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Wenatchee Valley College | Field Guide 2024

Wenatchee Valley College logo

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 of Arts and Sciences
  • Nursing
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Medical Assistant
  • Business
  • Agriculture
  • Radiologic Technology
  • Automotive Technology

Enrollment

  • Headcount (all sources): 5,009
  • FTES (all sources): 2,439
  • Headcount (state-funded): 3,542
  • FTES (state-funded): 1,742

Students in Selected Programs

  • Bachelor's: 64
  • Apprentices: 59
  • I-BEST: 151
  • International: 3
  • Running Start: 711
  • Worker Retraining: 114

Student Profile

Type of Student

  • Academic/transfer: 41%
  • Basic skills: 17%
  • Workforce education: 19%
  • Other: 23%

Race/Ethnicity*

Students of color: 60%

  • American Indian/Alaska Native: 6%
  • Asian: 3%
  • Black/African American: 2%
  • Hispanic/Latino: 51%
  • Pacific Islander: 1%
  • White: 54%

Attendance

  • Full-time: 48%
  • Part-time: 52%

Family and Finances

  • Students receiving need-based financial aid: 59%
  • Students with dependents: 34%

Gender

  • Female: 65%
  • Male: 35%

Median age

21

Points of Interest

Center for Technical Education and Innovation

To support the workforce skills needs of our region, Wenatchee Valley College is building a Center for Technical Education and Innovation. The center will replace three outdated workforce education buildings and bring together programs such as agriculture, automotive technology, HVAC, engineering, computer science, and welding, thereby fostering collaboration among students and faculty. WVC received $46.5 million from the state’s capital budget for the design and construction of the center, as well as for the necessary equipment. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.

Expanding educational opportunities for Hispanic students

WVC received a Title V Hispanic Serving Institution Grant that started in the fall of 2023 and continues through 2028. The US Department of Education awarded WVC $490,245 in grant funds that will be used for The Puente: Bridges to HSI Excellence project, which is designed to improve outcomes and institutional culture for Latinx, low-income, and first-generation students at WVC. The project will include culturally responsive teaching practices in gateway classes and improve the onboarding and navigation processes for incoming students to improve retention.

WVC Bridge Program

With support from the Numerica Charitable Foundation, WVC began offering a Bridge Program to help Adult Basic Education students without their high school credentials get access to financial aid so that they can transition into higher education programs. Students who don’t have their high school credentials but who do complete six college credits can claim Ability to Benefit, which allows them access to financial aid to continue their education. WVC received a $12,171 grant from Numerica Charitable Foundation that will cover costs for ABE students to transition into higher education programs.

Data is from the 2022-23 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.

Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

President

Dr. Faimous Harrison

Trustees

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

Year Founded

1939

Service Area

Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan counties

Legislative Districts

7, 12

Page Manager: krose@sbctc.edu
Last Modified: 7/31/24, 4:23 PM

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