Can SSH be used just for encrypted authentication and then let the rest of the session be unencrypted ?

[Roy]

Like my the subject states; Can SSH be used just for encrypted 
authentication and then let the rest of the session be unencrypted?.

We're a non profit and don't have any data that anyone would even give a 
damned about looking at, but we want to protect the passwords and access to 
our machines. Can SSH do that?

Thanks

Roy