Suggests aggressive effort to get things going on the Verde campus, which is experiencing “tough times”
Dr. Ralston
For many, this was a breath of fresh air in terms of actually having an educational expert begin to analyze and share some of the reasons post-secondary education on the east side of the County has collapsed. It was also a stark warning of the college’s future on the east side of the County without a major injection of effort from the community.
Here, in summary, are the major factors he suggested that may explain, at least in part, the collapse since 2006 of the Community College on the East side of the County.
1. In at least one high school on the West side of the County, students were specifically told not to attend Yavapai College because the education was “substandard.” In his first year, Dr. Ralston has turned that view around. (May or may not have affected the Verde Valley enrollment.)
2. Yavapai College’s strict adherence to a minimum number of students (usually 15) before a class is offered is probably going too far. In Dr. Ralston’s experience, he had never been at an institution that had gone so far as to say, “if you’re not close to 15, we’re going to shut down the class.” He evinced concern that if courses are shut down for various reasons because enrollment has dropped, then programs associated with the courses will collapse.
3. Yavapai Community College faculty appear resistant to change. It is imperative that faculty engage with the community and the high schools. Dr. Ralston does not see the kind of investment at the high schools and in the community that is needed; rather, he sees a high degree of resistance from faculty because of perceived past failures.
4. There is a need for increased funding for recruiting, marketing and promotion of the Community College in the Verde Valley.
5. There is not an organized base of supporters, donors, people that the College can tap into to help make its presence in the Verde Valley known. There is a lack of participation from the community.
6. Dean Ralston warned: “Honestly, in the real world, this campus should not be open in a sense, these are tough times on this campus, …”
Total staff cuts since 2012 came to 46. A total of 14 new positions have been created since then. This means that about 12/46 or 26% have been restored on campuses on the West side of the County. Two new positions are slated for the Verde Valley in 2016. She did not say how many new positions are slated for the West side of the County om 2016.
Enrollment for the Fall, 2015 semester remains about flat, according to Executive Dean Dr. James Perey. There are about 15 more students enrolled than a year ago, although the exact enrollment number will not be established until July 15, when tuition payments for the semester are due. Dean Perey shared this information with the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee at its May 6 meeting.
The Yavapai College Foundation, not the College, will now prepare and submit a proposal that will include a wide range of academic, agricultural, educational, and community programs that fit the property, are consistent with the college’s mission and would serve the Verde Valley and the rest of Yavapai County.
The concert was given by the Mingus Union High School Jazz band, the Yavapai College Roughriders Jazz band, and the Yavapai College Trailblazers Jazz band. Those in the audience thoroughly enjoyed the concert.