in The Yakima Herald-Republic newspaper. The girls’ mother, Alisha Kelley, hopes the experience will serve as a source of emotional support for her daughters, saying, “I just hope that the girls look at it that there are friends that are on the outside, other than our friends and family, who are supporting them, being there for them, and who can love them just as much as everybody else does, and know they are not alone.” Following the ceremony, the girls followed the team to the recreation room of the Student Residence Center to play some ping pong and eat pizza together. Head Coach Chuck Bodeen says the outings and get-togethers will continue throughout the academic year, and he hopes the relationships formed will last well into the future.
Larson Gallery’s Central Washington Artists’ Exhibition This fall the Larson Gallery hosted the 64th Annual Central Washington Artists’ Exhibition. 87 works by 57 artists were selected from Benton, Chelan, Franklin, Kittitas, and Yakima counties. Originally called the Yakima Valley Artists Exhibition, and originally limited to the reach of Yakima County, the boundaries of this exhibit eventually extended into neighboring counties over the years. This year’s juror, Greg Robinson, began working at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art in 2010 and serves as Chief Curator. Robinson is a Seattle native who has worked in arts administration for 23 years, most recently as executive director of the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner. He has served on numerous arts juries and awards panels, and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in Public Administration from New York University. Robinson was asked to select works from 211 artworks entered by 87 artists.
Take Me Back by Darcie Roberts
Fall 2019 6
ATHLETICS & LARSON GALLERY
Women’s Soccer
Annual Report • Academic Year 2018-2019 Enrollment 8,238 Annual Headcount 4,498 Full-Time Equivalent
Operating Resources State Operating Total $32,387,477
Funds $19,941,054 62%
$20,000,000
Graduating Class 1,090 Graduates 1,154 Total Degrees and Certificates Earned
$15,000,000
Tuition $9,138,212 28%
Employees 371 Full-Time Employees 40% Faculty 40% Classified 11% Administrative 9% Exempt/Professional
$10,000,000
Reserves $2,831,211 9%
$5,000,000
Local Funds $477,000 1% 0
Financial Aid
State & Federal Grants & Contracts
Total $24,222,126
Total $8,854,691 $5,000,000
$20,000,000
Federal Grants $4,563,902 52% Local Grants & Contracts $2,844,675 32%
$4,000,000
Grants and Waivers $17,349,438 72%
$15,000,000
$3,000,000 $10,000,000
$2,000,000
State Grants $1,446,114 16% $5,000,000
$1,000,000
0
YAKIMA VA L L E Y COLLEGE
0
Student Loans $4,865,201 20% Scholarships $1,539,226 6% Work Study Outside Agency $406,897 $61,364 2% <1%
A Look at Our Students Personal Enrichment 3% College & Career Readiness 20%
Transfer 31%
Course Type
Workforce Training 45%
40 or Above 12%
Under 20 26%
30-39 16%
Age
20-29 45%
Asian/Pacific Islander Multiracial Black 2% or Other Race 2% 3% Native American White 3% 30%
Hispanic/Latino 60%
Ethnicity
College Capital Projects
West Campus Expansion
Math Center on the Grandview Campus
Chemistry Student Yemi Akinbade
West Campus Expansion Work continues to renovate buildings on YVCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s West Campus. The estimated budget for the renovation and expansion project is $22.7 million. The new spaces include a facility for the Allied Health programs, a new conference center, and an expanded location for the Larson Gallery and a Wine Tasting Room. The expansion also allows the college to expand parking. The projects began construction in September 2019. The classroom space and Larson Gallery and tasting room are expected to be completed by September 2020 with the conference facility scheduled to open in January of 2021.
Math Center Upgrades Thanks to funding from the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Title V EQUAL Grant and student lab fees, Math Centers on both the Yakima and Grandview campuses recently went through renovations including paint, carpet, furniture and technology. The changes include a new universal design and configuration which accommodates a wide range of individual student learning preferences and aptitudes.
Fume Hood Remodel In Winter 2019 YVC expanded the laboratory space within Glenn Anthon Hall to feature seven new chemistry fume hoods. These stations allow for hands-on learning and experimentation in a department that has seen growth in recent years, with student demand surpassing lab capacity.
Skills Center Painting The Skills Center Building on the Yakima Campus recently received a face-lift through new exterior paint and signage.
Data for this report provided by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Budget Office, Grant Office, Financial Aid, Human Resource Services, and the Vice President for Administrative Services. Sources include, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Annual Report, Data Warehouse, and Financial Aid Management. Published: December 2019.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES The Rocky Horror Show
Olmeca
Penny Tahmalwash at basketweaving workshop
The Rocky Horror Show This fall, YVC’s Playmasters presented Richard O’Brien’s cult classic The Rocky Horror Show. The play follows sweethearts Brad and Janet who are stuck with a flat tire during a storm. The pair discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a scientist and self-described “sweet transvestite.” As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. YVC’s cast included students and members of the community.
Diversity Series YVC’s 2019-2020 Diversity Series, in keeping with the adopted theme “Bring the Noise,” kicked off the academic year with workshops and performances by Olmeca, a hip-hop MC, producer, Kennedy Center Artist Fellow and University of Nevada, Las Vegas faculty member. With the use of lyricism, sincerity, and humor, Olmeca shared personal stories and examined U.S. art, culture, and politics as they relate to marginalized communities and low-income families. The series continued later in the month with a panel discussion held in partnership with the Yakima Immigrant Response Network, titled “Yakima’s Role in the Detention and Deportation Pipeline.”
Indigenous People’s Month In honor of Indigenous Peoples Month and in celebration of the rich culture of our community, ASYVC hosted a basket weaving workshop in October. The workshop was led by Bessie J Martinez, with the help of A.J. Cooper and Lucina Bill. Participants learned to create an authentic small Yakama basket. “The basket weaving workshop was a significant event that provided participants with an enriching cultural experience and deeper appreciation of our local indigenous tribe. It was fun to spend time chatting with other students from different backgrounds while we learned a new skill,” stated ASYVC Vice President Penny Tahmalwash.
Coordinating Access to Resources and Education (CARE) Stations This fall, YVC’s Transfer Club, Peer Mentoring Program, and student governments implemented Coordinating Access to Resources and Education Stations (CARE) stations during the first three days of the quarter. CARE stations were run by knowledgeable staff members and student leads who provided students with directions, maps and snacks. Each station had a unique activity to encourage fun interactions between students to help relieve first day nerves. The overall goal was to promote student success by helping anyone that needs a resource or extra energy to start the quarter off right.
National Coming Out Day On October 11th YVC celebrated National Coming Out Day, the annual LGBTQIA+ awareness day. The celebration, hosted by ASYVC included an information booth, popcorn, and a door of support. “I really think it is important for the school to expose our student body to the positive outlook of LGBTQIA+ and it’s community,” stated ASYVC President Hope Wilson. “The happiness of someone being able to sign the yellow door and proclaim their feelings/associations to the community is absolutely beautiful. Sometimes it’s people that didn’t get a good response from close companions in their life and because of our celebration of National Coming Out Day, these people were able to find new friends and others that accept them no matter what differences they may have with each other. 9 Yakima Valley College
PEOPLE Dr. Sara Cate
Cindy Hoffman
Kristen Walls from KAPP TV speaks with Brad Smith for the 100% Chance of Wine Segment
Dr. Sara Cate Reappointed to YVC’s Board of Trustees Dr. Sara Cate has been appointed bu Governor Jay Inslee for a second term to YVC’s Board of Trustees. She attended and graduated from University Of Washington School Of Medicine in 1988, and completed her residency in 1991. She started her career at Providence Medical Center’s Queen Ann Clinic, and later worked for the Central Washington Family Medical Residency, before serving as the Medical Director and Physician for Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and Northern Idaho from 2004-2011. In 2011, she joined the team at Community Health of Central Washington. Her term of office runs through September 30, 2024. Congratulations to Cindy Hoffman, recipient of the Summer 2019 Classified Employee of the Quarter Award. Hoffman is an Information Technology Customer Service-Journey in Technology Services. Congratulations to the Community Relations Office, which received four Medallion Awards during the 2019 National Council for Marketing and Public Relations District 7 Conference in October. Awards received include Gold (Video Short - Series), Silver (Newsletter and Poster), and Bronze (College Promotional Brand Video). Director of Institutional Effectiveness Sheila Delquadri and Faculty Director for Title V Wilma Dulin and were recently selected as Mission Fulfillment Fellows by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). NWCCU Fellows aid in the college accreditation process by working toward continuous improvement and fulfillment of the institution’s mission. The year-long process runs through June 2020. Congratulations to Dean of Workforce Education Paulette Lopez, who recently earned her doctorate degree in educational leadership from the University of Washington. Congratulations to Jeff Morrow, YVC’s new Director of Facility Operations. Jeff previously served as the Assistant Director and Grounds and Nursery Supervisor. Vice President of Administrative Services Dr. Teresa Rich was recently awarded the 2018-2019 BE THE INSPIRATION Award from the Southwest Rotary of Yakima. Congratulations to English Instructor Julie Swedin, who recently earned her doctorate degree in educational leadership from Washington State University. Yakima Valley Vintners was featured recently in KAPP-TV’s 100% Chance of Wine segment. The two-part segment aired in September and showed a behind-the-scenes look at winemaking at YVC. Later in the quarter they received six awards for their student crafted wines at the 2019 Tri-Cities Wine Festival. YVV’s 2016 Dean’s List Merlot and 2016 Lemberger each received a gold medal. The 2016 Primitivo, 2015 Semester Abroad Sangiovese, 2018 Research Paper Roussanne each garnered silver medals. Lastly, the 2018 History Class Pinot Gris earned a bronze medal. Fall 2019 10
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