Author Archive for R. Oliphant – Page 22
According to a July 14 article in the Capitol Times by Steven R. Gonzales, Chancellor of the Maricopa County Community College District, two of the three largest semiconductor manufacturers in the world have announced a combined total of nearly $50 billion in new investments in Arizona, enabling the construction of multiple new, expansive manufacturing hubs. (West County dominates; on-line courses now make up 37% of all for-credit offerings
Yavapai Community College’s Fall 2023 semester registration data reveals that the Prescott Campus offerings plus the online courses together constitute approximately 72% of all of the total of 1035 classes being offered for credit. The online courses alone now make up about 37% of all for-credit classes being offered. Interestingly, the west side of Mingus Mountain dominates the credit course offerings.
The Sedona Center for Arts and Technology has a limited selection of only four for-credit classes, which has raised concerns among many individuals about the future of the Center. In contrast, the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC), located at the Prescott airport, offers more for-credit classes than the Verde Campus.
This situation has raised troubling questions among those residing on the east side of Mingus Mountain, particularly due to the scarce availability of for-credit classes at the Verde Campus and the Sedona Center.
College mostly shrouds “Sensory Integration Accelerator” project in secrecy; PR Department ignores request for more information; Community caught off guard by Board’s November 2022 approval in concept of all priority capital projects with no mention of this expansion; Minimal disclosure to taxpayers prior to or at the May 2023 budget approval meeting
During the May 2023 Yavapai Community College District Governing Board meeting, where the budget for the upcoming 2023-24 year was approved, one of the most unexpected developments was the decision to allocate $10 million over three years for the expansion of the existing 108,000 square foot, eight-acre Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC). This expansion aims to increase CTEC’s size by an additional 20,000 square feet. The suddenness of this decision caught many attendees by surprise, leaving them with limited information about the specific details and rationale behind the expansion.
No explanations were provided prior to the May 2023 budget meeting supporting the sudden decision to increase the size of CTEC, especially considering that the College already possesses 108,000 square feet at that facility. Similarly, no clarifications were given at the meeting regarding why the specific amount of $10 million was chosen, nor was there any disclosure regarding the portion of funding that might come from state grants. Furthermore, it remained unclear whether the $10 million would be spent regardless of the availability of state funding.
Another surprising revelation emerged from a confidential executive meeting of the Community College District Governing Board on June 8. During this meeting, a decision was made to acquire a property in Prescott, located west of the airport. The exact purchase price of the property remains undisclosed. The purpose of this acquisition is currently unknown, but there are speculations that it might be intended to expand the footprint of CTEC. The lack of transparency surrounding this decision has left the community uncertain about the college’s intentions with the newly acquired property. (For more information about the purchase, please click here.)
Adding to the residents’ surprise was the fact that the expansion of CTEC was never discussed during the important District Governing Board meeting held November 2022. At this meeting the Board considered all priority projects submitted to them by the College administration and experts hired by the College. The Board then went ahead and approved all of the priority capital projects in concept. Despite the presentation of a detailed chart allegedly prepared by the College experts for that meeting, which outlined the various priority projects and their estimated cost, the CTEC expansion was conspicuously absent from the chart or any discussion.
This is what information the Blog has been able to gather so far:
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- At the May 2023 budget approval meeting, page 74 of the budget book states: “Yavapai College will expand the Career and Technical Cetner (sic) (CTEC) by up to 20,000 square feet. Within the expanded space, the college will construct new programs and move a few existing programs to meet Freeport’s current and future workforce needs. Specifically, the space will be used to train technicians with the newest automation and Al technologies.”
- At the May 2023 budget hearing, Dr. Clint Ewell provided the following short explanation for the sudden addition: “Last, but not least, we’ve been working on some leads with the State regarding workforce accelerators, which is some state funded money to help local businesses advance their workforce training skills. So we’re partnering with free Port Mac Moran and putting our name in the hat. We’re hopeful, perhaps even optimistic, that we will get money to help them train their next generation of automation technicians and using artificial intelligence to help diagnose what’s going on with their processes.”
- Finally, Chair Deb McCasland made a vague comment at the end of the budget approval process regarding potential state funds. She said: “And just another point on the capital projects. We are estimating that we will receive 16.4 million dollars to support the capital improvements from outside sources non taxpayer dollars. So we are being very frugal. . . .”
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The Community College’s persistent adherence to secrecy raises numerous concerns. Such opacity undermines the trust that residents have placed in the institution. By choosing to withhold information or failing to meaningfully provide it, such as detailed reasons it suddenly decided to allocate $10 million in taxpayer dollars to a particular project, the Community College not only fails to foster an environment of openness and accountability but also exacerbates the skepticism and unease felt by community members. Transparent and inclusive decision-making processes are essential for building trust and ensuring the collective well-being of all stakeholders.
Two (12.5%) of new players from Yavapai County, two from outside the U.S., seven from other Arizona counties outside Yavapai, and five from outstate schools – Total County players on 25-person team roster are three (12%)
The Yavapai College men’s soccer team has announced its newcomers to the team for the 2023 season. The Roughriders are adding 16 new faces to the roster in addition to nine returning athletes, bringing the roster total to 25.
The 16 new additions, according to the Community College’s athletic department are:
Nate Claudio | Midfield | Freshman | Yuma, Arizona. High School: Claudio graduated from Cibola High School in May of 2023. As a senior, he helped lead his team to the playoffs with a 10-6-2 record while scoring seven goals and tallying 12 assists enroute to Region Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-State honors.
Arthur Coscas | Forward | Sophomore | Paris, Île de France. High School: Coscas graduated from Assumption de Lubeck in June of 2021. Before becoming a Roughrider, Coscas previously attended College of the Canyons.
Jorge Quintero | Forward | Freshman | St. George, Utah. Quintero graduated from Dixie High School in May of 2022. While in high school, he led his team in scoring in back-to-back seasons, earned Region MVP and First-Team All-State honors, was the top scorer in 4A and top-five in assists in the state.
Joseph Miranda | Forward | Freshman | Tucson, Arizona. Miranda graduated from Walden Grove High School in May of 2022. He captained his team and scored 22 goals while tallying 11 assists en route to Region Player of the Year and Region Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Austin Dorsey | Goalkeeper | Freshman | Prescott, Arizona. High School: Dorsey graduated from Prescott High School in May of 2023 where he earned Honorable-Mention All-Region honors.
Anthony Khananisho | Midfield | Freshman | Ontario, Canada. Khananisho graduated from St. Jean de Brebeuf in June of 2023. While there, he earned soccer MVP honors while being on the honor roll.
Carlos Rodriguez | Midfield | Freshman | Chino Valley, Arizona. Rodriguez graduated from Chino Valley High School in May of 2023. While at Chino, Rodriguez played four years of varsity soccer and helped lead his team to state championships during his junior and senior seasons, scoring in each semifinal game and in one of the state title games.
Erick Quirarte | Defender | Freshman | San Luis, Arizona. Quirarte graduated from San Luis High School in May of 2023. As a senior, he helped lead his team to a 16-1 record with 12 shutouts and four goals scored, in addition to earning First-Team All-State and Academic First-Team All-State honors.
Miguel Medina | Midfield | Freshman | St. Johns, Florida. Medina graduated from Bartram Trail High School in May of 2022.
Gael Castro | Midfield | Freshman | Yuma, Arizona. Castro graduated from Cibola High School in May of 2023. As a senior, he captained his team and scored seven goals while tallying four assists en route to First-Team All-Region honors.
David Murillo | Forward | Freshman | San Luis, Arizona. Murillo graduated from San Luis High School in May of 2022. As a senior, he helped lead his team to the state quarterfinals while scoring nine goals and tallying four assists, including a hat trick during the first round of a state playoff game. Before Yavapai: Before becoming a Roughrider, Murillo previously attended Arizona Western College.
Luis Medina | Forward | Freshman | San Luis, Arizona. High School: Medina graduated from San Luis High School in May of 2023. As a senior, he helped lead his team to the state finals while scoring 16 goals and tallying 16 assists en route to First-Team All-State and First-Team All-Region honors.
Gio Orozco | Defender | Freshman | Orem, Utah. High School: Orozco graduated from Timpanogos High School in May of 2022. While there, he earned First-Team All-Region honors twice, competed in the Far West Regionals and went undefeated in P1.
Gabriel Jimenez | Midfield | Freshman | St. George, Utah. High School: Jimenez graduated from Dixie High School in May of 2021. He was a captain during his senior year in which he helped lead the team to a 13-4 record and first-place finish in regionals.
Izaias Santiago | Midfield | Freshman | Phoenix, Arizona. High School: Santiago graduated from North High School in May of 2023. As a senior, he captained the team and helped lead the squad to its first playoff appearance in five years while tallying four goals and 16 assists.
Kodee Karcher | Midfield | Freshman | Ellicott City, Maryland. High School: Karcher graduated from Centennial High School in May of 2023. As a senior, he tallied 18 goals (led the county) and nine assists enroute to Player of the Year, First-Team All-State and First-Team All-Metro honors.
The nine returning players are:
Of the nine returning players from last year’s team, one is from Yavapai County, one from outside the U.S., five from Arizona counties outside Yavapai, and two from outstate. They are:
Sebastian Bielicki, |Midfielder/Defender |Glendale, Arizona. High School: Bielicki graduated from Mountain Ridge High School in May of 2021.
Charles Bettger, | Midfielder | Portland, Oregon. Highschool Valley Catholic, graduated June 2022. As a senior, he scored 11 goals and tallied nine assists enroute to First-Team All-State and League Player of the Year honors.
Aiden Harrell | Forward/Midfielder | Montrose, Colorado. While in high school, he earned First-Team All-Conference honors twice and Second-Team All-Conference honors once while also scoring 27 career goals. His team made the playoffs every year in high school and won the conference twice.
Austin Pearcy | Midfielder | Phoenix, Arizona. Boulder Creek High school. School. Instead of playing high school soccer, Pearcy played for the Phoenix Rising FC MLS Next Academy. In 2021-22, he was the team leader in assists.
Ravi Holladay | Defender : Chino Valley, Arizona. Holladay graduated from Chino Valley High School in May of 2022. As a senior, he helped lead his team to a 21-0-2 record and state championship while also earning all-conference honors.
John Stull | Defender/Midfielder | Hometown Litchfield Park, Arizona. Stull graduated from Millennium High School in May of 2022. While in high school, Stull earned Region Player of the Year, First-Team Defender, Defensive Player of the Year and All-Region Defender honors.
Jesus Torres | Defender | Hometown San Luis, Arizona | Highschool San Luis. During his senior high school season, he earned Second-Team All-Region and Athlete of the Month honors while helping his team to an undefeated record and 6A finals appearance.
Rushon Sandy | Goalkeeper | Hometown San Fernando, Trinidad. Highschool High Mowing School. Sandy graduated from High Mowing School in June of 2022. He was the team captain for his team for three years.
Bishop Rhoads | Goalkeeper | Hometown San Tan Valley, Arizona. Highschool San Tan Foothills. He was a team captain for three years and led his team to its first playoff appearance in 2022 in which he posted a shutout in the first round game. For his efforts, he earned First-Team All-Region Goalkeeper honors.
Source: https://goroughriders.com/news/2023/7/12/mens-soccer-mens-soccer-announces-newcomers-for-2023-squad.aspx
Accelerator Projects: A Trifecta of Government, Private Industry, and Education Since 2021
Community colleges in Arizona are witnessing a rise in programs focused on “workforce accelerators.” This initiative gained momentum with former Governor Doug Ducey, who, on March 31, 2021, joined local elected leaders in Pinal County to inaugurate a cutting-edge advanced manufacturing training center in Coolidge, Arizona. Named Drive48, the facility was described as representing a groundbreaking collaboration among government, industry, and academia, aimed at strengthening Arizona’s workforce training for high-tech jobs.
The Drive48 project was also described as complementing the Arizona Advanced Technology Network curriculum, a pioneering partnership developed by Arizona’s employers, public sector, and academic institutions. This collaboration was designed to address the demand for high-tech manufacturing skills both now and in the future. Central Arizona College, one of three community colleges involved, worked closely with numerous manufacturers to develop a unified, industry-recognized curriculum specifically tailored to enhance skills training for manufacturing jobs.
On June 29, 2023, Governor Katie Hobbs of Arizona announced two new workforce partnerships, which will provide advanced skills training in rural areas. These programs, collectively known as Future48, will be launched in Kingman and Yuma, Arizona. They mark the inauguration of the first two of up to six Future48 Workforce Accelerators, overseen by the Arizona Commerce Authority in collaboration with higher education and industry partners.
The Kingman accelerator, established in partnership with Mohave Community College, will support the region’s growing manufacturing, transportation, and mining industries. It will be housed in a state-of-the-art facility spanning over 30,000 square feet at the Kingman Airport and Industrial Park. Notable industry partners include NUCOR Steel, Kingman and Mohave Manufacturing Association (KAMMA), Progressive Pipe, Arizona Sommers Cooling and Heating, and more.
The Yuma Future48 Workforce Accelerator, launched in partnership with Arizona Western College, will provide workforce training in electrical technology, advanced manufacturing, broadband fiber optics, and solar installation, catering to the aerospace and defense industries in the region. The collaboration involves a 5,600-square-foot expansion of the Wellton Manufacturing Training Center located on the Arizona Western College campus.
Furthermore, on July 10, Governor Katie Hobbs announced an investment of $1.7 million in state funding for Pima Community College’s workforce development in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs. Pima Community College takes pride in its Automotive Technology and Innovation Center, a two-story, 50,000-square-foot facility opened in 2021. It houses automotive technology programs covering diesel, electric, and autonomous vehicles, providing training for leading brands such as Ford, Fiat-Chrysler, and Subaru. Additionally, Pima Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing facility, valued at $35 million and spanning 100,000 square feet, offers programs in mining technology, manufacturing, metalworking, robotics, machine technology, and more.
New Chief Resource Officer, new head of Workforce Division, and new Provost yet to be selected will join leadership team
Yavapai Community College is set to welcome three new executives to its leadership team as the fall 2023 semester commences. The additions include Dr. Janet Nix, who assumed the role of Chief Resource Officer in November 2022, and Dr. Kimberly Moore, who will spearhead the Division of Workforce and Innovation. Additionally, a third individual will join the team as Provost, succeeding Dr. Diane Jones.
Recall that Emily Weinacker, the former Chief Resources Officer, retired in September 2022. As per her updated LinkedIn page, she has transitioned into a new role outside the College as a “Spiritual Director in Training.” Taking her place is Dr. Janet Nix, whose appointment was officially announced on November 8, 2022. The College has added her to its leadership team.
Yavapai Community College announced in a June 13 press release that it is creating a new Division of Workforce and Innovation. Dr. Moore officially joined Yavapai on July 10, 2023 to lead that Division. Dr. Moore is currently the Vice President for Workforce Innovation at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, Florida. Dr. Moore has also been added to the leadership team.
In a surprising turn of events, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Diane Ryan, resigned from Yavapai Community College for unknown reasons. Her resignation was confirmed in a press release issued by the College in July 2023. Despite her relatively short tenure, having joined the institution on September 3, 2019, Dr. Ryan leaves behind an exemplary record of remarkable achievements. Following her resignation, the College announced that it would seek a Provost to replace her. It is assumed the new provost will take the seat of Dr. Ryan on the leadership team.
Leadership Team in fall 2022
Anticipated new leadership Team in fall 2023
Offered by OLLI with workshop to begin at 7 a.m. each day
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is offering a three-day “Plein Air Painting Workshop” at Yavapai Community College’s Sedona Center beginning August 1 at 7 a.m. The workshop will the directed by Dawn Sutherland. It will be run August 1-3.
Ms. Sutherland will demonstrate two basic approaches to beginning a painting, using a viewfinder, sketchpad, and thumbnail sketches, designing a good composition, and carrying it through to a nearly finished painting in each session. Topics taught throughout the workshop are values, shapes, and edges. How to capture a sense of distance and depth in a painting, plus working effectively with shadows will be stressed. Students should have good familiarity with their equipment and some previous painting and workshop experience.
Your legacy of achievement will serve as a testament to your exceptional leadership
In a surprising turn of events, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Diane Ryan, has tendered her resignation from Yavapai Community College, as confirmed by a recent press release issued by the College. Despite her relatively short tenure, having joined the institution on September 3, 2019, Dr. Ryan leaves behind an exemplary record of remarkable achievements.
Dr. Diane Ryan
Dr. Ryan’s departure comes as a shock to many, given her highly effective leadership during her time at Yavapai College. She spearheaded the development of several major initiatives, notably the Open Educational Resource (OER) program and the online Bachelor of Science program.
One of Dr. Ryan’s outstanding accomplishments was the introduction and implementation of the Open Educational Resource program, which has garnered unanimous praise from students, faculty, the administration, and the District Governing Board. This initiative aims to provide teaching and learning materials that are either in the public domain or released under a license that allows for their free use, modification, and sharing.
In November 2019, which was only two months after she was hired, Dr. Ryan was entrusted by Yavapai Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine with the responsibility of leading an initiative to reduce the cost of student textbooks. Dr. Ryan wasted no time and promptly unveiled her plans for the project at an Osher (OLLI) Brown Bag Buzz program on the Verde Campus. Her ambitious goal was to save each student up to $1,600 annually on textbook expenses.
Demonstrating her commitment, Dr. Ryan swiftly progressed with the development of the OER plan. By the February 2020 meeting of the Community College Governing Board, she reported that faculty members had already started training in the use of OER, with the expectation of implementing these materials in fall 2020.
The impact of Dr. Ryan’s diligent work was almost immediate. On September 14, 2021, College President Dr. Lisa Rhine informed the District Governing Board that the OER project had already saved students over $300,000. Since then, the savings on textbooks has only climbed.
Thanks to Dr. Ryan’s efforts in training faculty and implementing the cost reduction plan, the project received additional funding. In August 2022, Yavapai College announced the receipt of a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Fund. These funds were intended for collaboration with seven other community colleges to further develop OER materials.
There is no doubt that Dr. Ryan’s unwavering commitment has resulted in huge savings for students, amounting to thousands of dollars in textbook costs.
In addition to the OER program, Dr. Ryan was also tasked with directing and developing the College’s online Bachelor of Science program. Once again, her dedication bore fruit. On January 11, 2023, Dr. Ryan announced the creation and approval of a four-year online Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program, with all textbooks utilizing OER materials.
The Bachelor of Science program offers numerous benefits, with one noteworthy advantage being the absence of textbook costs throughout the four-year curriculum. Dr. Ryan assured the College that all required books for the entire program would be provided free of charge, thanks to the integration of Open Resources materials into the curriculum.
Dr. Ryan’s resignation is undoubtedly a significant loss for Yavapai Community College. As a highly respected leader, she has made invaluable contributions to the institution, earning the admiration and appreciation of students, faculty, staff, and the community at large. Her absence will be deeply felt, and her legacy of achievement will serve as a testament to her exceptional leadership.
Finally issued press release on June 29 knowing Blog had asked for accurate information in re her leaving on June 27 and 28 – but does not even have courtesy to send Blog the release
It is puzzling, isn’t it. Why did Yavapai Community College withhold information from the Blog when it contacted it on June 27 and 28 asking for information confirming the status of Dr. Diane Ryan? Was there some reason for the delay? For trying to hide the resignation? Umm?
Then, on June 29 the College finally issued a press release. However, it did not have the courtesy to send a copy to the Blog despite knowing the Blog had specifically asked for information. What reason or reasons are behind this kind of behavior? No one knows.
Here are the two emails sent by the Blog to the College asking for information that were not answered:
