Academic Information

Academic Opportunities

Basic Skills Program

(253) 833-9111, ext. 2315

Green River’s Basic Skills Program is designed for adults who need to strengthen basic reading, writing, mathematics, and study skills. Students may be starting a college program, gaining skills to enter a career/technical program, preparing to take the high school equivalency tests, or updating skills for a job or other personal goals.

Green River’s Basic Skills Program offers a variety of instructional methods including the use of lecture, group work, technology, and individualized study. Classes are designed to serve a range of academic skill levels. (Levels and learning standards are determined by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Entering students take a placement test to determine level.) Classes are offered in morning, afternoon and evenings at each of the campus sites.

College in the High School

(253) 833-9111, ext. 3380

College in the High School (CHS) is an opportunity for high school sophmores, juiniors, and seniors to enroll in Green River College classes at their high school, earning college credit that applies towards an associate’s degree and a high school diploma. Students must meet all prerequisites before enrolling in the CHS course. Students should check with their high school counselor, teacher or visit greenriver.edu/collegeinhs for more information.

eLearning

(253) 833-9111, ext. 3354

eLearning courses offer students additional opportunities to pursue courses, degrees, and certificates that might not otherwise be available. These courses utilize educational technologies such as course delivery systems and the Internet, in addition to regular class materials to assist students. Hybrid courses and telecourses require on-campus meetings for orientation, discussion, or testing. Although eLearning courses are convenient, to be successful students need to have strong motivation, self-discipline, and good learning skills.

The current quarter’s eLearning course offerings can be viewed by visiting grcc.greenriver.edu/elearning-schedule/. This site lists the courses, the instructor and directions to the class sites.

Online Courses

Green River faculty have adapted courses they regularly teach in the classroom for online delivery using a course delivery system and the Internet. Internet access is required for these courses. Students will enjoy the flexibility that online courses provide although they do follow a regular schedule of readings, tests and assignments. No on-campus attendance is required for an online course but the instructor may require proctored tests. If so, the instructor will work with the student so they are able to take their test no matter where in the world they may live. Most Green River online courses use Canvas for course delivery. Please go to grcc.greenriver.edu/elearning-schedule/ for the current schedule and directions to the course.

Hybrid Courses

Hybrid courses are developed by Green River faculty and combine online learning with the traditional classroom format.

Class meetings are held according to a schedule provided by the instructor, with the remaining coursework completed utilizing Canvas and/or other established websites. Visit grcc.greenriver.edu/elearning-schedule/ for the current schedule and more information about courses.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

(253) 833-9111, ext. 2315

ESOL classes are designed for adult immigrants and refugees who want to improve their English language fluency, reading, writing, speaking, listening, and basic computer literacy skills. Classes provide life skills, general job skills, and preparation for academic classes. Classes are available in the morning, afternoon, and evening at the Green River and Kent campuses and at community sites.

High School Equivalency Test Preparation

(253) 833-9111, ext. 2315

Green River offers high school equivalency test preparation classes to assist students in preparing for the GED® tests. Classes are available for students who are 16 years of age or older. Students under the age of 19 must have the appropriate signed release forms from their high school to enroll in high school equivalency classes and to take the GED®. Additional information is available online at the Green River website, in the Course Descriptions  portion of this catalog, and in the quarterly class schedule.

The GED® test credential is recognized by most employers and colleges. Ninety-five percent of U.S. colleges and universities recognize the credential. More than half of the GED® test-takers intend to go on to college or postsecondary training. Green River is a test site for the GED® test. Please visit greenriver.edu/testing for more information about testing.

Intensive English as a Second Language

(253) 833-9111, ext. 3300

Green River’s Intensive English as a Second Language (IESL) program is designed to give nonimmigrant international students the strong English communication skills necessary for success in college. The IESL program is for students who score lower than 61/500 on TOEFL, or 5.5 (all bands at least a 5.0) on IELTS.

The program includes five levels of courses in speaking and listening (oral), grammar, writing, reading, and optional TOEFL for level five students. Free tutoring is available for IESL students. Classes meet four hours a day, five days a week, with a special schedule during summer quarter.

After successfully completing the IESL program, international students can enroll directly in Green River’s academic classes.

Study Abroad

(253) 833-9111, ext. 2160

Green River College provides students with the opportunity to study abroad while earning Green River transferable credits. Students typically receive 15 academic transfer credits for a ten week program of study which is taught by faculty meeting the same credential requirements as on-campus classes. Classes are often taught in a coordinated fashion, taking advantage of the local history, art, language, and culture to enrich the experience. Courses and classes are subject to the same standards as on campus. Experienced program partners provide extensive logistical support and operations. Programs are currently available in Australia/New Zealand, Japan, England, Italy, Costa Rica, Spain, Germany, and others.

Visit greenriver.edu/studyabroad for more information.

Running Start

(253) 833-9111, ext. 3380

Running Start, a program created by the Washington state Legislature, provides an opportunity for academically qualified high school juniors and seniors to earn college level credit at a significantly reduced cost (courses numbered 100 or higher). Qualifying students must place eligible for ENGL& 101 , and be enrolled through a public high school/district. Students who are home schooled or attend a private school are therefore required to contact their public high school/district for enrollment instructions. Running Start students are required to pay for textbooks, supplies, and fees. A fee waiver/book loan program is available for those who qualify.

The decision to begin college early is an important one. Students are encouraged to discuss the decision carefully with parents or guardians and high school counselors. For more information visit greenriver.edu/RunningStart.

Tech Prep

(253) 833-9111, ext. 2500

Tech Prep gives students an opportunity to get a jump-start on their future by preparing for college and a career while still in high school. The Tech Prep “Dual Credit” Program allows students to earn both high school and career/technical college credit for completing select high school courses with a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher.

To earn Tech Prep Dual Credit:

1. Students enroll in high school Career and Technical Education classes offering Tech Prep “Dual Credit.”
2. Earn a “C” (2.0) or higher
3. Apply for Admission at Green River College.
4. Complete a tech prep transcription request and submit it to the Enrollment Services office.

Transitional Studies Progam

(253)833-9111, ext. 2315

Do you want to develop your skills for college or a career/technical program? Is earning your adult high school diploma your goal? Do you need help preparing to take the GED® test? Green River’s Transitional Studies Program can help you with any of these goals. This program is designed to give adults opportunities to strengthen reading, writing, mathematics and study skills making them successful in college and career/technical programs and in their daily lives.

In Green River’s Transitional Studies classes you will:

Study at your level. (Levels are determined by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Entering students take a placement test to determine level.)

Prepare to meet your goals in classes that include lecture, group work and technology.

Attend class based on your schedule. Classes are offered at morning, afternoon and evening times at each of the college campuses.

Washington State Center of Excellence for Careers in Education

(253) 833-9111, ext. 4360

There are ten Centers of Excellence housed at colleges across the Washington state two-year college system. Green River College is home to the Center for Careers in Education. Centers are flagship institutions that build and sustain Washington’s competitive advantage through statewide leadership. Each Center focuses on a targeted industry that drives the state’s economy and is built upon a reputation for fast, flexible, quality education and training programs. A targeted industry is identified as one that is strategic to the economic growth of a region or state. The center operates collaboratively to support the development of future and current educators, disseminate best practices and offer high-quality professional development experiences.

Project TEACH

Project TEACH is a pre-service teacher preparation program designed to provise future educators with seamless pathways to teaching careers. Programs include certificates and degree for those interested in early childhood education, para-education positions, and transfer to complete full teacher certification. Future elementary teachers can complete an Associate degree in elementary education. Future secondary teachers of math and science can also complete specialized AA or AS-T degrees.  

For more information about project TEACH, visit greenriver.edu/students/academics/future-educators.

Workforce Education

(253) 833-9111, ext. 2211
workforce@greenriver.edu
go2collegefree.com

Workforce Education administers four grants that support the training and employment goals of students enrolled in career and technical programs at Green River College. These grants provide tuition, books and fees to eligible students. For more information, please visit go2collegefree.com.

The four grants are:

Worker Retraining

The Worker Retraining program provides tuition assistance for dislocated and unemployed workers, those facing imminent layoffs, displaced homemakers and honorably discharged members of the military. The program allocates funds on a quarterly basis to help pay for tuition, fees, and books.

Workfirst

WorkFirst provides tuition, books, and fees for parents who are currently receiving a Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) cash grant from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

BFET (Basic Food Employment and Training)

The BFET Program provides tuition, books, fees, and required supplies for adults who live in King, Pierce or Kitsap County and receive food stamps, and do not anticipate having their food stamp case closed prior to the start of the academic quarter. BFET is not available to any adult who receives TANF, since those adults are eligible for the WorkFirst program (above).

Opportunity Grant

Opportunity Grant offers tuition assistance up to 45 credits for low-income adults. In order to be eligible for this grant, a student must be a Washington state resident, enrolled in an approved program of study, and meet family income guidelines.

Academic Policies

Academic Standards and Progress Policy

Every student who enrolls at Green River becomes a partner with the college and the state of Washington with shared responsibilities for student progress and goal completion. As part of our responsibility to each student and to the state that helps to fund each student’s college education, Green River has established expectations of student progress and academic performance.

The college monitors student progress and academic performance and intervenes when expectations are not being met. In such cases, the college may determine that a student is not benefiting from continued enrollment and may take steps to limit or deny future enrollment.

In 2003, the Washington State Legislature established a law requiring colleges to develop policies “to ensure that undergraduate students complete degree and certificate programs in a timely manner in order to make the most efficient use of instructional resources and provide capacity within the institution for additional students.” This legislation (RCW 28B.10.695) requires that student academic progress policies address:

1. Excessive Credits: Students who accumulate more than 125 percent of the number of credits required to complete their degree or certificate programs.
2. Credit Completion: Students who drop more than 25 percent of their course load before the grading period for the quarter, which prevents efficient use of instructional resources.
3. Academic Standards: Students who remain on academic probation for more than one quarter.

The college has adopted the Academic Standards and Progress Policy to support student success. The complete policy is published in the student handbook and online at https://www.greenriver.edu/campus/policies-and-procedures/student-affairs-policies/sa-1-academic-standards-progress-policy/.

Advanced Credits

Some students may receive credit through the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board, articulation agreements with area high schools, International Baccalaureate credit, and military school or experience. Information regarding these programs is detailed in the get started section.

Advanced Placement (AP) (College Board)

Effective July 1, 2009

The Advanced Placement Program® is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities. The program provides motivated high school students with the opportunity to take college-level courses in a high school setting. Students who participate in the program not only gain college-level skills, but in many cases they also earn college credit while they are still in high school. AP courses are taught by high school teachers who follow course guidelines developed and published by the College Board.

Green River grants credit in a variety of subject areas for students who have obtained a particular score on their College Board Advanced Placement examinations. These exams are given by the Educational Testing Service at locations around the country. Students must submit an official copy of AP scores. Upon evaluation of those scores, the student will be notified by email of acceptable credits. Credit is posted to the student transcript at the time of graduation only.

Below is the list of division policies on granting placement or credit for AP examinations. Grades range from a high of five to a low of one; in most departments, credit and/or placement is awarded for grades of three or higher. In some cases, the student must consult the appropriate departmental advisor.

Advanced Placement - Test Score Equivalencies

Advanced Placement - General Examinations

Additional Mathematics Note

The Mathematics Division can award Advanced Placement credits. If students are placed by the Mathematics Division at a level higher than the College Board Placement, they may receive additional credits. If students have not taken the AP Calculus test, but have done college-level work in high school and are placed by the Mathematics Division into either MATH& 152  or MATH& 153 , they may receive additional credits.

Note: When numbers 900 or above are assigned, it indicates that there is no specific Green River course equivalent for all or part of that exam. Credit is awarded by category rather than course specific.

If a student’s first mathematics course is MATH& 152 , they will earn credit for MATH& 151 . If a student’s first mathematics course is MATH& 153 , they will earn credit for both MATH& 151  and MATH 152 . Students may apply through the Mathematics Division and receive Mathematics Division Advanced Placement credits by challenging the course and paying the appropriate fees.

Articulation Agreements

Green River recognizes that quality education takes place in other learning institutions. In realization of this, Green River has signed articulation agreements with area high schools, as well as other institutions of higher learning. Articulation agreements are agreements by which credits taken at a particular institution are accepted automatically at another, allowing that all requirements of the agreement have been met.

Transfer Institution Agreements

Green River has been working with several four-year institutions, both in the state of Washington and bordering states such as California, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. These agreements are designed to provide a smooth transition from Green River into specific college departments. The agreement between Green River and the other colleges identifies specific courses that if taken will be allowed for automatic credit at the other institution. In doing so, Green River is enabling students to, for the most part, transfer directly into their majors. Students should contact their Green River program advisor for agreements in their area of study.

High School Agreements

Green River recognizes that quality education takes place in area high schools and has signed articulation agreements with many schools to grant college credit to students earning a grade of a C (2.0) or higher in their high school career/technical courses. Credits are posted to transcripts the following quarter in which they were earned.

To qualify, students must meet specific requirements established by the college and high school instructors and apply for credit through their high school and pay associated fees. Further agreements between high schools and additional career/technical programs are being developed. Students can contact their high school counselor or for more details.

Career/Technical (Tech Prep)

Tech Prep is a course of study that combines academic and career/technical instruction in the high school setting, and then directly applies those high school credits to a specific community or technical college program (see Programs of Study ).

Articulation agreements between area school districts and Green River College have been developed. Tech Prep articulation agreements allow high school students to earn both high school and community/technical college credit through the “Direct Credit” program.

International Baccalaureate Credit (IB)

The International Baccalaureate Program is a rigorous pre-college course of study for highly motivated high school students. The comprehensive curriculum is designed to prepare students for a liberal arts education at the college level. It is called “international” because it is available to students in several countries, not because it is in any way an international experience. The International Baccalaureate program is similar to the College Board Advanced Placement program, but differs because IB scores require a test score and a very rigorous class.

Green River has begun accepting International baccalaureate credit. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor for transfer of credit information. See the list below for departments granting IB credits.

Submitting Your IB Transcript

The easiest way to ensure that Green River receives your IB transcript is to name Green River as a recipient when you sign up for your IB program exam(s). If you do not name Green River as a recipient when you take your exam, contact the IB Organization to request that an official IB transcript be sent directly to the Green River transcript evaluator. When you are admitted to the college, you may be eligible for Green River course credit; if so, the courses and credits awarded will be accessible on your degree audit. You will be notified by email of credit awarded.

Military Service School Credits

Credits for military personnel’s military school and experiences are granted according to the publications of the American Council on Education. Current editions are on file with the credentials evaluators in Enrollment Services.

Note: Some four-year schools will not accept military credits.

Please note that Green River will accept military basic training experience to satisfy the one-credit physical education activity requirement, providing basic training was completed within the last ten years. Green River will also accept four years of military service to satisfy two credits of the physical education fitness/wellness requirement providing the military service was completed within the last ten years.

Procedure

1. Students should submit official copies of their CCAF, JST or certified copy of their transcripts or a copy of their DD 214’s to Enrollment Services with a transcript evaluation form.
2. The credential evaluator will review the record and translate military credit into Green River course numbers and credit values.
3. The student will be emailed a copy of the results and a copy will be maintained in the student’s file.
4. Credits will be posted to the “Transfer Credit” portion of the transcript upon graduation only.

Prior Learning Assessment

Green River College offers students the opportunity to earn credit for prior non-traditional education and/or work experience. Students who wish to receive credit(s) for prior learning must complete the Prior Learning Assessment request form in coordination with an assigned faculty member and pay regular tuition based on the number of credits requested. Prior Learning credits are awarded for one to two credits per quarter.

Students will be assessed through a course challenge process which will determine the courses to which the students have met the learning outcomes. These courses must be current and correspond to the course(s) taught at Green River.

Students will work with an assigned faculty member to evaluate the prior learning of a student in relation to the competencies of the program and will award credit for demonstrated learning outcomes that are appropriate to the course. This could be a test, demonstration, written documentation, oral interview, or other appropriate method by which the faculty member determines the students’ understanding of the subject matter.

Grades and credits will be assigned to PLA awards and will be posted to the student’s transcript. Credits earned through PLA at any Washington Community and Technical Colleges will be accepted toward the appropriate course or program at any other Washington Community and Technical College.

Age Exception Policy

The following guidelines apply to the admission of those persons who do not meet general admission requirements.

Policy

Students under the age of 18 who have not earned a diploma or the equivalent from an accredited high school may be admitted only upon appropriate release from their high school, to include summer quarter. Home schooled and Running Start students are also subject to the special admission requirements outlined below. Students will be required to submit a High School Release Form or Running Start Enrollment Verification Form signed by the appropriate high school official when they apply for admission. Applications for underage students must have a signed release form submitted in order to be processed.

Students under the age of 16 normally will not be admitted. If a potential student will not turn 16 during their first quarter of enrollment, the student must contact the Director of Career and Advising Services to seek an exception.

Procedure

Exemptions will be made according to the following criteria:

• The student must be referred to Green River by an academic institution or educator. This referral must include a release form from the student’s school district of residence, signed by the counselor (referring agency) and the student’s parent or guardian. The high school release form must be submitted each quarter with an annotation by the high school counselor identifying specific class(es) the student is recommended to take.
• Students who are admitted must complete formal enrollment prior to the first day of the quarter.
• If it is determined that the student is eligible for courses available through the public school system, the student should not be enrolled.
• Students must meet course prerequisites and demonstrate academic preparedness through appropriate placement or an independent evaluation by a full-time faculty member from the appropriate division(s).
• An evaluation of the student’s maturity/college readiness must be conducted. This can be accomplished through a personal interview between the student, the Director of Career and Advising Services, the dean of the appropriate academic division or the instructor of record for the course(s) to be taken. It may be appropriate to include the parent/guardian of the student in these discussions.
• Exemption requests must be made at least 15 working days prior to the start of the academic quarter in which the applicant wishes to enroll.

Students not complying with these procedures will be withdrawn.

Grading System and Policy Grades

Under Green River’s numerical grading system, instructors may report grades from 4.0 to 1.0 in 0.1 increments, and a grade of 0.0. Grades in the range of 0.9 to 0.1 may not be assigned.

Additional Grade Designations

Grading Symbols

These symbols may also be used on grade reports or transcripts:

Grades, Obtaining

Students may obtain an unofficial copy of their transcript, which includes all the classes the student has taken at Green River and the grades earned, from the web at greenriver.edu/online and selecting the Grades & Unoffical Transcript.

Grading Policy

Grade changes are valid only for courses in which students were OFFICIALLY registered. Approved grade changes will be accepted for up to four quarters following the quarter in which the original grade was assigned. Grade changes are not valid for W or N grades. Grade changes are to be signed by the “instructor of record” or, if the instructor cannot come to campus, by the division chairperson or instructional dean.

Pass/No-Credit Policy (P/NC)

To declare an intention to be graded pass/no-credit, the student must file a petition with the registrar no later than the end of the eighth week of the quarter for fall, winter, spring, and no later than the fifth week of summer quarter. For students who qualify, the registrar will convert the decimal grade submitted by the instructor either to credit (P) or to no credit (NC). This petition is a contract and is not rescindable.

No more than 25 percent of the required credits may be graded “Pass” to satisfy requirements for the Associate in Arts, Associate in Business, Associate in Math Education, Associate in Pre- Nursing, Associate in Science-Transfer, Associate in Applied Arts, Associate in Applied Science, Associate in Applied Science-Transfer, and Bachelor of Applied Science degree.

Courses with “Pass” grades may not satisfy the transfer requirements of a student’s major field. Students are urged to consult the catalog of the four-year institution to which they plan to transfer.

Repeating a Course

Students may repeat a course for which they have earned credit when such a repeat is necessary to satisfy a requirement for improving academic or skill progress (grades). If deemed necessary to repeat, students may only do so twice. (This is defined as two repeats in addition to the original enrollment.) The Health Sciences and Education Division has more restrictive policies regarding repetition of classes. See the program advisor for specific information.

Credit by Challenge

Students may enroll for credit by challenge in a course with the instructor’s approval if:

• The student believes he or she has achieved the required knowledge or skills necessary to receive credit without regularly attending the class sessions; and
• The student is eligible to take the course.

Courses offered by the college but not appearing in the quarterly class schedule may be challenged by requesting that the course be added to the schedule for “credit by challenge” purposes. Students who wish to challenge a course must:

• Consult with the instructor of the class they wish to challenge; and
• Pay regular tuition and fees.

All procedures for the granting of credit by challenge, other than those related to the registration process, are determined by the appropriate instructor and approved division procedures.

Grade Forgiveness Policy

This policy is designed to give returning students a fresh start from their unsuccessful transcript record after an extended absence from Green River. The requirements for the policy are as follows:

• Student has had at least a two-year absence from Green River and grades to be excluded must have been taken prior to the two-year absence.
• After returning to Green River, the student must demonstrate improvement by completing a minimum of 24 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.0.
• Student cannot select specific courses or quarters for exclusion. Once the first quarter of Grade Forgiveness has been selected, all quarters between that quarter and the first returning successful quarter (after the two year absence from Green River) will be coded with the Grade Forgiveness Policy comment.
• Once a Grade Forgiveness is processed, credits for excluded courses will be changed to zero (0) and will not be included in the Green River credit total and GPA. Student’s transcript will continue to show previous courses taken and grades received. A comment will be placed on the transcript indicating that a Grade Forgiveness has been approved for the student.
• Credits excluded may not be reinstated, may not be used as prerequisites and may not apply toward degree requirements.
• Grade Forgiveness may not be used to qualify for an honors designation.
• Student must submit form to Enrollment Services-Records office. The registrar will make appeal decisions.
• Only one Grade Forgiveness petition is permitted on the student’s transcript.

Withdrawal Policy

Students may withdraw from the college or from classes until the last instructional day of the eighth week of the quarter during fall, winter, and spring. For summer, see the quarterly class schedule for withdrawal dates.

Reciprocity Agreement Policy

Washington community and technical colleges (CTCs) offer reciprocity to students transferring within the CTC system who are pursuing the Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) degrees or the Associate in Science-Transfer (AS-T) degrees. Students who complete an individual course that met distribution degree requirements or fulfill 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. These 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 the necessary documentation. For complete information go to greenriver.edu.

Campus-wide Learning Outcomes

Green River College is committed to the continuous improvement of teaching and learning. To this end, the faculty generated and defined four Campus-wide Learning Outcomes. These are outcomes that should be addressed in a variety of classes within a student’s degree or program of study, allowing the student repeated practice with each outcome as he or she moves through a degree or program of study.

Furthermore, each Campus-wide Outcome has competencies, which are components of the larger outcome. These competencies are meant to clarify the meaning of the larger outcome and provide examples of what this outcome may include. However, the competencies are not meant to be reductive or prescriptive; courses that address a Campus-wide Outcome must include at least one and may include more of these competencies. Furthermore, students may be exposed to different competencies of an outcome depending on which degree or program of study they complete.

In order to claim proficiency with a Campus-wide Outcome, it is not necessary for all students to learn every competency of every Campus-wide Outcome. Similarly, in order for a course to claim a Campus-wide Outcome, that course need not address every competency listed for that outcome.

All students completing a degree will be exposed to and are expected to demonstrate proficiency with the four campus-wide outcomes: Written Communication, Critical Thinking, Responsibility, and Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning.

Written Communication

Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form. This outcome includes abilities designed to help students:

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time. This outcome includes abilities designed to help students:

Responsibility

Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others. This outcome includes abilities designed to help students:

Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning

Quantitative Reasoning encompasses abilities necessary for a student to become literate in today’s technological world. Quantitative reasoning begins with basic skills and extends to problem solving. This outcome includes abilities designed to help students:

In order to assess the effectiveness of its instructional programs, the college evaluates student achievement of published learning outcomes at the course, program, and campuswide levels. At the course level, instructors identify in their syllabi which learning outcomes the course supports and how the outcomes will be assessed. At the program level, each program completes an assessment project as part of their regular and on-going review process. At the campus level, student achievement of the Campus wide Outcomes is periodically reviewed across discipline areas and degrees. Finally, students are encouraged to refer back to the Campus-wide Learning Outcomes frequently during the course of their degree or program and self-assess their proficiency with the outcomes. Green River believes that students who can demonstrate proficiency with the Campus-wide Outcomes, as well as content within their specific subject areas, are more likely to achieve success in the workplace and in future educational endeavors.

Program or Degree Outcomes

Oral Communication

Oral Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in oral form. This outcome is concerned with helping students

Human Relations

This outcome includes abilities designed to help students:

Academic Procedures

Academic Records

Change of Address

If your mailing address has changed during the quarter, be sure to change your new address online. Go to greenriver.edu/online and select Student Address, Contact Information and Preferred Name Change to update your information.

If you are on financial aid, you must also notify the Financial Aid Office.

Confidentiality of Records

Students at Green River have the right to examine their educational records, and the college may not, without the student’s permission, let others examine those records for other than educational purposes, per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy.  More information about FERPA is available online at greenriver.edu/FERPA. 

Name Changes

It is important that a student’s name is accurately reflected on his or her individual record. Enrollment Services maintains a confidential record of the student’s last name, first name, middle initial and up to two previous last names. It is the student’s responsibility to notify Enrollment Services of any change.

To report a name change on their record, students must:

• Submit it in writing by completing a Student Information Change Form.
• Show documentation. A copy of a marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption papers, court order or other legal documents must be attached to the request.

Student Identification Number

All students are assigned a SID to use for all transactions at Green River College. Students who forget or lose their assigned SID will need to bring picture ID into Enrollment Services to obtain their number.

Green River requests social security numbers at the time students make application to the college. As authorized under state law SB5509, the SSN will not be used as the SID number that would appear on the class rosters and most other documents. Generally, the SSN is stored confidentially in the records and used only for necessary purposes as authorized by law. Those purposes include the following:

• Financial aid, including loan deferments from other colleges or universities.
• Hope scholarship and Lifelong Learning (tuition tax credits).
• Financial aid related to verification through National Student Clearinghouse.
• Workforce or unemployment data matching purposes.

Student Right to Privacy (FERPA)

All student educational records are maintained according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) concerning the information, which becomes part of the student’s permanent record and governing the conditions of its disclosure. Students have the right to see their records and to request an amendment to those records.

Directory information may include student’s name, email address, photographs, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, and other similar information.

Only directory information can be released without the student’s authorization. A student must sign a release in order to have any other information disclosed or to withhold all information. Education information may be released to other institutions that have requested the records and in which the student seeks or intends to enroll. Information may be released to a third party without the student’s consent if an emergency situation exists or if information is requested officially by means of a subpoena, court order or legal report. Additionally, Congress requires student information to be released to military recruiters if officially requested.  More information about FERPA can be found at greenriver.edu/FERPA.

Transcripts

A transcript of each student’s permanent record of grades is maintained in Enrollment Services. An official transcript of grades will be sent to any high school, college, university or other agency upon the student’s request. All transcripts are ordered online at getmytranscript.org. The cost is $7.75 per transcript, plus a processing fee of $2.25 per recipient. Processing takes one to two business days contingent upon completion of the current quarters grading cycle.

If you need a transcript immediately there is a $25.00 in person On-Demand per transcript fee. The form is available at Enrollment Services.

How do I get a copy of my transcript?

• Students can request a copy of their transcript from the National Student Clearinghouse at getmytranscript.org. The cost is $7.75 per transcript, plus a $2.25 processing fee.
• Students can receive their transcript immediately using our in person On-Demand form at the Enrollment Services Office. The fee is $25 per transcript.
• Students may print unofficial copies of transcripts from our web site at greenriver.edu/online and selecting Grades & Unofficial Transcript.

Auditing A Class

Students may audit a class by enrolling for information only (no credit given) and attending class regularly. Students must declare their intention to audit at the time of registration. Auditing does not affect the grade point average (GPA). Auditors must pay regular tuition and fees.

Change of Program

Students planning to change their career/technical program or their intended major (if transferring to a college or university), must visit the Career and Advising Center to update their program of study and be assigned a new advisor, if appropriate.

Graduation

(253) 833-9111, ext. 2500

When students are two quarters away from completing their educational program, they should submit an Intent to Graduate Form to Enrollment Services.

Intent to Graduate Forms and detailed instructions are available at Enrollment Services. Students may also run a Degree Audit on the Green River website. To be eligible for graduation, students must have accomplished the following:

• Completed all admissions requirements.
• Earned a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
• Completed 24 credits at Green River (doesn’t pertain to high school diploma or career/technical certificate candidates).
• Submitted Intent to Graduate Form.
• Completed all degree requirements as specified by the Green River catalog.

Students may graduate using the degree requirements in effect during their first quarter of enrollment at Green River College for up to six  years. After six years, students need to meet the requirements listed in the current catalog. Students may petition the degree exception committee with proof of continuous enrollment to be exempt from this policy.

Students may graduate at the end of any quarter.

Commencement

One commencement ceremony is held at the end of the academic year. Any student who has been approved for graduation during the year is eligible to participate in the June ceremony. Students who plan to complete their requirements during the following summer quarter may apply for graduation and participate in the ceremony. All diplomas will be mailed to students three to four weeks after grades are posted in the quarter in which they have completed graduation.

Degree Exception

In some cases, students may wish to appeal the graduation requirements. All requests must be in writing (see Enrollment Services for degree exception forms) and should be submitted to Enrollment Services for action. The Degree Exception Committee meets twice a quarter, during fall, winter and spring. Written faculty or advisor approval is required when submitting a request.

Graduation Awards

Scholastic Awards

Scholastic awards celebrate student success by recognizing graduates who:

• Earn a degree in arts, business, math, elementary education, pre-nursing, science, applied arts, and applied science, or a pre-professional (academic transfer or career/ technical programs only).
• Attain a minimum 3.9 grade point average (includes transfer credits and grades from all quarters except the spring quarter in which they may be graduating).
• Earn a minimum of 24 credits at Green River, including the last quarter in residence.
• Earn no more than 25 percent of the required credits on a pass/no-credit basis.

Division Awards

Each instructional division selects one outstanding graduate to receive a Division Award. The recipient is selected by a vote of divisional faculty members.

Honors

For degrees and 90 credit certificates. Graduates who achieve outstanding grade point averages receive honor cords to wear at commencement and are recognized in the commencement program.

Graduation honors are based on Green River grades only. A minimum of 24 credits must be graded (not pass/no-credit). All levels of honors will be noted on the diploma and Green River transcript.

International Academic and Leadership Award

The International Programs Award is presented to an international student who has demonstrated academic excellence and has made an outstanding contribution to international understanding on the campus.

Leadership and Service Awards

A leadership or service award is presented to three students who have held a position of leadership or have contributed to a major service project on campus.

Multicultural Award

The Multicultural Award is presented to a student who has demonstrated the academic promise and has made an outstanding contribution to the on-campus multicultural population.

Outstanding Running Start Award

The Outstanding Running Start Award is presented to a Running Start student who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, as well as contribution to Green River College or their local community.

President’s Award

The President’s Award is presented to a student who has exhibited professional promise and outstanding citizenship, personal qualities, and grade point average. The recipient is selected by a vote of faculty, administrators, and staff.