A new five-year strategic plan will guide YVC’s academic programs, allocation of resources and decision-making following approval by the Board of Trustees in March 2021. Developed with extensive input from faculty, staff, students and community members, the plan outlines five strategic direction categories that the college will advance: commitment to student learning and achievement; a culture of teaching, learning, and innovation; social justice through access, equity, and inclusion; strengthened community; and health and safety, financial, and environmental sustainability.
The board also approved a new mission statement during its March meeting honoring the college’s commitment to advancing equity and inclusion. The new statement reads: “As a federally designated Hispanic-serving Institution residing on the traditional homelands of the 14 Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Yakima Valley College cultivates equity and a culture of innovative and inclusive teaching and learning. Yakima Valley College serves all students holistically, supports all students’ learning goals, and fosters achievement within career and educational pathways. We strengthen our communities by providing opportunities for personal enrichment, economic mobility, and sociocultural engagement.”