Academic Rules

Academic Progress Standards

Purpose

YVC is committed to the educational success of students. The college recognizes that individual student success requires a clear educational goal, careful course selection, and a substantial commitment of student time and effort. To support of student success, the college provides programs and services to assist students with their educational choices and their learning processes. The college has the additional obligation to support and require academic progress for enrolled students. This is essential both for the well-being of the student and for the responsible management of the public higher education resources.

Confidentiality

Release of Student Information
YVC, in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) 34 CFR, Part 99, has designated these as Directory Information: name; photographs; major field of study; eligibility for and participation in officially recognized activities, organizations and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; dates of attendance (quarters in attendance); enrollment status (number of credits enrolled in for a quarter at YVC); degrees and awards received; and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student.

YVC may disclose the above-listed items without the student’s prior written consent unless the Registration and Records Office is notified in writing to the contrary. Once a student has designated a confidential classification, it will not be removed until the student submits a signed authorization requesting that it be removed.

Some effects of the student’s decision to request confidential status may have an adverse effect. Friends or relatives trying to reach the student will not be able to do so through the college; information that someone is a student here will be suppressed, so that if a loan company, a prospective employer, family members, etc., inquire about a student, they will be informed that we have no record of the student attending here.

All other student academic information is considered confidential and will not be released, with certain exceptions as stated in 34 CFR, Part 99, without the student’s written permission. Students must appear in person in the Registration and Records Office with photo identification and must submit their written consent for the release of other academic information.

Student Privacy Rights Under FERPA
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) 34 CFR, Part 99, affords students certain rights regarding their education records. These rights are:

• The right to inspect and review the student’s education records.
• The right to request the amendment of any of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
• The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. See “Directory Information” in this catalog.
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the college to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

More detailed information about each of these rights is contained in the YVC Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. For more information on these rights, contact the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, or visit this U.S. Department of Education website, www.ED.gov/Policy/Gen/Guid/fpco/index.html

Determining an Academic Plan

All new degree-seeking students must establish that they are prepared to succeed in their chosen educational program. Students with fewer than 30 college-level credits will be required to see their academic adviser before they can register for the following quarter. Upon completion of 30 college-level credits, students who have not declared a program or major area of study will be required to meet with their advisor to prepare a degree audit and declare a major.

Standards

To maintain satisfactory progress while enrolled at YVC, students are expected to maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a quarterly and a cumulative basis. Financial aid students must complete all of the credits for which they are awarded financial aid and must earn at least a 2.0 quarterly GPA to maintain satisfactory progress. Specific details of the financial aid satisfactory progress requirements are available online at www.YVCC.edu/FinancialAid or in printed format at the Financial Aid Office. Students may not always be able to maintain these academic standards, so the college provides the following rules, standards, and procedures:

Attendance

Class attendance is required at the discretion of the instructor. Regular class attendance is encouraged and expected. No absences, whether approved by the college for participation in college-sponsored activities or necessitated by sickness or other personal emergency, relieve the student of responsibility for work assigned for the class during an absence. The student is responsible for arranging makeup work with instructors.

Faculty members may submit an administrative withdrawal whenever a student misses two consecutive class sessions and does not contact the instructor. No refund is given after the first week of the quarter. A grade of “F” may be assigned by the instructor if a student does not follow the prescribed procedures for withdrawing from a course or from the college.
Students must be officially enrolled in a course to attend class.

Academic Probation

Students will be placed on academic probation when they fail to make satisfactory academic progress. Students fail to make satisfactory academic progress when their GPA falls below the minimum standard of 2.0. The assignment of 10 or more credits of V grades in any quarter is also considered a failure to make satisfactory academic progress and will result in the student being placed on academic probation.

Academic Suspension

Students who have been placed on academic probation and who fail during the next quarter of attendance to make satisfactory progress shall be suspended for one academic quarter. Students placed on academic suspension will be notified by mail and may appeal by the deadline stated in their suspension letter. Students who do not appeal will be dropped from their classes (tuition will be refunded, if warranted) and will be required to meet with their advisor and complete a degree audit as a condition of re-enrollment. Students will be blocked from registration until evidence of their degree audit is submitted to the Registration Office.

Academic Dismissal

Students who return from prior suspension and fail to meet minimum satisfactory progress for the quarter shall be dismissed from the college, subject to appeal. If dismissal is upheld, the student will not be eligible to return until the fourth quarter following the dismissal. Students will be blocked from registration until evidence of their degree audit is submitted to the Registration Office.

Academic Procedures

Academic Renewal Policy

To encourage students who may not have been successful during their previous college work, YVC has established an academic renewal policy.

Students who return after an absence of at least a year and who subsequently pass two quarters of work (at least 12 credits each quarter) with a 2.0 GPA or better, may petition the Registrar and Director for Enrollment Services to implement the academic renewal policy. If the petition is accepted, grades for the quarter chosen and all quarters prior to the one chosen, will be changed to “No Credit.” All courses previously taken remain on the transcript, but the grade point average is adjusted. Courses subject to this policy will not count toward completion of the student’s program of study. Students who wish to rescind this policy must petition to the Registrar.

The policy may be used only once, and students must be enrolled at the time the policy is implemented. No other college work is subject to the provisions of this policy.

Final Examinations

Final examinations are scheduled during the final week of each quarter. As a matter of college policy, individual students are not permitted to take early final examinations.

If a student must be absent from a regular final examination and has a valid excuse, the student may be given a special examination with the permission of the instructor and the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services. Permission slips to request an early final may be obtained from the Office of the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services.

In courses where final examinations are not an appropriate measure of the work, an instructor may elect not to give an examination.

A student must earn a grade of “C” or better in prerequisite courses, unless otherwise noted. Contact the program advisor immediately if there are questions.

Grade Appeal Process

If a student has reason to believe a mistake was made in the computation of a class grade or otherwise believes a problem exists in a class grade that has been assigned, a student may appeal the course grade. Students should understand, however, that a grade appeal may result in a higher grade, a lower grade, or no change in a grade. 

Grade changes for grades other than “I” will not be accepted beyond one year. 

The instructor has sole authority to assign a grade.  If a student disagrees with a grade assigned by the instructor, the student must meet with the instructor to discuss the disputed grade within one year of the last day of the quarter in which the class was taught.  If the instructor is no longer employed by the college, or is otherwise unavailable during that quarter, the student should discuss the matter with the supervising dean.  If the course is taught on the Grandview campus, the student would discuss the matter with Grandview campus dean who shall collaborate with the supervising dean throughout the investigation. 

The student must be able to present copies of all assessments and other relevant coursework/materials considered in the computation of the grade that were returned to the student so that an effective review of the course grade may be undertaken. 

If an error is discovered that would change the course grade, the instructor or appropri­ate division dean will complete the necessary administrative process for a grade change.

After communicating with the student, the instructor will decide whether any change to the assigned grade is justified and, if so, will adjust the grade and inform the student of the outcome.  If the student is dissatisfied with the outcome, the student may appeal to the supervising dean who has sole authority to consider a grade appeal.  If the course is taught on the Grandview campus, the student would discuss the matter with Grandview campus dean who shall collaborate with the supervising dean throughout the investigation. 

The decision of the supervising dean is final.

Grade Point Average (GPA)
Grade points serve as a means of objectively stating a given level of scholarship or mastery of tasks. A point value is assigned for each grade. A complete list of these grade point values appears in this catalog.

The grade point average is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of graded (A-F) credit hours. The grade points for a particular course are determined by multiplying the grade point value of the letter grade times the number of credits. For example, a three-credit course with a grade of B has nine grade points. I, N, S, V, W, CR/NC, and * grades are not included in the calculation of the grade point average.

Grade Reports
Grades are available to students each quarter, one week after grades are due. Grades can be obtained by any of the following means:

• Use the student Online Services Center in the Registration and Records Office or the Hopf Union Building.
• Go to the YVC Internet address at www.YVCC.edu, click “Student Portal” then “Registration”, then “Unofficial Transcript.”
• Visit the Registration and Records Office, show photo ID, and obtain an unofficial copy of the transcript.
• Write the Registration and Records Office and request a copy. Include signature, student identification number, and mailing address.

Transcripts
An official transcript is a copy of the student’s academic record bearing the school’s seal and the signature of the registrar. Official transcripts are released to the student or third parties at the student’s written request. There is a 72-hour turnaround time for official transcripts. A fee of $1.00 per copy will be charged for transcript requests of 10 or more.

Unofficial transcripts for advising purposes are furnished to the student upon request and with photo identification. Students may obtain them by visiting our website or by using the Online Services Center in the Registration and Records Office or in the Hopf Union Building.

Confidentiality of Grades
While YVC recognizes the legitimate interest of parents and guardians to consult with the professional staff about the academic and personal well-being of their sons and daughters, parents will not be furnished grade reports or transcripts without written permission from the student. Likewise, the spouse of a married student, regardless of the student’s age, will be given such information only with the written consent of the student. Students must appear in person in the Registration and Records Office with photo identification and must submit their written consent for the release of their grades. (See “Release of Student Information”).

Grading Symbols
Grades of A through D, S, and CR are considered passing grades; however, some degree programs may have restrictions on the use of the D, S, and CR grades. These grades may not be acceptable in meeting general or major requirements at some transfer institutions.

The grade A is the highest possible grade, and grades below D are considered failing. Plus (+) or minus (-) signs are used to indicate grades that fall above or below the letter grades, but grades of A+ and D- are not used. Additional information regarding other grades used is provided below. For purposes of calculating grade points and averages, the grade point values are as in the following chart.

CR/NC - Credit/No Credit
Generally for use by the nursing and English departments. CR indicates credit will be granted to nursing students or, for English students, where progress was shown. English students who receive a grade of CR in sub-100-level English courses have indicated progress was made in the course; however, a grade of S must be earned before they can progress to the next level of English. NC indicates no credit will be granted. Grades of CR/NC are not included in the grade point average calculation.

I - Incomplete
An incomplete grade (I) indicates that work is satisfactory as far as completed. It permits the student to complete the remaining work within five weeks of the following term if the student is registered or, if the student is not registered, within one calendar year. The (I) grade may be given in cases where a student has been in attendance and done satisfactory work up to a time near the end of the quarter but is unable to complete all work by the close of the quarter due to illness or other extenuating circumstances. Submission of (I) grades must be accompanied by a signed Incomplete Grade Card indicating what work is to be completed. The Incomplete Grade Card also requires the instructor to provide the grade a student should receive if the work is not completed within one year. (I) grades are not included in the GPA calculation.

N- Audit
Students may receive an audit grade (N) without instructor approval by indicating the audit category at the time of registration or by changing to audit during the designated add period. Students seeking an audit after the designated add period must meet with their instructor for approval. The instructor must sign their approval on an add/drop form before the Registration and Records Office can process the request. Auditing students are exempt from examinations and do not receive college credit; however, the instructor may require reasonable attendance and class participation. (N) grades are not included in the GPA calculation. The Student must meet all prerequisites for a class in order to audit the class.

P/F - Pass/Fail
YVC does not use the P grade. See S (satisfactory) grade.

R - Repeat
The repeat (R) designation indicates that a student has repeated a YVC course. Students must file a Repeat Card in the Registration and Records Office so that the grade point can be adjusted upon course completion. (I), (N), (W), and (V) grades have no grade point value; therefore, no repeat cards are necessary when repeating a course for which a student received such a grade. All courses taken and all grades earned in compliance with the YVC High-Demand Course Repeat Rule will appear on the student’s transcript. For all repeated courses, the higher grade forgives the lower grade and replaces it in GPA computations; however, the lower grades will remain on the transcript but will not be used to compute the YVC cumulative GPA. Grades received in violation of the YVC High-Demand Course Repeat Rule will not be used in GPA computations and will not appear on the student’s transcript. See the complete text of the rule in this catalog or on the web at www.YVCC.edu

S - Satisfactory
The S grade indicates a satisfactory level of performance (C grade minimum) by the student. It is considered a passing grade but is not included in the GPA calculation. This grade may be used in certain instances where A-F grading is deemed inappropriate. Instructor permission required.

V - Unofficial Withdrawal
An unofficial withdrawal (V) may be assigned by an instructor at the end of a quarter if the student has not officially withdrawn from a course. Submission of a (V) grade must include the last date the student participated in class or was otherwise engaged in an academically related activity, such as by contributing to an online discussion or initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a course-related question. Each instructor must determine if it is appropriate to assign a (V). A grade of (F) may be assigned by the instructor if a student does not follow the prescribed procedures for withdrawing from a course or from the college. The assignment of 10 or more credits of (V) grades in any quarter results in the student being placed on academic probation.

V - Administrative Withdrawal
An administrative withdrawal may also be assigned by an instructor during the quarter if the student has two or more consecutive unexcused absences. Submission of (V) grades must include the last date the student participated in class or was otherwise engaged in an academically related activity, such as by contributing to an online discussion or initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a course-related question. Instructors who wish to withdraw students for lack of attendance at any time prior to the designated withdrawal deadline for the quarter may notify the Registration and Records Office after the second missed class meeting. Students administratively withdrawn from a course will not be eligible for tuition refunds after the first week of the quarter.

W - Official Withdrawal
An official withdrawal (W) will be assigned if a student drops a course or withdraws from the college after the first 10 days of the quarter (or as specified for shorter sessions). A grade of (F) or (V) may be assigned by the instructor if a student does not follow the prescribed procedures for withdrawing from a course or from the college. W grades are not included in the GPA calculation.

* - No Grade
The asterisk (*) is recorded on the permanent transcript when no grade is submitted by the instructor. The asterisk will remain on the transcript until an official Grade Change Card is submitted to the Registration and Records Office by the instructor. The asterisk is not included in the GPA calculation.

Honor Roll
Each quarter the college recognizes outstanding academic achievement by placing students on the President’s List or the Dean’s List. Each of the students who meets the criteria for these designations will receive a letter and a certificate acknowledging this award. A notation of the award will also be placed on the student’s permanent transcript.

President’s List
To receive the President’s List designation, a student must earn both of the following:

• A quarterly grade point average of 3.85 or higher.
• A minimum of 12 graded credits (S & CR grades not included).

Dean’s List
To receive the Dean’s List designation, a student must earn both of the following:

• A quarterly grade point average of 3.40 to 3.84.
• A minimum of 12 graded credits (S & CR grades not included).

Part-time Students
The college is aware that some of our part-time students have also achieved significant academic success while balancing full-time jobs, family responsibilities, and college studies. Part-time students are eligible each time they complete 12 credits at YVC and their GPA falls within the designated list for the quarter. Dean’s List and President’s List notations will be posted on the transcript for the quarter in which the 12 credits are completed at YVC . Part-time students must notify the Registration and Records Office each time they qualify.

Placement Reciprocity
Students may use the placement given from another Washington State Community or Technical College’s testing center instead of YVC’s recommended placement. Students that qualify for placement test reciprocity should complete the Placement Reciprocity Request Form. The form is available on the YVC website. The form should be submitted to the Admissions Office once the official scores from the previous Washington State Community or Technical College have been received by YVC.

Repeating a Class
State board policy permits only two repeats besides the original enrollment, except for certain performance classes.

High Demand Course Repeat Rule
The YVC High Demand Course Repeat Rule was developed to provide students with fair access to high demand classes. It allows students to repeat courses. In high demand circumstances, a course can be taken twice (once initially and once repeated). All letter grades earned, A through F and I, V, or W grades, will be reported on a student’s transcript. This course repeat rule applies to courses with wait lists  identified by the departments as high demand. YVC departments reserve the right to establish program course repeat rules which may be more stringent than this college-wide High Demand Course Repeat Rule.

Student Responsibility
It is the student’s responsibility to understand and adhere to this and all college rules. Students discovered to have violated this policy will be administratively dropped from classes. A student repeating a course completes a course repeat card, which may be obtained in the Registration and Records Office, requesting that their GPA be recalculated.

Violations
Students will not receive credit for courses taken in violation of this college High Demand Course Repeat Rule. Related grades will not be used in computing GPAs, and the course will not appear on the student’s transcript.

GPA Applications
All courses taken and all grades earned in compliance with the guidelines of this policy will appear on the student’s transcript. The higher grade forgives the lower grade and replaces it in GPA computations. The lower grade will remain on the transcript but will not be used to compute the YVC cumulative GPA. Grades received in violation of this rule will not be used in GPA computations and will not appear on the student’s transcript. A student transferring to another college should check that school’s course repeat policy. It may differ from this repeat rule.

Exemptions
The YVC High Demand Course Repeat Rule does not apply to the following courses:

• Courses with numbers below 100 (e.g., ENGL 090T)
• Foreign language classes
• Studio art, metalsmithing, design, and painting classes
• Non-high demand courses (as defined by departments)
• Courses designed to be repeated, for example: performance courses (e.g., music, physical education), seminar courses where content changes quarter to quarter, Math Center and Writing Center courses, or other courses designed for multiple quarter enrollment

Waivers
In extraordinary circumstances, and upon receipt of an acceptable plan of study, the Faculty member teaching the class, area dean, or the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services may provide written authorization to the Office of Admissions to waive this rule for a student.

Graduation Information

General Education Degree Requirements

A substantial core of general education is an essential component of all instructional programs. In order to meet general requirements, all candidates for degrees from YVC must have:

At least 90 quarter credits; some professional/technical degrees require more.
A cumulative college-level grade point average of 2.0 or higher at YVC
At least 30 credits completed at YVC

General Education in Transfer and BAS Degrees (60+ credits)
General education in the transfer and BAS degrees introduces students to the content and methodology of the major areas of knowledge-the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences.

General Education Requirements for Associate of Applied Science Degrees and Certificates (45+ credits)
In order to be awarded an applied science degree or certificate, students must complete courses covering three related instructional areas: computation, communication, and human relations. Specific courses are required that will fulfill these competencies. The curriculum in professional/technical areas is competency based and has been developed to meet industry-wide skills standards.

Exception Petition
While candidates are expected to comply with all degree requirements, a student may request an exception if extenuating circumstances warrant consideration. The review process is initiated by the student’s submission of a written petition to the Registration and Records Office outlining the exception requested and stating the reasons for the request. The petition should be submitted with the degree application two quarters before the student plans to graduate. The Registrar & Director of Enrollment Services, in consultation with the Dean who oversees the degree will review the petition. The student will receive written notification of the decision.

Commitment to Academic Goals

Upon completion of 60 credits toward the transfer associate degree or an associate of applied science degree, students must apply for graduation. Certificate students must apply for graduation one or two quarters prior to graduation, depending on the certificate requirements. This should allow sufficient time for necessary adjustments to a student’s course schedule and to better support timely program completion. Students will receive an email notification reminding them to apply for graduation.

Honors at Graduation

Graduates with exceptional academic qualifications completing a bachelor degree, an associate degree, or a certificate requiring 45 or more credits may graduate from YVC with honors or high honors. The designations are based on the cumulative college-level grade point average. Calculations are based only on YVC coursework numbered 100 and above, whether or not the coursework is required by a particular program. Courses numbered 099 or below are not considered. Because the honors/high honors designations are granted by YVC, transfer credits are not used in calculating Grade Point Averages (GPA).

Eligibility is limited to qualifying graduates who have completed at least 30 credits at YVC. Classes taken during spring quarter will not be included in GPA calculations since grades will not have been posted before the time of commencement.

To receive the honors designation, students must earn a YVC college level GPA of 3.40 to 3.84. To receive the high honors designation, students must earn a 3.85 or higher college-level GPA.

Transfer Information

Students who plan to transfer from YVC to another college or university should work closely with a faculty advisor and study the following information:

• At the time of transfer, students will be expected to meet the entrance requirements of the institutions to which they are transferring. The transferability of courses taken at YVC is determined by the institution to which the student transfers. Other institutions accept most YVC distribution courses.
• Electives should be chosen carefully from courses numbered 100 or above and according to the guidelines in the electives section for each degree. Students should work closely with faculty advisors before attempting to transfer professional/technical courses.
• A student may earn more than 90 credits at YVC, but the total accepted for transfer is determined by the institution to which the student transfers.
• Courses numbered below 100 will not normally transfer to a four-year institution.

To complete the transfer process to a senior institution, students are advised to follow these procedures:

• Review a catalog of the institution to which they wish to transfer to and obtain current information regarding admission procedures and specific major requirements. Study the entrance requirements and suggested first- and second-year level courses in the major field of interest. Institutions differ in their treatment of credits received.
• Discuss with a YVC counselor or advisor about transfer needs. Transfer guide sheets for senior institutions are available on most websites for specific colleges.
• Confer, either by letter or personal interview, with an admissions officer at the senior institution for information about curriculum and transfer regulations.
• Check carefully a quarter or two before transferring to be sure that all requirements will be met and all regulations are observed to the satisfaction of the senior institution.

Last minute changes in a student’s major field of study or choice of senior institution may create transfer problems. Such changes should be made only after consultation with advisors.

Degree Application Procedures for DTA

All candidates for a DTA must submit a degree application for approval. Students must submit their applications once they have completed 60 credits. This should allow sufficient time for meaningful adjustments to a student’s course schedule to better support timely program completion.

Follow these steps to apply:

• Obtain the appropriate degree application online at www.YVCC.edu or from the Registration and Records Office.
• Make an appointment with assigned advisor and complete all information requested on the application.
• Obtain necessary signatures.
• Take the completed application to the Cashier’s Office, pay the $10 graduation fee, and return the application marked “PAID” to the Registration and Records Office.

Students will be notified, in writing, if the degree application cannot be approved as submitted. To apply for a high school diploma (SHB 1758) by earning an associate degree, see “Pathways to a High School Diploma” section of the catalog.

Transfer Rights & Responsibilities

Students have the right to fair and equitable treatment by the colleges and universities of Washington as outlined in the guidelines below.

• Students have the right to clear, accurate, and current information about their transfer admission requirements, transfer admission deadlines, degree requirements, and transfer policies that include course equivalencies.
• Transfer and direct-entry students have the right to expect comparable standards for regular admission to programs and comparable program requirements.
• Students have the right to seek clarification regarding their transfer evaluation and may request the reconsideration of any aspect of that evaluation. In response, the college will follow established practices and processes for reviewing its transfer credit decisions.
• Students who encounter other transfer difficulties have the right to seek resolution. Each institution will have a defined process for resolution that is published and readily available to students.
• Students have the responsibility to complete all materials required for admission and to submit the application on or before the published deadlines.
• Students have the responsibility to plan their course of study by referring to the specific published degree requirements of the college or academic program in which they intend to earn a bachelor’s degree.
• When a student changes a major or degree program, the student assumes full responsibility for meeting the new requirements.

Colleges and universities have the right and authority to determine program requirements and course offerings in accordance with their institutional mission and to communicate and publish these requirements and course offerings to students and the public.

• Colleges and universities have the responsibility to provide clear, accurate, and current information about their transfer admission requirements, transfer admission deadlines, degree requirements, and transfer policies that include course equivalencies.
• Colleges and universities have the responsibility to answer students’ questions about transfer issues and provide students with opportunities for appropriate follow-up.
• Colleges and universities have the responsibility to provide comparable standards for transfer and direct-entry students for regular admission to programs. Transfer and direct-entry students must satisfy comparable program requirements.
• Colleges and universities have the responsibility to communicate admission and transfer-related decisions to students in writing (electronic or paper) and include information about student transfer rights and responsibilities.

Evaluation of Transfer Credit

The decision to grant transfer credit is based upon several factors, chief among which is accreditation. For transfer purposes, YVC recognizes as fully accredited only those institutions that have received accreditation by one of the following associations:

New England Association of Schools
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Students who wish to transfer credit from international institutions must have their international transcripts evaluated through the World Education Services (WES) or the Foundation for International Services (FIS). Contact the International Students Program Office or the Admissions Office for more information. Regardless of institutional accreditation, YVC does not grant credit for religion or theology courses sectarian in nature. Credit for professional/technical oriented courses is at the discretion of the department or division chairperson of the applicable program.

Individual courses, grades, and grade points for transfer credit will not appear on the transcript nor will they be included in the cumulative grade point averages on the transcript. Only the total number of acceptable credits will be posted on the student’s YVC transcript upon graduation; however, courses and grades used to satisfy degree requirements will be used in calculating grade point averages for the established graduation grade point standards. Students should consult the “Honors and High Honors at Graduation” section of the catalog for information on the use of grades in transfer credit courses in the calculation of honors.

Reciprocity Agreement

Washington State community and technical colleges (CTCs) offer reciprocity to students transferring within the CTC system and are pursuing a direct transfer agreement degree or the associate in science - transfer degree. Students who completed an individual course that met distribution degree requirements or fulfilled entire areas of their degree requirements at one college will be considered to have met those same requirements, if they plan to complete the same degree, when they transfer to another community or technical college in Washington. The degree requirements include communication skills, quantitative skills, or one or more distribution area requirements. Students must initiate the review process and must be prepared to provide necessary documentation.

Reciprocity Procedures
Students who transfer from another community or technical college to YVC may be eligible for reciprocity if they have:

• Applied for admission to YVC
• Completed an individual course at the other college that meets the communication, quantitative, or distribution area requirement or completed entire areas of their degree requirements for the same degree at the other college (communication, humanities, etc.)
• Maintained a cumulative, college-level GPA of 2.0 or better at the other college
• Met the other college’s residency requirement (minimum number of credits required to earn their degree)
• Continued to pursue the same academic transfer degree at YVC
• Met YVC prerequisite, general education, and graduation requirements
• Provided all necessary documentation to YVC (a reciprocity agreement request form is located in the Registration Office)

Upon receipt of the completed form and official transcripts from the other college, YVC agrees to consider that the distribution area requirements have been met upon evaluating the student’s transcript.

Transfer Credits Under the Reciprocity Agreement

• Request an official copy of your transcript from the other college be sent to YVC for evaluation.
• Obtain a copy of the evaluation results from the Registration Office. Review the results of your transfer evaluation. If you think that reciprocity applies to you, complete and mail the reciprocity agreement request form (obtain the form from the Registration Office) to the registrar’s office at the other college.
• The other college will complete the form and send it back to the YVC Registration Office. A copy will then be mailed to you. The reciprocity agreement request form must be attached to your YVC graduation application. It is also required that you inform your advisor of the agreement in order to ensure proper advising concerning your educational goals.

For additional information concerning the reciprocity agreement, contact the credentials evaluator in the Registration Office.

Transfer-back Policy

It is sometimes in the best interest of students to transfer to a baccalaureate-granting institution before satisfying the requirements for a transferable associate degree at YVC. Therefore, students who have completed a minimum of 30 credits at YVC may complete YVC’s requirements for a transferable associate degree at another accredited institution of higher learning if the courses being applied are deemed to be equivalent to YVC’s course requirements.