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PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FALL ENROLLMENT INCREASES FOR SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE SEMESTER

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

No information yet about Yavapai Community College fall enrollment

In a press release, Pima Community College announced that its enrollment had increased for the seventh consecutive semester, making it the first Arizona community college to release data on fall 2024 enrollment. As of now, Yavapai Community College has not issued a report on its fall enrollment figures.

According to the Pima press release, first-day enrollment for the fall semester rose by 4% compared to the same day last year, extending the college’s upward enrollment trend over the past two years. Fall classes began on Monday, August 26, 2024.

First-day fall credit enrollment, which measures the number of courses students take, was 53,896, up 4.08% from last fall. Fall headcount, the number of students taking classes, was 17,918, up 1% from last fall.

First-day enrollment numbers don’t reflect what’s expected to be another sharp increase in dual enrollment students, where students take classes in their high schools for PCC credit. Last year, 6,027 high school students enrolled in PCC’s dual enrollment classes.

Categories : Enrollment data

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE ALUMNUS STEFAN R. SANFORD’S “ENDANGERED SPECIES” EXHIBIT TO BE SHOWN AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S PRESCOTT CAMPUS GALLERY SEPTEMBER 18-23

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

Digital paintings of endangered animals with information about each one featured in gallery exhibition

Yavapai Community College alumnus Stefan R. Sanford’s “endangered species” exhibit will be shown at the Community College’s Prescott Campus gallery September 18-23. According to a Community College press release written by Michael Grady, the series of “digital paintings of endangered animals with information about each one – sprang out of Sanford’s MFA Thesis presentation. `Many animals are leaving our earth and will soon be gone if we do not get poaching and illegal hunting under control.’ As part of his thesis project, Sanford wrote and illustrated two children’s books designed to introduce kids to conservation. `B. A. C. K. is my motto for these books – Be A Conservation Kid!’ Sanford’s thesis has been downloaded for research throughout the world and published by Liberty’s Scholars Crossing this summer. The books will be part of an upcoming series, with the first two – on the African Elephant and the African Rhinoceros – due out soon.”

In the Community College press release Mr. Sanford is quoted as saying: “I grew up in Prescott and love the mountains, lakes and wildlife we enjoy here. I began reading National Geographic and learned about conservation reading the Ranger Rick magazines as a child.”

Sanford discovered his passion for graphic design while learning Photoshop at Yavapai Community College. Following his graduation, he further honed his skills at Sessions College before pursuing Advanced Graphic Design studies at UCLA. Sanford earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and went on to achieve a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Liberty University.

Categories : Art Gallery Event, Prescott Campus

SIX PERSON PRESCOTT BASED EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR CLOSING DOWN VERDE VALLEY STUDENT CAFÉ; APPARENTLY BELIEVE THAT REPLACING TWO-PERSON CAFÉ STAFF WITH MACHINES WILL MAKE MORE MONEY FOR THE COLLEGE

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, August 29th, 2024

Verde Café manager, Kelly Foy,  becomes catering manager for Prescott Student café and Executive Chef District wide; other employee will  continue in job as  part-time non-credit culinary worker

The decision to close down the Student Café on the Verde Valley Campus was made by Yavapai Community  College’s Prescott based Executive Leadership Team (ELT).  The Yavapai Community College Sedona/Verde Valley Campus Dean is not formally included among this group of decision makers. 

The decision was apparently based on financial concerns.   The Executives concluded that replacing the Verde Valley Campus Café with vending machines run by an outside company could generate more money that the Café run by one full-time and one half-time person.  The outside company has already installed vending machines at CTEC, the Prescott Valley Center, and on the Prescott Campus.  (The Prescott Campus vending machines are in addition to the Eatery seven day year round student Café operated there and are located apart from the Cafe.)

Kelly Foy  was hired in 2022 as  the manager and instructor for the Verde Valley Campus Café. In a press release from the time she was hired, the Community College quoted Foy as aiming at “creating the teaching restaurant for YC because she loves cooking, loves teaching and believes hands-on experience is invaluable for students. `I’m drawn to teaching that involves actually doing the work at the same time,” Kelley said adding, “I want to be part of the direction the college is going’ — that is providing life-lifting career opportunities for individuals and strengthening our local economy.”

Foy’s new assignment is that of catering manager for the Prescott Student café and Executive Chef District wide.  The other employee will  continue in job for the Community College as  part-time non-credit culinary worker (a little unclear).

Categories : ADMINISTRATION, Verde Campus

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER RAY SIGAFOOS MATCHING GRANT CHALLENGE RAISES $50,000

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, August 29th, 2024

Funds will go to benefit the Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center on Prescott Campus

The Yavapai Community College Foundation reported that it had raised a total of $50,000 because of District Governing Board member Ray Sigafoos’ $25,000 30-day matching grant donation challenge.  The funds will go to help with scholarships and operations of the Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center (FEC), which is located on the Prescott Campus.

Ray Sigafoos

The matching funds came from individuals and the Margaret T. Morris Foundation.

The FEC is a child development center located on the Prescott campus. The Community College describes it as providing “a safe, nurturing, child-centered program that focuses on promoting children’s learning. As a laboratory school, the FEC provides a setting for Yavapai College early childhood education students to develop the skills and competencies necessary for careers with young children.”

Categories : Foundation

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE OFFERS ONLY TWO CULINARY COURSES FOR FALL 2024 AT THE SEDONA CULINARY CENTER; ENROLLMENT DROPS FROM 169 STUDENTS IN 2018 SPRING SEMESTER TO 18 IN 2024 FALL SEMESTER

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Registration data on August 22, 2024  showed a total of 18 students enrolled for the courses.

According to data from the August 22, 2024 Yavapai Community College registration web site, Yavapai Community College is offering only two culinary courses for the fall 2024.  Enrollment was small with ten students enrolled for the in-person or on-line Culinary Principles course  while seven students were enrolled in the Culinary Fundamentals course.

The limited number of classes and small enrollment remains a distinguishing but worrisome feature of the culinary program offered by the College at the Sedona Center. 

It is noteworthy that enrollment at the Sedona Center for its culinary programs was apparently doing well in 2018.  According to Dean James Perey, who updated  the District Governing Board on February 13, 2018,  enrollment in culinary courses for the spring semester was at 169 students.  He was considering adding another section in fall 2018 to accommodate the demand for the culinary offerings.

However, since 2018 the enrollment has sharply declined.  For example, in fall 2021 the Sedona Center Culinary program offered five courses with  an enrollment of 49 students.  Now, as noted above, only 18 students appear enrolled.  

The Community College has offered no explanation for the continued decline in students enrolled in its culinary program. For some in Sedona and the Verde Valley, the continued small enrollment in the culinary program is worrisome. The reason they worry is that it might trigger a decision by Prescott based executives to close down the entire facility. This is something they  unsuccessfully attempted around 2015. 

Dean Perey reports below in February 2018 that  169 students are in culinary. 

 

Categories : Culinary Arts

RENOVATED AND REOPENED IN JANUARY 2024, THE REVAMPED PRESCOTT CAMPUS STUDENT CAFÉ OFFERS TOP-TIER YEAR ROUND DAILY DINING; IT’S A PLEASING EATING EXPERIENCE IN A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus are extensive with such offerings as smoothies, omelets, sandwiches, burritos, grits, homemade soups, fresh salads, burgers, sandwiches, variety of pizzas, flatbreads, noodle and grain bowls, Southwest Sunburst – grilled chicken breast, citrus BBQ sauce, garlic polenta cake, winter greens, seasonal grilled vegetables, cookies, brownies, key lime pie, chocolate cake, lemon cake and much more

In January 2024, Yavapai Community College unveiled its renovated student cafeteria, “The Eatery,” on the Prescott Campus. The total renovation cost was not disclosed. The College, in a press release, said,  “The Eatery” was “a new beacon of conscientious and creative dining, where every bite is a celebration of local flavor and ethical sourcing.”

It is clear after a full semester that the renovation and revamped food offerings provide a delightful dining experience for students and staff alike. Open year-round, seven days a week, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, “The Eatery” is promoted by the College as a venue that “seamlessly marries nutrition, food quality, and sustainability.” When it was reopened, the College said that it prioritizes “freshness, flavor, and nutritional value, offering a diverse menu” that caters to various dietary preferences and features a seasonally updated selection.

“The Eatery” boasts a wide variety of dining options during the day, including smoothies, omelets, sandwiches, burritos, grits, homemade soups, fresh salads, burgers, pizzas, flatbreads, noodle and grain bowls, and signature dishes like the Southwest Sunburst—grilled chicken breast with garlic polenta cake, winter greens, and seasonal grilled vegetables. Desserts such as cakes, cookies, brownies, key lime pie, chocolate cake, and lemon cake round out the menu.

The culinary team at “The Eatery,” introduced during the January 2024 reopening, was composed of renowned chefs from some of the area’s most esteemed restaurants. Led by Aimee Novak, Director, and Tony Burris, Assistant Director, the team brought  a wealth of expertise, creativity, and a profound understanding of local flavors to the kitchen.

It is noteworthy that when the Community College reopened the renovated “Eatery” in January 2024, it also replaced the Café in Building 19 on the Prescott Campus with an Open Market grab-and-go, self-check kiosk system. Managed by Hi-Line Snack and Vending, the Open Market is similar to the grab-and-go system installed at CTEC.

 

Categories : Food service

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD MEMBER CHRIS KUKNYO WINS CONTESTED REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR COUNTY SUPERVISOR; SET TO ASSUME OFFICE IN JANUARY AS OTHER PARTIES FIELDED NO CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARY

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, August 17th, 2024

It is anticipated that an interim appointment for Kuknyo’s District 4 seat on Governing Board will be made in January or February 2025 by the County Educational Superintendent

Chris Kuknyo

Yavapai Community College District Governing Board member Chris Kuknyo, who ran as a conservative Republican, was elected by a margin of 138 votes over his closest Republican challenger for the position of District 4 Yavapai County Board Supervisor in the July 2024 primary.

It is expected that Kuknyo will soon notify the County Education Superintendent of his intention to step down from the Governing Board due to his election to the supervisor position. Kuknyo was originally appointed to the Yavapai District Governing Board in 2020 for a six-year term, as he was the only candidate to file for the seat. His term is set to expire on December 31, 2026. His successor is likely to be appointed by the County Education Superintendent in January or February 2025 to fill out his last two years.

Categories : District Governing Board

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE VERDE CAMPUS HOLDS FORMAL RENOVATION RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE LEARNING & INNOVATION CENTER IN BUILDING “M” ON TUESDAY AUGUST 13

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, August 17th, 2024

The $3 million project that has taken a little over two years of renovation is the little cousin to the estimated $19 million similar center now under construction on the Prescott Campus

After more than two years of work, Yavapai Community College formally celebrated the renovation of a portion of Building “M,” which is now known as the “Center for Learning and Innovation.” This newly transformed center has replaced thousands of books and traditional library materials with state-of-the-art computerized teaching and learning technology.

In a press release, Yavapai Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine stated, “It’s going to provide students with the opportunity to learn and use the latest media and technology within adaptive learning spaces, while still offering the resources of a traditional library.”

The new 11,000-square-foot facility features advanced AI-assisted tutoring platforms and interactive learning experiences to offer students personalized support. Additionally, the center includes experimental classrooms, immersive learning labs, media production rooms for podcasting and video creation, a fast-capture studio, and dedicated spaces for faculty and students to explore and develop virtual and augmented reality-based learning tools.

The Verde Valley Center for Learning and Innovation is regarded as the “little cousin” of the $19 million Center presently rising on the Prescott Campus, expected to be completed by spring 2026.

Categories : Construction

COMBINATION OF WINE, FOOD, CANINES, AND MUSIC ADDS TO SUCCESSFUL VERDE VALLEY CAMPUS OPEN HOUSE AUGUST 8

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, August 11th, 2024

Despite somewhat threatening weather, the turn-out was good

The combination of wine, good food, canines, and music helped make the Yavapai Community College Open House on the Verde Valley campus a success on August 8.  Thanks  must go to Bobbi Evans, the Verde Valley Humane Society, the Southwest Wine Center, the Sedona School of Culinary, vendors and Once Bitten musicians for making the event happy, delightful, and informative.

The canine visitors stole the show as is obvious from some  of these (edited) photos from the Community College’s Facebook page.

 

Categories : Event

BUILDING “M” ON VERDE VALLEY CAMPUS WILL HAVE FORMAL RENOVATION REOPENING CEREMONY AUGUST 13

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, August 11th, 2024

Second major renovation in about a decade; former library transformed into  digital driven Center for Learning and Innovation

After about two years, the renovation of Building “M” on the Verde Valley Campus is complete. There will be a ceremony August 13 recognizing the renovation. This ceremony follows on the heels of the successful August 8 open house.

Personnel were expected to begin moving back into the newly refurbished premises throughout June and July, in readiness for the upcoming fall 2024 semester. The last major renovation of Building “M” took place during the 2011-12 academic year.

The Community College describes the revamped facility will boast state-of-the-art digital technology aimed at enriching the student experience “through accessible content.” Additionally, it will offer contemporary learning spaces, study rooms, and student support services akin to those provided at the current Learning Center.

In a move approved by the Community College District Governing Board, approximately $3.1 million was allocated for the renovation of Building “M” in May 2022. The structure is  being rebranded as the “Center for Learning and Innovation.”

It is noteworthy that the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board approved spending at least $15.3 million in May 2023 for a more expansive facility, somewhat resembling the Verde Valley Center for Learning and Innovation in Building “M”, on the Prescott Campus. Renovation of Building 19 on the Prescott Campus  is currently underway.

Categories : Construction
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