This seems to reflect a typical authoritarian perspective, marked by a profound distrust in the integrity of Governing Board members and the imposition of a free speech barrier throughout its campuses and centers

It may have shocked some to learn that Yavapai Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine has issued a chilling directive to staff, instructing them to never discuss college or community matters with a member of the District Governing Board. According to Dr. Rhine, even an innocent conversation with a Board member could lead to disciplinary action if it touches on something she considers and defines as “college operations.”

Dr. Rhine revealed this authoritarian edict while supporting a provision in a District Governing Board policy resolution drafted by former college president and consultant Dr. David Borofsky. The resolution, which was under discussion, included a clause that was eventually approved in a 4-1 vote. The provision states: “Under no circumstances should an individual Board member direct or contact by any means, a staff member concerning a college or community issue.”

This poorly drafted provision effectively limits a Board member’s ability to seek information from any college source other than the president. The restriction, in the Blog’s view, clearly undermines the role of Board members, who are elected officials entrusted with representing the taxpayers of Yavapai County. It also reflects a profound distrust of the integrity of Board members.

Below is a video clip of Dr. Rhine’s comments, delivered to the Board at its November 21 meeting on the Prescott Campus.

Drafted by a former College president and current consultant, the document contains extreme provisions solely intended to allow the Community College president to control an elected Governing Board member’s behavior and speech when it comes to the taxpayer supported institution

OPINION: The outgoing Yavapai Community College District Governing Board, with two lame-duck members,  convened on November 21 at the Prescott Campus, where one of the major issues was a controversial resolution drafted by current consultant and former college president Dr. David Borofsky. The resolution’s main purpose appears aimed at stifling and controlling the free speech and behavior toward faculty and staff of elected Board members. As written, the resolution raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability.

Dr. Borofsky, now the Executive Director of the Arizona Association of Community College Trustees (AACCT), has a history intertwined with Yavapai College leadership. Borofsky was the Interim-Executive Director of the Arizona Association of Community College Trustees (AACCT), a group that included Yavapai Community College Board Chair, Deb McCasland.  He is now the executive director of the Arizona Association of Community College Trustees (AACCT), a group that includes Yavapai Community College president Dr. Lisa Rhine.

Notably, Borofsky’s tenure as a college leader has not been without controversy. For example, it was reported that at Dakota State University he unexpectedly resigned when students began organizing petitions “to then President Borofsky—who was primarily suspected for pressuring the changes in leadership—asking for answers to why these decisions were made.” The claim was that “several high profile administrators” had stepped down, and  it “was believed by many students and faculty that these administrators had not stepped down willingly.”

It was also reported that Jack Warner, executive director of the Board of Regents, “managed to confirm a suspicion that students . . .held since the incident: Doctor Borofsky’s choice to leave was a quick development, and was certainly made because of the poorly received decisions.”

At the November Yavapai Community College Governing Board meeting, Third District Representative Toby Payne asked Chair McCasland who had initiated the request for Borofsky to draft the resolution. McCasland admitted she had done so.

The resolution presented by Borofsky to the Board, which was published in full in a November 16 blog post, is overall an extreme document designed to muzzle dissent and enforce rigid control over Board members. Among its provisions, it prohibits Board members from making any comments about the College president that could be construed as negative. Thus, the Third District representative Toby Payne, under this resolution, can never raise critical questions with his constituents about the lack of attention or development by the college leadership in his district. Even more troubling, the Resolution bans Board members from engaging with community college staff or faculty in any way on any issue involving the College or the community.

This resolution lays bare the administration’s profound fear of criticism and its desire to silence opposing voices. It exemplifies a culture of authoritarian control, where dissent is not tolerated, and open dialogue, some of which may be considered critical,  is actively suppressed. Such measures are a blatant affront to the principles of governance and transparency that should guide a public institution.

In essence, the resolution reflects an unsettling effort to insulate the College leadership from accountability at the expense of the public’s trust. The five elected officials on the lame duck Governing Board should have resisted the blatant attempt to undermine their ability to represent their constituents and upheld their responsibility to advocate for transparency and fairness. Anything less is a disservice to the residents of Yavapai County who they are sworn to serve. Moreover, it is a disservice to democracy.

Unfortunately, the 4-1 vote cast by the lame duck representatives who approved this resolution at  Tuesday ‘meeting does not reflect either these concerns or basic democratic values.

Third time in four years it has been selected as a group finalist

Yavapai Community College pays $3,300 annually to participate in the Bellwether College Consortium, according to the organization’s website. This prestigious consortium recognizes outstanding and innovative programs among community colleges across the United States and its territories.

Each year, 30 community colleges are selected as finalists for the Bellwether Awards, drawn from a large pool of applicants. The finalists are divided into three categories, with 10 colleges chosen in each of the following: Instructional Programs and Services, Planning, Governance, and Finance, and Workforce Development.

This year, Yavapai Community College earned a place among the 10 finalists in the category of Instructional Programs and Services. The college’s submission focused on the formation and implementation of its All-College Council, highlighting its commitment to collaboration and shared governance.

The Bellwether Award winners will be announced during the Community College Futures Assembly, scheduled for February 23–25, 2025, at the historic Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.

Says over 600 students participated in one-year project; College must not overlook potential of VR learning

In a recent press release, Yavapai Community College president Dr. Lisa Rhine reported on the Community College’s Virtual Reality pilot program. She explained that the College  “piloted VR through a structured and experimental approach, involving multiple departments and classes, including 3D design, computer science, art history, CNC, construction, culinary, healthcare, HVAC, manufacturing and others. During the pilot year, more than 600 students participated in the VR programs, and 150 faculty members and 47 staff members were involved, along with 282 community members.”

Dr. Rhine said that VR  “offers expansive possibilities, allowing students to engage in immersive learning environments that can simulate real-world scenarios — from medical procedures to industrial maintenance — without the associated risks and costs.”

She pointed to the use of VR at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It created five open educational resource (OER) Nursing Textbooks with 25 virtual reality simulations. According to Dr. Rhine, “this has enabled nursing students there to become totally immersed in realistic healthcare scenarios and provide care for diverse patient populations by using a gaming laptop and Oculus Rift-S headset. Early success data showed that students who used the OpenRN resources and took the Next Generation National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) had a 100% pass rate.”

“Community colleges that have adopted VR technology are finding it to be an excellent fit, one that can be applied in very clear ways to support their central missions,” she wrote. “It is becoming obvious, even to many of those who were initially skeptical, that VR represents a relevant and useful resource that must not be overlooked by these institutions.”

To reach official Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) designation, College must read full time equivalent student population of 25%.

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has named Yavapai Community College as an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution. The College has repeatedly indicated a desire to become an official Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), which is designated by the U.S. Department of Education. However, to be designed as such, it must reach a full-time equivalent Hispanic student population of 25%.

Over the last several years, the College has increased its efforts to  serve the Hispanic communities in Yavapai County. The efforts include increased outreach and participation in community events, increasing academic and personal support services, career coaching, developing more access to resources, and creating a better sense of belonging through activities for first-generation college students, among others.

Being named an emerging HSI is important.  It affords the College with opportunities to further its efforts by providing the college with additional Hispanic student leadership programs, webinars and learning opportunities, conferences, and other benefits and resources.

Once full HSI status is achieved, Yavapai College will join 572 other HSIs throughout the United States and will become eligible for federal funding opportunities.

Claims Community College programs supported 3,315 jobs (approximately one in every 33 jobs) in Yavapai County during that period

The Arizona Community College Coordinating Council engaged Lightcast, a private analytics firm, to conduct an economic impact study on state community colleges for the year 2021-22.  The results regarding employment and economic impact on Yavapai County were given to Yavapai Community College in a report dated  August 20, 2023. (Click here to read August document.) 

The report was later featured in a press release from  the Community College dated January 10, 2024. According to Lightcast’s report,  it found that Yavapai College added a total of $203.7 million in income to the County economy during that time. That figure includes the Community College’s multiple roles as major employer – with payroll and operational expenditures – and local investor ($1.3 million in construction investments), as well as the impact of Yavapai’s Community College students spending locally ($10.2 million) and Yavapai Community College’s-trained personnel in the workforce ($149.2 million). The combined value is equal to approximately 2.2% of Yavapai County’s gross regional product (GRP).

Lightcast estimated that Yavapai College and its programs supported 3,315 jobs (approximately one in every 33 jobs) in Yavapai County during that period. 

You may read the full press release from the Community College by clicking here.