STUDENT LIFE
Student Centers
Spokane Community College’s Lair Student Center is the center of student activities and campus life. Areas available for student use include a cafeteria and deli, game room, bookstore, lobby lounge, auditorium, several meeting rooms and a five-lane bowling alley. The Community, Career and Employment Services Office is located off the main lobby of the Lair. Orlando’s, a student-operated restaurant located in Building 1, offers excellent food at very reasonable prices. The restaurant is a training area for culinary arts students. Counseling and financial aid services are located in Buildings 15 and 50, respectively.
The hub of Spokane Falls Community College’s student activities is the Student Union Building centrally located on campus. The SUB features a main lounge area with a fireplace, dining area with Cyber Cafe, recreation center with computer stations, six-lane bowling alley, several conference rooms, college bookstore and student services area. Student services include admissions and the Registrar’s Office (student records); advising, assessment and testing; career center; cashier; counseling; disability support services; financial aid; veteran affairs; international student services; multicultural student services; parking permits; Running Start office; student-funded programs and activities; work study/placement; and the offices of the vice president and assistant dean of student services.
The Institute for Extended Learning’s Colville Center houses a student center that includes an activity room, two study rooms, student government and journalism offices, a kitchen and cafeteria. The student services area includes the admissions/registration office, counseling center, testing, financial aid information, cashier, bookstore and disability support services. At the Whitman County Center in Pullman, student services include counseling, admissions and registration, financial aid information and a student lounge. The Newport Center houses a student activity room, counseling, admissions/registration, financial aid information and student government offices.
Student Government
All enrolled students of SCC, SFCC or the IEL are members of the associated students. The SCC Associated Student Council, which is composed of two elected officers, four appointed executive officers, and five appointed senators, determines student government decisions at SCC. A seven person Student Activities Council is responsible for bringing co-curricular programs to the SCC campus.
Government action for SFCC Associated Students is determined by the College Student Senate, consisting of two elected officers, six appointed officers, four appointed senators (representing geographical districts), one appointed administrator and one elected faculty representative. The Student Council includes representatives from all campus clubs and is responsible for planning student programs and activities.
At the IEL, each center has its own student government structure. This decentralized structure allows each center to have a student government that meets its needs and has the flexibility to immediately respond to local student concerns. There are student governments at the AEC, Colville, Hillyard, Whitman County, Newport, Ione, Inchelium, Republic and Fairchild AFB Education Centers.
For additional information, call SCC 509-533-7081, SFCC 509-533-3553, IEL Lodge 509-279-6081, IEL Colville Center 509-279-6700, IEL Fairchild AFB Education Center 509-533-8937, IEL Republic Center 509-775-3675, IEL Newport Center 509-447-3835, IEL Inchelium Center 509-722-3702, IEL Hillyard Center 509-533-8580, IEL Adult Education Center 509-533-4600, IEL Whitman County Center 509-533-4002, and the IEL North Pend Oreille Center 509-533-4290.
Student Activities
Each student pays a student activities fee at registration. These fees, collected quarterly, provide funding for athletics, clubs, organizations and student government on each college campus.
Student activities within CCS are conducted to promote educational, cultural, social and recreational programs. These programs are planned, coordinated and conducted by students to supplement classroom-learning experiences throughout the college year.
There are a wide variety of clubs and organizations that relate to many different special interests (i.e., drama, multicultural, service learning, single parents, etc.) as well as organizations relating to instructional areas (i.e., hearing impaired, journalism, music, photo, etc.). Membership in these student clubs and organizations is open to all students. Detailed information for clubs and organizations is available in the Student Activities Office in the student centers throughout CCS.
For more information, call SCC 509-533-7081, at SFCC call 509-533-4197, IEL Lodge 509-279-6081, IEL Colville Center 509-279-6700 or (509) 684-3138, IEL Fairchild AFB Education Center 509-533-8937, IEL Newport Center 509-533-8301 or 509-447-3835, IEL North Pend Oreille Center 509-533-4290 or 509-442-4290, IEL Republic Center 509-533-8728 or 509-775-3675, or IEL Whitman County Center 509-533-4002 or 509- 332-2706.
Study Abroad
SCC and SFCC are committed to offering students the opportunity to study abroad as part of their international education. The successful study abroad programs provide students with an excellent opportunity to live in another country and experience its culture, while earning college credits.
Students can choose from a wide range of study abroad opportunities, in all parts of the world, and under a range of program options. There are regular study abroad options in England, Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, and China. In addition, programs in other parts of the world are available from time to time.
For information, call the study abroad coordinator in the International Programs Office at 509-533-3242, or by email at junnieL@spokanefalls.edu.
International Climate On Campus
Students also have the opportunity to study and work with teachers and students from many countries. Teachers from Bangladesh, China, Colombia, Cypress, France, Germany, Hungary, and Japan have taught for SFCC. Students can also focus their studies with the International Studies Pre-major (consult counselor or adviser for additional information).
Student Publications
Legends, SCC’s literary magazine, is published every spring by the students in the literary production class. Featuring prose, poetry and art, the magazine accepts submissions from students, faculty and alumni. Each year, Legends presents a collection of works appropriate to that year’s vision and theme. Legends has received local, state, and regional awards since its creation in 1987.
The Sasquatch Times is the bi-weekly newspaper produced by students at SCC. It provides students an opportunity to gain news gathering, writing, editing, photography, layout and publishing experience.
The Wire Harp, SFCC’s literary magazine, is published each spring. The magazine’s editorial staff is composed of SFCC students. Submissions of poetry, prose, photography and graphic art are accepted in January each year.
The Communicator, SFCC’s official student newspaper, gives students a chance to write about news, arts and entertainment, features, sports and opinion for the SFCC community while building a professional portfolio. The full-color, bi-weekly tabloid is produced by students, giving them the opportunity to gain relevant experience in graphic design, page layout, photography and management.
The Communicator regularly enters and places in national Associated Collegiate Press competitions and attends conferences in cities such as Los Angeles, St. Louis and San Francisco. The newspaper staff also publishes audio documents and podcasts on its website at http://www.spokanefalls.edu/communicator.
The Ripples is the newsletter produced by the students at Newport Center. The Bigfoot Review: A Creative Arts Magazine is published by the students at the Whitman County Center. Both publications provide the students with an opportunity to write news articles, opinion pieces, and to conduct interviews. These works are published a minimum of one time per quarter and give the students an opportunity to gain experience in preparing a publication including layout design, writing, editing, team work and meeting deadlines.
Intramural Sports
Intramural sports are a valuable, added component to student life and play an important role in the total student experience at CCS. Participation in intramural sports will make for a more rewarding and enjoyable collegiate experience. It adds another dimension to student life away from the rigors of the classroom and allows for extracurricular social interaction. Intramural activities help promote and improve physical fitness, self-esteem and are a great way of just having fun while attending college. CCS offers a variety of intramural sports to students during the fall, winter and spring quarters. In addition, open recreation time is provided daily in the swimming pool at SCC and the gymnasiums at SFCC and SCC for students and staff.
Intercollegiate Athletics
The athletic program gives full-time students at both colleges an opportunity to participate in competitive intercollegiate sports in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges. Each year, Bigfoot teams rank in the top 10 in a variety of NWAACC sports. Men’s teams compete in cross-country, basketball, track, golf, tennis, soccer and baseball; women’s in volleyball, cross-country, basketball, track, golf, tennis, soccer and softball.
Fitness Center
Students, faculty and staff have access to fitness centers at SCC and SFCC. These state-of-the-art facilities offer cardiovascular conditioning, strength training and flexibility programming. Students may register for either a 1-credit fast fitness or a 2-credit cross training class. Grading is based on the total hours of exercise time accumulated during the quarter.
Both fitness centers have a dress policy that is designed to help keep equipment clean and foster a non-intimidating environment. The aim of fitness center staff is to provide an educational and motivating environment in which to achieve individual exercise goals. Instructors are on hand to help develop personal exercise programs and conduct individual fitness assessments. These assessments include testing body composition, blood pressure, flexibility, aerobic fitness and muscular strength. There also is an opportunity for physically challenged individuals to exercise on a variety of specialized machines.
All fitness center users pay a small quarterly lab fee that helps provide a means to maintain equipment and for the purchase of new machines.
For more information, call SCC 509-533-7280 or SFCC 509-533-3488.
Wellness Program
The CCS physical education, athletics and recreation department conducts a Wellness Program geared to meet the needs of CCS students. The Wellness Program focuses on educating, motivating and directing students toward positive, fitness-oriented, healthful lifestyles. Information is available on diet, nutrition and exercise. Fitness and wellness testing is available by appointment for body composition measurement, blood pressure, flexibility and nutrition analysis. Program goals are to reduce the risk of disease and injury and enhance the quality of life for students.
A variety of activities are offered and geared to meet individual needs. Activities include organized classes (credit and noncredit) and open facility usage. Classes range from basic fitness to aerobic fitness, body conditioning, jogging, cross training, karate, weight training and fast fitness. Facilities are available for student use during open scheduled hours. This includes locker/shower rooms, swimming pool (SCC), indoor/outdoor tracks, gymnasiums, trails, tennis courts and athletic fields.
The Wellness Challenge incentive program offered each year is designed to encourage student participation in health, fitness and wellness-related activities and runs from September 1 to August 31. Both colleges have information, specific details and forms needed for participation.
For more information, call SCC 509-533-7211 or SFCC 509-533-4105.