DR. RHINE SETS CONDITIONS VERDE CAMPUS MUST MEET BEFORE FIRE SCIENCE PROGRAM THAT WAS TERMINATED A YEAR AND HALF OR MORE AGO CAN RETURN

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.