State contribution to College will not be reduced; some additional money coming to the College
The cuts in Community College state aid in Arizona’s recently approved budget did not affect Yavapai Community College. In fact, it apparently will receive more funding from the state this year than last year, although the Administration has not provide details of how much additional funding may be received.
Sources who the Blog believes are reliable tell it that the College will receive an additional $300,000 from the State of Arizona this coming year. That should be good news for Yavapai County taxpayers.
However, the Wills’ administration is twisting arms and politicing throughout the County for at least a 2% tax increase. That increase, if approved, comes on the heels of a 4% tuition hike that will already go into effect next year.
The executive dean of the Community College Verde Valley Campus, James Perey, reported at the March District Governing Board meeting that a modified film & media arts program is being developed for the fall 2015 semester. This program along with culinary, hospitality and enology certificate programs, will be based at the Verde Valley Campus. He also said that he is seeking to find a way to offer welding and/or automotive programs “in conjunction with Verde Valley academic partners.”
The College has submitted four new certificate courses to be offered in the Verde Valley for Faculty Curriculum Review. They are: Digital Media and Film, Culinary, Hospitality and Enology. If approved, they will go to the District Governing Board for review. If all goes well, the new programs will be offered in the fall of 2015.
Ms. Larson explained that educational opportunities that once existed in the Verde Valley have gone away. “We want in the Verde Valley what Prescott has.”
According to the College’s announcement, Verde Valley nursing students Starr Cecil from Camp Verde and Jaimy Quasula from Clarkdale were awarded the scholarships. Congratulations to these two outstanding students and the other 13. To read the College’s announcement found in the Verde Independent and see a photo of all the recipients and their names, 
In response to increasing pressure by Verde Valley residents over Prescott based administrators concentrating almost all major cultural events on the Prescott campus, the Community College has announced it will bring a series of cultural performances to the “East Yavapai County” during the 2014-15 academic year. The first of these performances is the T.S. Monk Jr. Jazz Trio, which is scheduled to perform Friday evening, August 22 on the Verde campus. The College has said that later in the season, performances such as