ASU, NAU, Private industry and others all setting up programs to attract what were once traditional community college students taking more traditional community college courses; enrollment declining

CHART CREATED BY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND SHOWN TO GOVERNING BOARD TO ILLUSTRATE CHALLENGES.

Yavapai Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine outlined to the College District Governing Board during its February Workshop the increasing competition for tradition community college students that is coming from a wide variety of sources.  She noted that over the last decade, enrollment in four-year public and private colleges and universities has brown by 12 and five percent respectively.  Meanwhile, community college enrollment nationally had declined by 41% FTSE during this same period.

Arizona four-year college enrollment grew by 53% since 2011 (67,000 FTSE) while Arizona community college enrollment  fell by 37% FTSE since 2011.  

Arizona State University is moving into community college territory with its experimental Associate Degree in professional studies being offered to students at three high school groups. Northern Arizona University is likewise expanding its regional efforts to attract traditional community college students to its campuses.

There were many additional challenges coming from employers who, for example, want courses on specific topics immediately available to employees.  Employers are also looking to private education providers who design educational programs specifically to meet their individual needs.

Technology is another challenge as it is changing rapidly and improving rapidly so the community colleges must harness these changes.

The Blog has listed below some of the areas of concern touched upon by Dr. Rhine during her presentation.  You may view her short presentation on this topic to the Governing Board by clicking here.

AN OUTLINE OF CHALLENGES TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES

1. Four year enrollments grow while two year enrollments decline
2. ASU offering Associate Degrees & NAU encroaching on what has traditionally been the domain of community colleges.
3. Public four-year colleges and universities grew by 12% since 2011 while private four-year colleges grew by 5% since 2011.
4. Nationally, community colleges Full Time Student Equivalency (FTSE) declined 41% from its peak in 2011.
5. Nationally, higher education shrank 12% since 2011. (Source IPEDS)
6. Arizona Community Colleges FTSE declined 37% from its peak in 2011. (-50,000 FTSE)
7. Arizona four-year college enrollment grew by 53% since 2011. (+67,000 FTSE)
8. About 30,000 FTSE of Arizona four-year college increase comes from lower division Arizona residents.
9. ASU looks to start two year Associate in Arts degree trial program, moving in on community college territory. The Associate Degree in professional studies will be offered to students at three high school groups.
10. NAU, statewide partners launch Arizona Attainment Alliance, to improve educational attainment and drive economic mobility in Arizona. Asking for universal admission with the community colleges meaning that any student admitted to a community college would also be admitted into NAU.
11. NAU Regional Centers: NAU Online and Innovative Educational Initiatives is seeking four (4) experienced and motivated Regional Director’s to join its team. The Regional Director is responsible for the development and cultivation of student and faculty centric strategic partnerships for the university.
12. NAU says that there are four (4) positions available to be located within the following regions. Northern Region: Apache, Navajo, Gila, Coconino, Mohave; Central Region: Maricopa, Pinal, Yavapai; Southeastern Region: Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee; Southwestern Region: Yuma, La Paz.
13. There has been a proliferation of new producers and distributors of educational offerings.
14. Increased demand for any time any/place educational offerings.
15. There has been an increase in demand for “just in time” education. Used to teach students classes and courses in what is characterized as “just in case.” It used to be you took a course just in case you needed it in the future. Now is seems to be that students want educational courses just to prepare you for “that specific job.”
16. Pivot from inputs to outputs. They want to see competencies in certain level skills that are valued by employers.
17. Employer driven curriculum is in demand. In the past the College would tell a student that “this is what you need to know.” Now employers are telling the College that their employees need to know “X, Y and Z.”
18. Technology is changing rapidly and improving rapidly so the community colleges must harness these changes.

Award made by national Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for her commitment to the success of students

Dr. Joan Fisher has received the national Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) award  for Distinguished College Administrator. Dr. Fisher is dean of Business and Computer Systems, Professional Programs and Visual Arts at Yavapai Community College.  She oversees PTK, the College Honors Program and the Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center.

The Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society recognizes the academic achievement of college students and provides opportunities for its members to grow as scholars and leaders. Established in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa has a presence on almost 1,300 community college campuses in 11 nations.

Dr. Fisher was nominated by the Community College’s  PTK officers.

“… This award is really about your commitment to the success of all students. They know you have their backs when it comes to providing opportunities for them to succeed—thank you for that,” wrote PTK International President Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner in an award letter to Fisher.

Dr. Fisher spent 30 years as an  English faculty member before being selected as dean in 2017. She said that she is “blessed” by the recognition from PTK students and the national PTK organization, but believes that being responsive to students is part and parcel of an educator’s job. “If you’re asked by students to do something, your only response should be ‘yes,’” Fisher said, adding, “I always have time for students. I think that makes the difference for student leaders.”

The PTK students’ nomination of Fisher cites her advocacy for the chapter with college administration, hands-on help and resource assistance with chapter projects, and genuine enthusiasm for the chapter and its goals.

You may read more about the award to Dr. Fisher from the Community College’s press release, which you can access  by clicking here.

Long list of accomplishments in so short a time is notable

Dr. Lisa Rhine

Dr. Lisa Rhine, President of Yavapai Community College, reflected on her achievements during her first four years in office at the District Governing Board workshop on Friday, February 24. Her presentation was impressive as she shared many of her notable accomplishments with the Board. That  portion of her presentation that focused on her accomplishments may be viewed by clicking here.

 For those interested in her complete presentation, the video of the entire meeting will be available on the District Governing Board website when it is posted.

 Some highlights of her achievements include:

• Broke ground for Verde Campus Career Technical Trade Center.

• Began renovation of Building “L” on the Verde Campus.

• Made  athletics and Division of Student Affairs responsible to Vice President Jenkins.

• Created a true enrollment management unit under Vice President Jenkins.

• Restructured the Academic Division and realigned the deans.

• Moved Human Resources unit to be a direct report to the President.

• Increased annual Associate Degree completion rates by 58% since 2019.

• Increased completion of annual Arizona General Education certificates being awarded by 84%.

• Improved first to second year retention rates by 5 percent.

• Increases Hispanic student enrollment by 24 percent.

• Increased Foundation invested assets by 37%.

• Increased Foundation scholarships by 35%.

• Decreased student default rate on loans from 25.5 percent down to 3.7 percent.

• Re-accredited nursing program and just completed HLC re-accreditation of the Community College as a whole with no monitoring, which is rare.

• Added Community College Promise program.

• Selected as finalist for prestigious national Bellwether award for developing the Promise program.

• Added Early College program.

• Expanded Advisor support and support for first generation students and connections to community support.

• Added three new athletic teams along with support staff.

• Created College Council.

• Received an award for budget reporting.

• Received permission to offer the first four-year Bachelor’s degree in business.

• Nominated for national award for student success initiative by the American Association of Community Colleges organization.

Dr. William Perry Baker joined the Community College in January with a long and distinguished career

Dr. William Perry Baker joined Yavapai Community College in January as its new Associate Dean of Science, Math and Adult Education.  He has a long and distinguished career. His position is classified as “Associate Dean, Division 2.”

Dr. William Perry Baker (Yavapai Community College photo)

He graduated from the Des Moines, Washington Highline Community College in 1980 after two years of study. He then went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Washington. He earned a master’s degree in education at Grand Canyon University and a doctorate in zoology at Arizona State University. He has worked a several institutions before coming to Yavapai Community College including  Arizona Christian University, Midwestern University and Maricopa Community College District’s Office of Public Schools Program.

He is the author or co-author of 31 articles in a variety of journals including: The American Biology Teacher, The Science Teacher, Science Activities, Science Scope, The Journal of College Science Teaching, Journal of Research in Science Teaching and Professional Development in Education. He has supervised 12 postgraduate and 21 undergraduate research projects for medical and science students including projects of seven students who received grant funding. He has given numerous regional and national presentations, as well as two invited international lectures.

Dr. Baker has served on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Alliance for Science, Mathematics & Technology Education and as board member and president of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science. He was editor of the, Journal of the Arizona Nevada Academy of Science, from 2006-2008.

According to the Community College staff directory, Dr. Baker has been assigned to the Prescott Campus. It is believed that he will reside in Prescott.

Put in charge of OER development in 2019, Ryan’s accomplishment stands out as new four-year Bachelor of Science program announced it will use all free open source textbooks in all four years

In November 2019, Yavapai Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine tasked Dr. Diane Ryan with leading the initiative to lower the cost of student textbooks. At an Osher Brown Bag Buzz program on the Verde Campus, Dr. Ryan announced the plan to utilize open educational resources (OER) for course materials in an effort to reduce costs. The program, if successful, could save students up to $1,600 annually on textbook expenses.

Dr. Diane Ryan

The initiative was a part of President Dr. Lisa Rhine’s effort to make post-secondary education available to everyone in the County at the lowest possible cost. It was estimated in 2019 that the OER program would take from three to four years before it was fully implemented.

After taking charge, Dr. Ryan quickly moved forward with developing the OER plan. At the February 2020 meeting of the Community College Governing Board, she informed the Board that faculty had already begun training in the use of OER and expected some classes to use these materials in fall 2020.

Dr. Ryan’s cost reduction plan made a noticeable impact on the cost of student textbooks in just one year. On September 14, 2021, College President Dr. Lisa Rhine reported to the District Governing Board that the project has already saved students over $300,000.

As Dr. Ryan progressed with training faculty and implementing the cost reduction plan, the project received additional funding. In August 2022, the College announced that it was awarded a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Fund. The funds were to be used in partnership with seven other community colleges to further develop OER materials.

Dr. Ryan’s success with developing OER was demonstrated on January 11, 2023, when she announced that the Community College had created and approved a four-year online Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program. The B.S. program was also developed under Dr. Ryan’s guidance.

The Bachelor of Science program offers many benefits, one of which is the cost of textbooks for the entire four-year program. Dr. Ryan announced that all books for all four years will be free. This is made possible by the use of Open Resources materials that have been integrated into the curriculum, thanks to her efforts.

Kudos to Dr. Ryan for her outstanding work on OER!