Academic Information

​Academic Opportunities

College in the High School

Student Affairs and Success Center, SA-135
(253) 288-3380
greenriver.edu/collegeinhs

College in the High School (CHS) is an opportunity for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to enroll in Green River College classes at their high school, earning college credit which applies towards an associate 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.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Dual Credit 

Student Affairs and Success Center, SA-135
(253) 288-3383

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 Office of the Registrar through the secure document upload tool at www.greenriver.edu/upload. 

eLearning

(253) 288-3354
eLearning@greenriver.edu
Student Website

Most courses at Green River College have digital aspects from assignments and grades on Canvas to software tools. However, each class is defined with a specific mode - virtual, online, or hybrid - which give students additional options in pursuing courses, degrees, and certificates. These courses utilize educational technologies such as Canvas, WAMAP, or other specialized learning management systems, Zoom or other virtual meeting tools, applications or integrations such as but not limited to Pearson, McGraw-Hill, OneDrive, Hypothesis, Turnitin, and Panopto, as well as the internet, in addition to regular class materials, digital or otherwise, to assist students. 

Virtual and online courses can be convenient, but to be successful students need to be able to work independently, have strong time-management skills, and be committed to the time for study that equals that of an in-person course (2-3 hours outside of class for every credit).

Modalities with no in-person component

• Completely Virtual: A virtual course is one where the course is face-to-face in a virtual web-conferencing technology with your instructor at a particular time. Then there is the typical homework and studying as well. For example, if the class begins at 9 a.m. in the class schedule, then it will begin at 9 a.m. on Zoom or other virtual format. Students will be attending the class at the same time as classmates, just as they would on campus. 
• Virtual Hybrid: A virtual-hybrid course is one where the course is split into two parts. Some of the course is face-to-face in a virtual web-conferencing technology with your instructor at a particular time and some of the course is online without a set time to meet. Then there is the typical homework and studying as well.
• Online: An online course is one where the course is entirely asynchronous, where there is no set time to meet. All lecture, activities, and assignments are completed online. The class will still have assignment deadlines and due dates and then there is the typical homework and studying as well.

Modalities with an in-person component

• In-person: An in-person course is one where class times are listed in the schedule and classes will meet in an in-person format on campus. These courses may shift to virtual, online, or hybrid/virtual using Zoom or other virtual format if the campus closes. The instructor will let alert you if there are changes. In addition, there is the regular homework and studying.
• Hybrid: An in-person-hybrid course is one where the course is split into two parts. Some of the course is in-person in a classroom with your instructor at a particular time and some of the course is fully online without a set time to meet. Then there is the typical homework and studying as well.

The current quarter’s course offerings can be viewed by visiting https://www.greenriver.edu/students/online-services/class-registration-and-schedule-planner/. Click on View Class Search and then you can search for courses by mode.

English Language Learning (ELL)

Student Affairs and Success Center, SA-270
(253) 288-6680
greenriver.edu/students/academics/pre-college-basic-skills/esol

ELL 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

Student Affairs and Success Center, SA-270
(253) 931-6515
greenriver.edu/students/academics/pre-college-basic-skills/ged

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 universities.  More than half of the GED® test-takers intend to go on to college or post-secondary training. Green River is a test site for the GED® test. Please visit greenriver.edu/testing for more information about testing.

Intensive English Program

International Village, Building A
(253) 288-3300
www.greenriver.edu/intensive-english

The Intensive English Program helps prepare international students to study at American colleges and universities. It offers small classes and personal attention from highly qualified instructors, at five different levels from beginner to college-level academic preparation.  

Open Doors Program 

Rutkowski Learning Center, RLC-127 
(253) 333-4968 
https://www.greenriver.edu/students/academics/open-doors 

Open Doors at Green River College is a partnership between Green River College and the local school districts (currently including Auburn, Kent and Tahoma School Districts) that aims to provide the students, ages 16-21, who have yet to earn a high school diploma, with a variety of options to reach their educational goals.  

To qualify, students need to meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be between 16 and 21 years old;
• Need to earn a high school diploma (earning a GED does not disqualify you);
• Be at least one year behind in credits toward the high school graduation, OR one year or more past the original graduation date.

Running Start

Student Affairs and Success Center, SA-135
(253) 288-3380

Running Start, a program created by the Washington State Legislature, provides an opportunity for academically qualified high school juniors and seniors to take college-level (numbered 100 or higher) courses for high school and college credit at a significantly reduced rate. 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.

Study Abroad

International Village, Building D
(253) 931-6845
greenriver.edu/studyabroad

Offers study abroad opportunities to GRC students, with classes taught by Green River or other Washington State Community College faculty. Classes satisfy general education requirements and count toward many AA-transfer degrees. No foreign language experience is necessary to participate! All academic students are eligible including Running Start, International, Traditional and Non-Traditional students. There is always at least one program offered per quarter. Annual programs include Japan (every Fall), Australia & New Zealand (every Winter), Costa Rica and South Korea (every summer). Other locations rotate bi-annually, including but not limited to: France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, & Spain. Students may also choose to participate in other programs outside of those sponsored by GRC, and we can provide guidance on how to do so. We are also very happy to help students apply for scholarships and learn how they can use their financial aid to help pay for study abroad costs.

Washington State Center of Excellence for Careers in Education

(253) 833-9111, ext. 4360
greenriver.edu/students/academics/future-educators

The Washington State Center of Excellence for Careers in Education, housed at Green River College, provides support, mentoring, and advising to community colleges and their K-20 partners for the creation and expansion of career-ladder programs in education.

The Center provides a yearly best practices conference, a comprehensive Web site, curriculum development and dissemination, and training for K-20 instructors and paraprofessionals.

Visit Careers in Education directly for more information.

Project TEACH

Project TEACH is a pre-service teacher preparation program designed to provide 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.

College Opportunities

ASGRC Student Government

Mel Lindbloom Student Union, SU-240
greenriver.edu/students/get-involved/asgrc-student-government

As an integral part of the college structure, the Associated Students of Green River College (ASGRC) handles student complaints, provides funding for campus clubs, athletics and activities and provides reports about student needs and welfare directly to the College Administration and Board of Trustees.

Interested students are encouraged to apply for an appointed position or run for office. Everyone is encouraged to vote during elections. The Associated Students of Green River College (ASGRC) president, vice president and chief justice offices are located in the Student Life office. Meetings are open, if you want to get involved come to any meeting and learn how you can make a difference on campus.

Athletics

Mel Lindbloom Student Union, RAC
(253) 931-6467
greenriver.edu/athletics

The Green River Athletic Department works to enrich the campus community through the recruitment of uniquely talented students and to foster positive public relations though interscholastic competition, academic integrity and character enrichment.

Green River College offers six sports, including Women’s Volleyball, Women’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Basketball, Men’s Basketball, and Men’s and Women’s Track and Field. Gator Athletics is a proud member of the Northwest Athletic Conference, NWAC. Our athletics programs are governed by the rules and regulations of the NWAC. 

Campus Life Leadership

Mel Lindbloom Student Union, SU-240
greenriver.edu/students/get-involved/leadership

The Campus Life Leadership program, is a unique opportunity within the Washington community college system for self-motivated, hard-working students to challenge themselves and gain substantial work experiences. Qualified students learn valuable lessons with hands-on experience in managing a program while earning money. Each position assumes responsibility for planning, organizing, budgeting and implementing activities to meet the varied needs of Green River students, faculty, staff and surrounding communities. During the Summer participants spend a portion of their time in workshops and training sessions that supplement their on-the-job training. Training also focuses on the communications skills necessary for the Campus Life leaders to become student ambassadors for the college. The experience and abilities gained in this program have helped many Campus Life leaders move on to highly successful careers.

Clubs and Organizations

Mel Lindbloom Student Union, SU-240
greenriver.edu/students/get-involved/clubs-and-government

Clubs & Organizations are an important part of Student Life at Green River College. Whether you are looking to meet new people, share a common interest, plan campus events or volunteer, there is a club for you! Being involved with a Green River student group is a great way to connect with the Gator community and build relationships with fellow students, staff and faculty.

There are over 30 clubs and organizations each year that focus a variety of topics and interest, including academics, multicultural issues, and social opportunities. Student clubs and organizations are open to all students, although few clubs have membership criteria.

The Current (Student Newspaper)

Student Affairs and Success Center
(253) 833-9111, ext. 2375
greenriver.edu/students/get-involved/the-current

The Current is the award-winning student news organization at Green River College. Serving as both a forum for student expression and a learning laboratory, The Current offers staff members experience in digital journalism, writing, editing and design.

The publication provides news and views to readers both online and in print. Participation is open to all students, regardless of their experience level or career interests. Students serve as editors, reporters, photographers, columnists and advertising managers. Alumni of The Current have gone on to pursue journalism careers in the Pacific Northwest and across the country.

KGRG Radio

Student Affairs and Success Center, SA-200
(253) 833-9111, ext. 2188

89.9 KGRG-FM’s award-winning “Today’s Rock” format has a national - and even an international - reputation.  The station is credited with helping discover bands such as Nirvana, Presidents of the USA, MxPx, Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, My Chemical Romance and so many more. KGRG alumni have established broadcasting careers in markets across the country.

KGRG provides Green River students the hands-on experience in an operational radio station as part of our Broadcast Media program. KGRG broadcasts locally at 89.9 FM, with digital HDRadio, and streams worldwide from kgrg.com and your favorite streaming site.

Performing Arts

greenriver.edu/musicprogram

The college is home to the Green River Jazz Voices and Green River Theatre Company. The college’s theater program offers a play or musical each quarter with a student cast. Admission to Jazz Voices is by audition and to participate in Green River Theatre a student must enroll in the DRMA 111 sequence. For ticket information, call Student Life at (253) 288-6450.

Recreation and Athletics Center

Mel Lindbloom Student Union, RAC
(253) 288-2482
greenriver.edu/RAC

The Recreation and Athletics Center (RAC) strives to provide safe and healthy outlets for Green River students to exercise and play sports.

Options include lifting weights in the weight room, using cardio machines in the Fitness Center or joining a group fitness class. We also offer a full open gym schedule as well as Intramural Sports leagues and tournaments where you can join fellow Gators in a friendly game of basketball, soccer, badminton, table tennis or volleyball.

Important Academic Information

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 progress and completion of their program of study. As part of our responsibility to each student and to the State (which 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 academic standards 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/.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Student Code of Conduct/Student Rights and Responsibilities

As a student of Green River College, you have the responsibility and expectation to maintain an environment conducive to the academic success, safety, and well-being of others. The Student Code of Conduct identifies the rights that are guaranteed individual students and the responsibilities of students in our college community according to state law and college policy. The provisions of the code apply to all students whenever they are on campus or engaged in any college-sponsored activity or function.

To review the Student Code of Conduct, please visit greenriver.edu/conduct.

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.

Green River College assesses learning outcomes at three levels; course, program and campus wide.  

Course Learning Outcomes

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, Diversity and Equity, Responsibility, and Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning. Course learning outcomes communicate clear goals for student learning in an individual course. Faculty adopt course-level student learning outcomes that are published in the program and course descriptions, as well as on course syllabi.

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.

Diversity and Equity

In order to advance equity and social justice, students will be able to examine their own and others’ identities, behaviors, and/or cultural perspectives as they connect to power, privilege, and/or resistance.

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. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes communicate the skills and abilities a student completing a particular program will leave being able to do and demonstrate. In career technical programs, faculty adopted program-level outcomes that are synonymous with degree-level outcomes. In academic transfer, faculty adopted program-level outcomes that are discipline-specific.

Faculty defined program outcomes at either the departmental or divisional level for assessment in the corresponding areas. Program-level outcomes are published on the program description pages and in syllabi. 

Related Instruction Outcomes

Associate in Applied Arts Degree (AAA) and Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS)

The Associate in Applied Arts (AAA) and Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) at Green River have specific related instruction requirements.  These requirements include instruction in communication, computation, and human relations.  These related instructions requirements will be met either through embedded instruction or by separate stand-alone classes that will be identified under the degree in the catalog.

Outcomes 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 College Catalog. 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 which are listed in the College Catalog. 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, each course identifies at least one Campus-wide Outcome that it addresses. This is listed in the outcomes for the course in the College Catalog. 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.

Transfer Credit Information

Green River College is fully accredited. Academic courses will usually be accepted by other institutions offering the same, or similar courses. However, each institution has its own policy and transferability should never be assumed. The Career and Advising staff is available to answer most questions involving transfer of credits and can provide transfer guides for most four-year colleges and universities in Washington State.

Students should be aware that courses with “Pass” grades may not satisfy the requirements in their major field. Students are responsible for knowing transfer requirements and policies, and are urged to consult the catalog of the college, which they plan to attend after Green River.

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.

Reciprocity Agreement

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.

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 .

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. 

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

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.

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.

Academic Records

Student Right to Privacy (FERPA)

All student educational records are maintained according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). FERPA defines what is included in a student record and governs the conditions of disclosure. Students have the right to see their records and to request an amendment to those 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.

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 is available online at greenriver.edu/FERPA. 

Name Changes

It is important a student’s name is accurately reflected on their individual record. The Office of the Registrar maintains a confidential record of the student’s last name, first name, middle initial and any previous names. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Office of the Registrar of any change.

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

• Submit the request 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.

Students may designate a preferred name in ctcLink. 

Change of Address

If your mailing address has changed, be sure to change your address in your ctcLink profile. 

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.

Student Identification Number

All students are assigned a ctcLink ID to use for all transactions at Green River College. Students who forget or lose their assigned ctcLink ID will need to bring picture ID into the Office of the Registrar 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 student identification 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.

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.

Transcripts and Obtaining Grades

A transcript of each student’s permanent record of grades is maintained in the Office of the Registrar. An official transcript of grades will be sent to any high school, college, university or other agency upon the student’s request. 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. 

Obtaining an unofficial transcript:

• Unofficial transcripts in ctcLink can be found on the Student Homepage, in the Academic Records tile.
• Unofficial transcripts in the Legacy system (attendance prior to 2016) must be requested through our Unofficial Legacy Transcript Order Form.

Ordering an official transcript:

• Students can request an official copy of their transcript through Parchment at parchment.com. Hard copy transcripts and digital transcripts are available.
• The cost for an official transcript is $12 per transcript request. 
• Processing takes two to four 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 Office of the Registrar. The fee is $25 per transcript.

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 rescind-able. 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 repeat attempts). 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 Office of the Registrar.

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. Once the terms of the Incomplete Agreement have been met, the instructor submits a change of grade to the Office of the Registrar. In cases where the instructor is not on contract with the college, the division chair or instructional dean may submit a change of grade.

Change of Grades

Change of Grade 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 Grade requests will only be accepted from faculty, staff and administrators. Change of Grade requests will not be accepted from a student. 

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 Office of the Registrar for Grade Forgiveness. The Registrar will make appeal decisions.
• Only one Grade Forgiveness petition is permitted on the student’s transcript.