Dec 08, 2024  
Yakima Valley College Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Yakima Valley College Catalog 2024-2025

Policies



Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are designed to eliminate discrimination based on disability in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. As a recipient of such funds, YVC is bound to ADA guidelines. Specifically, no student shall, based on his/her disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subject to discrimination under any college policies, programs, or activities.

Disclosure Requirements and Campus Security

Campus crime data and safety policies can be obtained from the Security Office. Information on participation rates, financing, and graduation rates for athletics can be obtained from the YVC Athletic Department in Sherar Gym. Data on college graduation and transfer-out rates can be obtained from the Enrollment Services Office in the Deccio Higher Education Center.

Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989

YVC complies with Public law 100-690, providing information and following policies for the purpose of preventing and addressing alcohol and drug abuse. It is the goal of YVC to adhere to federal regulations and provide a drug-free environment. YVC is dedicated to maintaining a drug-free campus for students and employees. The following sites are a few of many which detail the health risks that can result from drug and alcohol abuse. 

Drug and Alcohol Policy 

Possession or consuming any form of liquor or alcoholic beverage on college property, in college housing, or at off-campus college events is prohibited. 

Possession, consumption, selling, or distributing, or being demonstrably under the influence of marijuana or any substance as defined by Chapter 69.50.101 RCW (including anabolic steroids, androgens, or human growth hormones as defined in Chapter 69.41 RCW) on property owned or controlled by the college in college housing or at functions sponsored or supervised by the college is prohibited. 

Alcohol use is prohibited as described above except for participants of legal age at programs with the special written permission of the college president. 

Any employee or student found to violate this policy will be subject to formal disciplinary action, which may include completion of an appropriate rehabilitation program up to and/or including dismissal/expulsion.  

Non-Discrimination Statement

Yakima Valley College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and operates under an Affirmative Action Plan under applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

It is the policy of Yakima Valley College to provide a working and learning environment free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation. This policy prohibits conduct that discriminates against individuals based on their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, age, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other prohibited basis.

This policy also prohibits retaliation as a result of an individual filing a report of discrimination or harassment or participating in an investigation of a claim of discrimination or harassment.

This policy applies to all programs and facilities, including, but not limited to, admissions, educational programs and employment. Yakima Valley College complies with all Washington State anti-discrimination laws (RCW 49.60) and the following federal laws relating to equal opportunity: Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

Yakima Valley College is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. The College will take steps to ensure that the lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in vocational education programs.

Coordination of the compliance efforts of Yakima Valley College with respect to equal opportunity and disability accommodation regulations is under the direction of the Director of Human Resources, Yakima Valley College, 1015 South 16th Avenue, Yakima, Washington, 98902; telephone 509.574.4670.

Student Identification Numbers

The Washington State Legislature passed a bill that requires Washington State colleges and universities to discontinue the use of Social Security Numbers (SSN) to identify students and their records. The law is intended to add additional protections to student privacy, student identity, and student records.

A student identifier (SID) has been assigned to students whose SSN was used as their primary identifier. The new SID is required whenever students access the YVC website or when they request services on campus. The SID will also appear on class rosters and other college documents and records.

The SSN is not used as the primary student identifier. The SSN is stored confidentially in the student’s records and can only be used for necessary purposes such as financial aid, financial aid-related verifications, transcripts, 1098T IRS Tuition Statement, workforce or unemployment data matching, and other legitimate uses as authorized under the Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-579, Section 7).

In response to state Senate Bill 5463, the college has modified how SIDs are assigned to new students. The purpose of the change is to move forward a common SID across the system, where students eventually have one single SID regardless of which and how many colleges in the system they attend.

Social Security Number Disclosure

A student’s social security number is confidential, and, under authority of the federal Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA), the college will protect it from unauthorized use and disclosure. In compliance with state and federal requirements, disclosure may be authorized for the purposes of state and federal financial aid, 1098T IRS Tuition Statement, academic transcripts, assessment, or accountability research.

Tobacco Use Policy

Use of tobacco products is prohibited at YVC except in designated areas. Reference campus maps.

Under state laws and regulations, tobacco products in any form, shall not be permitted except in designated areas. Because there is increasing evidence that use of tobacco creates a danger to public health, and in order to protect the public’s safety and welfare, the declared purpose of this regulation is to prohibit the use of tobacco products in certain places which are used by and open to the public.

“Tobacco” as used in this policy shall include products such as chewing tobacco or the smoking or carrying of any kind of lighted pipe, cigar or cigarette.

The adjective “public” as used in this policy shall mean any place used by and open to the general public, regardless of whether such place is owned by private persons, the State of Washington, or counties and municipalities of the State of Washington.