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.

Associate Vice President for Health Sciences at Yavapai Community College

Dr. Marylou Mercado

Dr. Marylou Mercado, Associate Vice President for Health Sciences at Yavapai Community College, was selected by the 2024 Arizona Women in Higher Education organization as its 2024 Woman of the year.   Dr. Marylou Mercado is a Hispanic first-generation community college graduate and recently completed a Doctor of Education in 2018.

In its announcement, AWHE said the following about Dr. Mercado:

Throughout Dr. Mercado’s journey as a non-traditional student, she has had women in the roles of professors and administrative assistants walk alongside and stand with her through every challenge, offering encouragement so that she could complete her educational goals for quality of life. After spending 28 years in the community college environment, Dr. Mercado believes that education is the empowerment and equalizer of overcoming societal inequalities. Helping students achieve their educational goals and fostering leadership qualities and abilities in women are paramount to her role and responsibilities in higher education. She is passionate about seeing women become all they desire to be by investing time with them, hearing their concerns, understanding their visions and goals, and providing resources so that they may achieve all they are meant to achieve in fulfilling their destiny. For Dr. Mercado, there is no greater joy.

Congratulations to Dr. Mercado!

Vice President Jenkins named chair of selection committee

Chair, Rodney Jenkins

Earlier this week, Dr. Lisa Rhine, President of Yavapai Community College, announced the commencement of the search for candidates to fill the role of Provost. In her communication with the faculty, Dr. Rhine revealed that the College has partnered with Cizek Associates, based in Phoenix, to assist in this process. Additionally, she designated Rodney Jenkins, Vice President of Community Relations & Student Development, as the chairperson of the selection committee.

Comprising of three faculty members, three staff representatives, and three administrators, the selection committee will spearhead this crucial process. Following their evaluation, the committee typically provides a list of three or four candidates to choose from.

Dr. Rhine indicated in her communication that the College will institute a mechanism for soliciting input on the candidates from the College once they are announced. It may be that input from the community will be sought at that point, a process the College has traditionally followed.