New officers will join law enforcement agencies across the state

Yavapai Community College, in a press release dated December 12, 2023, announced that 27 law enforcement recruits trained at the College’s Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy in Prescott participated in the traditional swearing-in and badge-pinning ceremony at the Prescott campus earlier this month.

At the ceremony, Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine thanked the recruits for stepping into a difficult role during uncertain times. She said, “To say that it’s a very difficult time to be a police officer is truly an understatement. Thank you for your selfless decision to protect and serve and to take on the risks and demanding responsibility for all of us to live in a safe and secure community.”

Prescott Valley Police Chief Bob Ticer delivered the keynote address, congratulating them for the life of integrity it took to volunteer to join what he described as the “most noble profession on the face of the earth.”

The following are the NARTA Class 55 graduates and the police agencies they are joining:

Arturo Castillo, Jr., and Jason Tyler Ehlert, Chino Valley Police Department

Benjamin Samuel Bruner, Christian Brady Carter, Aaron Joseph Cote and Jennifer Jane Glover, Prescott Valley Police Department

Brandon Kalani Kawainui Callio, Page Police Department

Casey Sky Dragos, Camp Verde Marshal’s Office

Christopher Flowers, Nicholas William Hamilton, Douglas Allen Harwood, Nicholas David McKay, Brian Lee Sutton and Luis Alejandro Terrazas, Prescott Police Department

Michael Andrew Bentley, Oro Valley Police Department

Oscar Molina Teran, Payson Police Department

Richard James Avery, Bradley James Bartell, Jaden Elliot-Kai Berney and Tyler Jon Slim, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office

Travis Steven O’Donnal, Ryan Hunter Palmer and Corey James Tousley, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office

Ty Matthew Furr and Steele Domingo Salinas, Flagstaff Police Department

Victor Esteven Rodriguez, Maricopa Police Department

Zachary Joseph MacGregor, Jerome Police Department

Source: Yavapai Community College press release by JJ McCormack dated Dec. 12, 2023.

Prior Registration with OLLI required; Program to run from 1:00 pm. to 3:00 p.m. | Learn how Yavapai-Apache experiences are directly tied to discoveries of gold around Prescott and rich copper mines on Mingus Mountain and much more

The Sedona/Verde Valley Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) will present a free two hour program on the Verde Valley Campus October 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the rich indigenous natural history of Central Arizona.  Registration before the program with OLLI is required.  The presentation will take place in Room 137 in Building “M” on the Verde Valley Campus.

Dr. Maurice Crandall will give the presentation.  Dr. Crandall is an Associate Professor of History at Arizona State University and an enrolled member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation.

The following is how OLLI describes the program:

Learn how Yavapai-Apache experiences are directly tied to discoveries of gold around Prescott and rich copper mines on Mingus Mountain, and the perennial streams of the Verde River watershed to raise the crops necessary to feed the growing numbers of non-Indian settlers who flooded the region beginning in the 1860s. Even after the Yavapai-Apache returned from forced exile around 1900, they survived by working in mining operations and infrastructure projects while squatting on United Verde Copper Company land. The natural beauty of central Arizona is contrasted by the ugly remnants of this extractive past: slag heaps, leach fields, and abandoned mines. This lecture will challenge listeners to think about their relationship to the environment, how the natural history and resources of the region have been abused to the detriment of the land and its original inhabitants, and open a discussion of how to heal and move forward, honoring the natural history of the land and its people.

Dr. Maurice Crandall is an Associate Professor of History at Arizona State University and an enrolled member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation. He previously taught at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Professor Crandall is a multi-award-winning author and public intellectual who has presented his research throughout the United States, as well as in Canada and Europe. His first book, These People Have Always Been a Republic: Indigenous Electorates in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, 1598–1912, was published by the University of North Carolina Press in 2019. His second book, on Yavapai-Apache Scouts, is under contract with W.W. Norton & Company. He received his PhD in History from the University of New Mexico, and is a graduate of Mingus Union High School.

Two minute videotape of session leaves County residents once again in the dark about what was actually being discussed | Lots of speculation about meeting with some thinking it might involve  land for new faculty housing village to be constructed just outside Prescott Valley while some think it is for new land for CTEC expansion at the Prescott airport | Others have no idea

Yavapai Community College’s District Governing Board hastily convened a secretive executive session on August 17, 2023, at the Rock House on the Prescott Campus. According to the agenda, the purpose was to discuss potential property leases or purchases by the College within Yavapai County.

Following the conclusion of this gathering, neither the Community College nor the Governing Board issued any statement regarding the meeting. Once again, residents of the County find themselves in the dark about how their property taxes, which constitute the primary source of support for the Community College, are being utilized.

The lack of transparency has fueled wide-spread speculation about the nature of the acquisition. Is it land intended for expanding CTEC? Or could it be earmarked for the construction of the new faculty village just outside Prescott Valley? Or something else?  The veil of secrecy shrouding this matter leaves County residents with more questions than answers.

Regrettably, the sole record of this meeting is a brief video clip, lasting less than two minutes. It merely captures the Chair’s call to order, a seconding of the motion to call for an executive session, a reading of the agenda item, and a subsequent motion to adjourn. This paucity of information always raises concerns about the College’s commitment to openness and accountability in its dealings with the community it serves.

To see the video tape of the meeting, please click here.

Results from millions of dollars investing in developing the department are impressive and praiseworthy

Over the course of the last decade, Yavapai Community College has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the enhancement of its facilities and academic offerings on the Prescott Campus. This is  particularly true when it comes to the Performing Arts Department. Through millions in  financial investments and the recruitment of exceptional teaching talent, the Community College has pursued the establishment of an extraordinary performing arts program. Evidently, this ambition has been resoundingly realized.

The array of courses provided by the Department is nothing short of remarkable, especially for an institution of its kind. A diverse range of disciplines are offered including choral studies, dance, technical theater, general music, instrumental studies, and music theory .

Notably, the Department appears to have successfully created an environment conducive to excellence. The presence of a newly constructed  state-of-the-art technical teaching theater and the beautifully renovated 1,006-seat Bill and Linda Lee Performing Arts theater adds an air of sophistication to the productions created by the Department. Moreover, the comprehensive classroom resources contribute to an immersive and top-tier educational experience for performing arts students.

The Community College has also wisely actively engaged the local Prescott community in its initiatives. Opportunities abound for community members to participate and collaborate, further fostering a sense of integration between the institution and its surroundings. The Master Chorale, Community Chorale, Chamber Singers, and Women’s Chorale, which heavily involve the Prescott community, exemplify this synergy.

The Blog applauds the Community College for its remarkable achievements in developing a thriving performing arts program on the Prescott Campus. The dedication, resources, and collaborative spirit invested in this endeavor will undoubtedly bear fruit, especially in the Prescott area. As the college continues to harmonize its educational objectives with community involvement, its accomplishments are both impressive and praiseworthy.

Your legacy of achievement will serve as a testament to your  exceptional leadership

In a surprising turn of events, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Diane Ryan, has tendered her resignation from Yavapai Community College, as confirmed by a recent press release issued by the College. Despite her relatively short tenure, having joined the institution on September 3, 2019, Dr. Ryan leaves behind an exemplary record of remarkable achievements.

Dr. Diane Ryan

Dr. Ryan’s departure comes as a shock to many, given her highly effective leadership during her time at Yavapai College. She spearheaded the development of several major initiatives, notably the Open Educational Resource (OER) program and the online Bachelor of Science program.

One of Dr. Ryan’s outstanding accomplishments was the introduction and implementation of the Open Educational Resource program, which has garnered unanimous praise from students, faculty, the administration, and the District Governing Board. This initiative aims to provide teaching and learning materials that are either in the public domain or released under a license that allows for their free use, modification, and sharing.

In November 2019, which was only two months after she was hired, Dr. Ryan was entrusted by Yavapai Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine with the responsibility of leading an initiative to reduce the cost of student textbooks. Dr. Ryan wasted no time and promptly unveiled her plans for the project at an Osher (OLLI) Brown Bag Buzz program on the Verde Campus. Her ambitious goal was to save each student up to $1,600 annually on textbook expenses.

Demonstrating her commitment, Dr. Ryan swiftly progressed with the development of the OER plan. By the February 2020 meeting of the Community College Governing Board, she reported that faculty members had already started training in the use of OER, with the expectation of implementing these materials in fall 2020.

The impact of Dr. Ryan’s diligent work was almost immediate. On September 14, 2021, College President Dr. Lisa Rhine informed the District Governing Board that the OER project had already saved students over $300,000. Since then, the savings on textbooks has only climbed.

Thanks to Dr. Ryan’s efforts in training faculty and implementing the cost reduction plan, the project received additional funding. In August 2022, Yavapai College announced the receipt of a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Fund. These funds were intended for collaboration with seven other community colleges to further develop OER materials.

There is no doubt that Dr. Ryan’s unwavering commitment has resulted in huge savings for students, amounting to thousands of dollars in textbook costs.

In addition to the OER program, Dr. Ryan was also tasked with directing and developing the College’s online Bachelor of Science program. Once again, her dedication bore fruit. On January 11, 2023, Dr. Ryan announced the creation and approval of a four-year online Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program, with all textbooks utilizing OER materials.

The Bachelor of Science program offers numerous benefits, with one noteworthy advantage being the absence of textbook costs throughout the four-year curriculum. Dr. Ryan assured the College that all required books for the entire program would be provided free of charge, thanks to the integration of Open Resources materials into the curriculum.

Dr. Ryan’s resignation is undoubtedly a significant loss for Yavapai Community College. As a highly respected leader, she has made invaluable contributions to the institution, earning the admiration and appreciation of students, faculty, staff, and the community at large. Her absence will be deeply felt, and her legacy of achievement will serve as a testament to her exceptional leadership.

Tells Governing Board at May 16 District meeting that Verde Campus must have at least 15 students and 5 qualified instructors living in the Verde Valley before program will be returned from Prescott. Is this an example of  the classic chicken and egg dilemma?

What comes first? The chicken or the egg?

The question of what happened to close down the Yavapai Community College Fire Science training program more than a year ago on  the Verde Campus was answered by Community College president Dr. Lisa Rhine at the May 16 Governing Board meeting. 

Dr. Rhine said that the program once alternated between the Verde Campus and Prescott.  However, over the past several years there has been a decline in student enrollment in the Verde Valley and a decrease in qualified instructors for the program. Therefore, the program was permanently moved to Prescott.

Addressing the Sedona/Verde Valley’s community hopes for reinstating the program, she indicated that the current fire science director is aware of the issue and is working with all the fire chiefs and advisory boards to try and return the  fire science back to the Verde Campus.   She said that if the Verde Valley Campus can produce 15 students and five qualified instructors who live in the Verde Valley, it will be returned. 

Critics argue that the situation at the East County Verde Campus and the Sedona Center resembles the classic “chicken and egg” dilemma. The prevailing sentiment is that the program’s revival hinges on a fundamental condition: if the students and instructors are available, the program will be reinstated. However, detractors find fault with the approach that instead prioritizes the return of the program first, with the promise of subsequent support to cultivate a student body of 15 and recruit five qualified instructors.

You may hear and view Dr. Rhine’s brief statement regarding the Fire-Science program at the May 16 District Governing Board meeting by clicking here.