Academic Information

• Academic Opportunities

• Important Information and Policies

• Campus-wide Learning Outcomes

• Related Instruction Outcomes

• Academic Procedures

• Graduation

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 which 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 are offered online and through hybrid courses, giving 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.  Although eLearning courses are convenient, to be successful students need to have strong motivation, self-discipline, and good reading/learning skills.

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.

Hybrid Courses

Hybrid courses are developed by Green River faculty and combine online learning with the traditional classroom format. Students will enjoy the opportunity for the flexibility hybrid courses provide since online instruction replaces some of the on-campus meetings.  Hybrid courses have scheduled times for on-campus instruction along with assignments to do online. Assignments required in an on-campus session have to be done on campus.  Online assignments have to be done online.

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

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

(253) 833-9111, ext. 2315

ESOL classes are designed for students 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 95% of U.S. colleges and unversities.  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. 4892

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, Taiwan, England, Costa Rica, Spain, France, 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 credit at a significantly reduced cost (courses numbered 100 or higher). Qualifying students must show eligibility 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.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Dual Credit (formerly Tech Prep)

(253) 833-9111, ext. 2500

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Dual Credit, formerly know as 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 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 CTE Dual Credit:

1. Students enroll in high school Career and Technical Education classes offering CTE Dual Credit.
2. Earn a “C” (2.0) or higher.
3. Apply for Admission at Green River College.
4. Complete a CTE Dual Credit Transcription Request and submit it to the Enrollment Services Office.

Transitional Studies Program

(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 to 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 of Excellence 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 which 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. The Center provides support, mentoring, and advising to community colleges and their K-20 partners for the creation and expansion of career-ladder programs in education.

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 Education administers four grants which 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 greenriver.edu/gotocollegefree.

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.

Important Information and 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 minimum 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 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 student academic progress policies address:

1. Excessive Credits: Students who accumulate more than 125% of the number of credits required to complete their degree or certificate programs.
2. Credit Completion: Students who drop more than 25% 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 Credit Information

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 Getting Started   section.

Advanced Placement (AP) (College Board)

Effective July 1, 2019

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. Scores range from a high of five to a low of one; in most departments, credit and/or placement is awarded for scores of three or higher. In some cases, the student must consult the appropriate departmental advisor.

Advanced Placement - Test Score Equivalencies

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 there is no specific Green River course equivalent for all or part of the 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 a 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 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, 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 a 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 for more details.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Dual Credit (formerly Tech Prep)

CTE is a course of study which 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. CTE 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 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 an official IB transcript be sent directly to the Green River Enrollment Services. 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 Credit Information

Some 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 Green River will accept military basic training experience to satisfy one-credit of physical education activity, 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 physical education fitness/wellness, 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 to Enrollment Services with a Transcript Evaluation Request 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.

Academic Credit for Prior Learning (Formerly 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 Academic Credit for Prior Learning Request form in coordination with an assigned faculty member and pay regular tuition based on the number of credits requested. Academic Credit for Prior Learning (ACPL) credits are awarded for one to two credits per quarter.

Students will be assessed through credit by testing, course challenge or prior experiential learning/extra-institutional learning assessment 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 their Academic Credit for  Prior Learning in relation to the competencies of the program and will be awarded credit for demonstrated learning outcomes that are appropriate to the course. Assessment methods 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 ACPL awards and will be posted to the student’s transcript. Credits earned through ACPL 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

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 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 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, 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 Policy

Under Green River’s numerical grading system, instructors may report grades of 0.0 or between 1.0 to 4.0 in 0.1 increments, or report grading symbols (I,S,P). Only an instructor may change an assigned grade.

Letter Grade Translations

Letter grades are translated to the following decimal grades:

Grade and Symbol Definitions

Grading Symbols

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

Pass/No-Credit (P/NC) Grades

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 any transfer degree. Students are urged to consult the catalog of the four-year institution to which they plan to transfer. 

Procedure

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 (fall, winter, spring) or the end of the fifth quarter (summer)For students who qualify, the Registrar will convert the decimal grade submitted by the instructor either to credit (P) or to no credit (NC).  

Satisfactory (S) Grades

The “S” grade may be used only for TS/Basic and ELL classes numbered under 100. Courses with “S” grade designators cannot be applied toward any degree or certificate program. Courses with “S” grade indicate “work in progress” and do not denote course completion. 

Repeat Grades

Students may repeat a course for which they have earned credit when such a repeat is necessary to satisfy a distribution requirement or improving a previously-earned grade. If deemed necessary to repeat, students may only do so twice (this is defined as the original enrollment, plus two repeats). Some programs of study may have more restrictive policies regarding repetition of classes. This policy applies to enrollment in credit-bearing or Adult Basic Education (ABE/TS/ELL) courses, including transferred-in courses. This policy does not apply to non-credit continuing education courses or courses taken by audit. The highest grade earned of the original or repeated courses will be used to calculate the student’s cumulative grade point average.

Procedure

The highest grade earned of the original or repeated courses will be used to calculate the student’s cumulative grade point average. If the repeated courses involve a P/NC and a decimal grade, the decimal grade will be kept in the GPA calculation if it is over a 2.0.  If it is 1.9 or below, the P/NC will be kept in the GPA calculation and considered the “higher” grade earned. 

Incomplete (I) Grades

An instructor may record a student’s work as incomplete when the student has been delayed in completing the required work. “I” grades do not affect GPA. Student has four quarters (or less, if instructor indicates) to finish the Incomplete agreement with the instructor. After four quarters, if the “I” grade still appears on the transcript it will be changed to a 0.0 by the Enrollment Services office.

Procedure

Coursework may be completed according to an agreement between the instructor and student. Any student seeking to establish an Incomplete agreement must contact the instructor for the class. At the instructor’s discretion, an Incomplete Agreement may be created and will reside with the instructor of record. The instructor will assign an “I” grade during the grading period. 

Change of Grades

Change of Grade forms are to be completed by the instructor of record.  In cases where the instructor is not available, the division chair or instructional dean may submit a change of grade. Grade changes are not valid for withdraw (“W”), pass/no-credit (P/NC), or audit (“N”). To ensure academic record integrity, Change of Grades will only be accepted from faculty, staff and administrators. Change of Grades will not be accepted from a student. 

Obtaining Grades

Only grades and credits earned at Green River will post to a Green River transcript. 

In order to comply with Family Educational Privacy Act 1974 (FERPA), student information (including grades) will not be released to third parties without prior written permission of the student. 

Grade discrepancies must be addressed by the student with the issuing faculty member. If the issuing faculty member is no longer at Green River, contact the appropriate division chair or instructional dean. 

Procedure

Current quarter grades are posted to students’ transcript approximately 5-business days upon completion of the quarter. Students may access their grades on the Green River website, selecting Grades & Unofficial Transcript, then using their Student Identification (SID) number and Personal Identification Number (PIN).  

Withdrawals

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.

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 a 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

Grade Forgiveness is designed to give returning students a fresh start from their unsuccessful transcript record after an extended absence from Green River. The requirements for Grade Forgiveness are:

• The 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.
• The 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 comment on the transcript.
• Once 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 or GPA. The student’s transcript will continue to show previous courses taken and grades received. A comment will be placed on the transcript indicating that 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.
• Students must see the Enrollment Services Office for the Grade Forgiveness form. The Registrar will make appeal decisions.
• Only one Grade Forgiveness petition is permitted on the student’s transcript.

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 meeting 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. Green River believes 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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

Assessment Process

In order to assess the effectiveness of its instructional programs, the college evaluates student achievement of published learning outcomes at the course, program, and campus wide levels.

• At the course level, course outcomes for all sections of each course are listed in the Course Proposal. Instructors list these outcomes in their syllabus. Instructors continually improve their teaching based on feedback from assignments that assess their course outcomes.
• At the program level, each program (defined as a division or a department, depending on what makes sense in each academic area) has published Program Outcomes. Programs then complete a yearly Program Assessment Project to assess their outcomes and make improvements to their program. These projects are reported regularly with the VPI during the Program Assessment and Improvement process.
• At the campus level, student achievement of the Campus wide Outcomes is assessed yearly across discipline areas and degrees. Faculty use these findings to continually improve student learning of these outcomes.

Related Instruction Outcomes

Human Relations

Human Relations encompasses a wide variety of subjects including, but not limited to, communication styles (verbal and nonverbal); team work; interviewing skills; goal setting; stress management; anger and conflict management; ethics; diversity; attitude and motivation; and life planning.

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 from your Green River email address providing the new address information.

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 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 Student Identification Number (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. 

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 per recipient. Processing takes one to two business days contingent upon completion of the current quarters grading cycle.
• 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 or on the Enrollmnt Services webpage online. 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)
• 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 must 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 requirement.

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 academic 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

Academic Honors

Degree-level academic honors are bestowed as recognition of outstanding academic achievement at the completion of a two-year or four-year degree. Academic honors are based on grades earned at Green River College. A minimum of 24 credits must be graded (not pass/non-credit). For transfer degrees, college-level GPA is used to determine academic honors. For applied degrees, cumulative GPA is used to determine academic honors.

Graduates who achieve outstanding grade point averages are eligible to purchase honor regalia to wear at commencement and are recognized in the commencement program. All levels of honors will be noted on the diploma and Green River transcript.

Dean’s List

Quarterly academic honors are bestowed as recognition of outstanding academic achievement at the completion of each quarter. In order to qualify, a student must earn at least twelve (12) credits of graded course work and a grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 or higher in courses numbered 100 and above (college-level). The credits from courses in which a student receives an I, N, NC, P, or Y grade will not count toward the twelve (12) credit minimum. 

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 applied bachelors programs
• 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
• 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.

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 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.