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Wenatchee Valley College | Field Guide 2023

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Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) serves the educational needs of students in a large district the size of Massachusetts. In addition to a robust offering of Bachelor of Applied Science degrees, associate degrees and certificates on its two campuses in Wenatchee and Omak, the college has a residence hall, 22 student organizations and seven athletic teams.

By offering affordable and accessible programs, Wenatchee Valley College helps people of every age and background to learn and thrive in today’s economy. Whether students are 16 or 60, just out of high school or working adults, our college prepares them for the next step up in life. As a community college that serves a large number of students of color and students who are the first in their families to attend college, Wenatchee Valley College is key to creating social and economic mobility for people throughout our region.

Key Facts

Highest Enrolled Programs

  • Associate in Arts and Science
  • Nursing
  • Medical Assistant
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Automotive Technology
  • Radiologic Technology

Enrollment

  • Headcount (all sources): 4,281
  • FTES (all sources): 2,432
  • Headcount (state-funded): 3,410
  • FTES (state-funded): 1,733

Students in Selected Programs

  • Bachelor's: 48
  • Apprentices: 153
  • I-BEST: 119
  • International: 3
  • Running Start: 773
  • Worker Retraining: 77

Student Profile

Type of Student

  • Academic/transfer: 52%
  • Basic skills: 13%
  • Workforce education: 21%
  • Other: 14%

Race/Ethnicity*

Students of color: 58%

  • American Indian/Alaska Native: 7%
  • Asian: 3%
  • Black/African American: 2%
  • Hispanic/Latino: 48%
  • Pacific Islander: 1%
  • White: 58%

Attendance

  • Full-time: 57%
  • Part-time: 43%

Family and Finances

  • Students receiving need-based financial aid: 46%
  • Students with dependents: 36%

Gender

  • Female: 65%
  • Male: 35%

Median age

20

Points of Interest

New four-year pathway: LPN to BSN 

In fall 2022, WVC began accepting applications for its newest four-year nursing degree track: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The program was launched on the Omak campus as part of a $1.8 million Premera Grant. Four colleges were selected for the grant, which provides funding to launch the program, student scholarships and faculty stipends. As of November 2022, WVC received enough applications to fill the program and to begin a waitlist. Learn more at wvc.edu/BSN

College readiness bootcamp 

WVC created a new pilot course to help prepare students for college-level classes. SDS 112: College Readiness Bootcamp was offered two weeks before the start of fall quarter 2022. The free, three-credit course helped 16 students work on math, reading, writing, notetaking, study habits and more. Students met for 30 hours over two weeks and hosted 11 guest speakers, including grant programs, student resource offices, campus tours and more. Student engagement was high, and in an anonymous survey, 100% of students said they would recommend the class to a peer. Learn more at wvc.edu/CollegeReady.

American Indian Indigenous Studies-UW partnership

WVC is the first and only community college in Washington to have a full American Indian Indigenous Studies (AIIS) program. The program was developed in partnership with the University of Washington (UW) American Indian Studies department and as of March 2022, eight of the nine AIIS courses were accepted as direct equivalency at UW. AIIS grew from a lasting partnership with the Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) in Washington and college leadership has ensured that CCT Tribal knowledge from Elders and community members is incorporated into AIIS curriculum. Learn more at wvc.edu/academics/AIIS

Data is from the 2021-22 academic year. Reflects headcount unless otherwise noted.

*Students of color percent based on unduplicated headcount. Students may be counted in more than one race, so race/ethnicity percentages may not total 100%. Percentages calculated on reported value.

President

Dr. Faimous Harrison

Trustees

  • Tamra Jackson, chair
  • Steve Zimmerman, vice chair
  • Wilma Cartagena
  • Paula Arno Martinez
  • Phylicia Hancock Lewis

Year Founded

1939

Service Area

Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan counties

Legislative Districts

7, 12

Page Manager: shagreen@sbctc.edu
Last Modified: 3/8/23, 4:21 PM

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