Student Listening

In 2023, several YVC staff and faculty members conducted a series of one-on-one student listening sessions, focused on students’ experiences and perceptions of diversity, equity, and inclusion at YVC. The team received a total of 102 entries, from students attending the Yakima or Grandview campuses, responding to the following questions:

From your perspective, in what ways does YVC support a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
If you are comfortable sharing, in what ways have you witnessed or experienced prejudice or discrimination at YVC?
What should the college do to improve the climate of diversity, equity, and inclusion at YVC?
To what degree do you agree that your YVC courses provide opportunities for you to learn about cultures, backgrounds, and experiences different from your own?
To what degree do you agree with the statement, “I feel a sense of community at YVC.”?

The team collected no identifying information from students so that they would feel completely comfortable regarding their anonymity.

In general, students feel a sense of community at YVC, and that the college supports and contributes to a diverse and inclusive environment. They refer to the college as a diverse campus, one that is an open and welcoming place, with considerable support for students that is manifested in a variety of ways. While the majority of students reported that they had not experienced or observed an instance of prejudice or discrimination, those who did share such experiences or observations noted those primarily in relation to language, disabilities, and age.

Responses to both the open-ended and multiple-choice questions indicate that the majority of students believe they have opportunities to learn about cultures and experiences that differ from their own at celebrations and events, in clubs and in their courses. But they also suggested that the number and variety of these opportunities should be increased. The students identified a variety of ways for the institution to create a more welcoming and inclusive campus environment (which are noted below). These are, by far, suggestions to expand or increase the positive things the college is already doing to support DEI.

Survey Results

95%

Survey respondents that saw YVC as a place that provided opportunities to learn about cultures, backgrounds, and experiences of students different from them.

96%

Survey respondents that felt a sense of community at YVC.

Student Recommendations:

Create more opportunities for students to learn and experience different cultures
Increase diversity in staff and faculty
Improve communication and advertising of available resources and programs
Provide scholarships that support students with variety of backgrounds
Support/expand student clubs (i.e., LGBTQ and different ethnicities)
Offer DEI-focused classes for electives
Hire more diverse professors who better reflect student body and community
Offer student support resources that are available for more hours and increase advertising about what is available and when available
Increase physical accommodations for students with disabilities (i.e., elevators, pathways, etc.)
Expand language accommodations and translators available
Offer more classes/lessons within classes that cover a broader range of cultures and histories
Make efforts to include/recognize ALL students (i.e., ask students for their pronouns)
Increase celebrations of different cultures and events to promote inclusion
Improve financial aid resources and support for students

DEI-Related Changes or New Implementations at YVC: (in no particular order)

Workforce Diversity work group to address need for diversified faculty and staff
Student Engagement work group creating more opportunities for students and employees to connect (Yak Nights)
Expansion of American Indian/Indigenous Studies courses and transfer articulation agreement with UW (in process)
Professional development for faculty on Universal Design and implementation into various courses to increase equitable learning in the classroom
Math sequence redesign for equitable access and success of underrepresented and minoritized students
Financial Literacy workshops, events, and other opportunities for students at Yakima and GV campuses
Increase in financial aid workshops for families in Yakima and Grandview
Increase in on-campus cultural events for students through Diversity Series
Hiring of full-time Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Expanded student listening sessions to include both campuses, learning centers, and students in daytime and evening classes/programs and in English and Spanish