In future accreditation reviews, it will now be referred to as an “additional location” | President says she will continue to call it a “campus” | Is this new designation a loss of prestige?
It will probably come as a surprise to most readers of the Blog that after 50 years the Verde Campus in Clarkdale has lost its designation as a “branch campus” of Yavapai Community College. It will now be referred to as an “additional location” during required accreditation reviews.
This new designation for the Verde Campus, according to the College, will occur after the accreditation inspection scheduled for September of this year. The new designation appears to be a downgrading of its status and a loss of prestige.
According to the College, the shift in designation is a response to a change in the federal Department of Education code of regulations, which made the Verde Valley Campus ineligible to be classified as a branch campus. It must be considered an “additional campus” for accreditation purposes. The College President did not suggest in a note to Third District Representative Paul Chevalier in August what changes could be made on the Verde Campus that would return it to a more prestigious campus designation.
Critics may argue that the change adds a psychological arrow to the quiver of the Prescott based administration in its effort to keep control of the Verde Valley Campus from local residents. Lowering its prestige, goes this argument, may lower the value of the college in the eyes of local residents and consequently reduce their interest in seriously developing it. Critics may also argue that this sends a clear message to everyone in Yavapai County that the Prescott location is the only true campus in the County and, therefore, its most prestigious learning center.
With its new designation, the Verde Campus becomes an “additional location” with the same formal status as centers like Chino Valley, Prescott Valley and Sedona.
Kudos to Third District Representative Paul Chevalier who discovered this change and was willing to share Community College President Lisa Rhine’s note to him about it. The President’s response is reproduced unedited and in full below:
“1. In the past, the Verde Valley location was classified by our accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission, as a “branch campus” in alignment with an old federal definition. In preparation for our visit and in consultation with our HLC Liaison, we learned that the Verde Valley location is not eligible to be classified as a ‘branch campus’ due to a change in the federal Department of Education code of regulations. At HLC’s advisement, the Verde Valley location’s classification is now accurately categorized as an “additional location” to ensure accurate reporting and accreditation compliance in alignment with the federal definition. We are free to call the location whatever we want and will continue to call it a “campus” and brand it as we would like. This year when HLC visits, they will visit the Verde Valley as part of the review since that is already arranged for September but, in the future, it will be visited on the regular HLC rotation with the other ‘additional location.’”
“Above from the President.”
The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) announced the recipients of its annual Regional Awards for community college trustees, equity programs, chief executive officers, faculty members, and professional board staff members on August 15. In the Pacific Region, Community College Board member Ray Sigafoos, English Professor and Faculty Senate President Dr. Karen Palmer, and Yvonne Martinez-Sandoval, the executive assistant to President Rhine and the District Governing Board, were recognized. They were among more than two dozen recipients of various awards from five regions made by ACCT this year.
The Arizona Auditor General’s office reported on the 2021 audit it conducted of Yavapai Community College at the Governing Board meeting April 12. The Auditor gave the Community College high marks for the excellent cooperation of its staff in helping with the report. Moreover, it found no irregularities in its audit of 2021.
The delegation met with education officials in the Biden administration along with Senator Mark Kelly and Congressman Representative Tom O’Halleran. According to Mr. Kuknyo, who spoke about the trip at the Governing Board meeting, they also visited the office of Representative Paul Gosar.
The Community College press release about this event follows below: