CAMPUS NEWS
Ernst joins YVC as Vice President for Instruction and Student Services Jennifer Ernst, a long-time community college executive leader and faculty member, will join Yakima Valley College as Vice President for Instruction and Student Services efective July 1, 2021. Ernst brings extensive experience providing high-quality, student-centered learning experiences to diverse populations in a community college setting. She most recently served as dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Henry Ford College in Michigan, a community college with one of the most diverse student populations in the country. Prior to serving as dean, Ernst held a variety of academic leadership roles at the institution and served as an English instructor for nine years. "Yakima Valley College is an exciting and vibrant learning community," Ernst said. Jennifer Ernst "I am thrilled to be part of the process that builds on the successes of the past and takes our educational opportunities to the next level for all of our students.” Ernst is a frst-generation community college student herself, attending Glendale Community College before earning a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Pittsburgh, master’s degree in English literature from Duquesne University and doctorate in community college leadership from Ferris State University. A search committee composed of 11 faculty, administrators and staf members reviewed applications during the national search process. Following committee interviews with semifnalists, four fnalists participated in open forums for the campus community, with approximately 400 faculty, staf and students attending the forums.
Online learning extended through fall quarter 2021 This spring YVC made the decision to continue mostly online learning through fall quarter 2021. The decision is based on the state’s restrictions for institutions of higher education. “This is a decision that needs to be made now in order to complete the development of YVC’s course schedule for the fall, ofer advising to our students and provide adequate time for our entire campus community to plan,” said YVC President Linda Kaminski announcing the college’s decision. “While we look forward to resuming regular operations, our campus community has displayed tremendous resilience during this pandemic and I know that will continue.” Current exceptions for some in-person labs related to specifc workforce programs Clock Tower with fall leaves. will continue. Campuses will continue to be closed to the public with no in-person events and all services provided virtually. Decisions for winter quarter 2022 operations will be made at a future date.
Campus Update to get makeover YVC’s Campus Update publication will undergo a signifcant transformation in the coming months in order to provide students, alumni, faculty, staf and friends with more engaging content — including more videos, photos and other multimedia content. Long produced as a print publication, the makeover of Campus Update was spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and a desire to create an online magazine that allows for more fexibility in storytelling, enables content to be more easily shared, and provides new opportunities for YVC community members to share their news and accomplishments. The online magazine will debut in the Fall 2021 quarter under the new title of “YVC Voice”. Winter 2021 Campus Update Cover. “We have an incredible number of great stories to tell about the YVC community, and we’re excited to take advantage of new ways to share these stories with more people,” said YVC Director of Community Relations Dustin Wunderlich. “We’re confdent that YVC Voice will build pride in our community and raise awareness of all that our college ofers to the Yakima Valley.” 7 Yakima Valley College
