Author Archive for R. Oliphant – Page 49

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD TO HOLD BOARD ELECTIONS AND WORKSHOP FRIDAY, JANUARY 28

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, January 22nd, 2022

Meeting scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Prescott Valley Campus (but always check College web page in case of change)

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold its Board elections and a workshop on January 28.  The meeting is scheduled to be held at the Prescott Valley Campus beginning at 9.a.m. 

The Board has not held a general meeting since November 9, 2021.   Please check the Governing Board web page for the agenda for the January 28 meeting when it is published later this week. Because of COVID-19, the workshop may be steamed on the Community College’s website. 

Categories : Meeting Notice

DEAN DR. TINA REDD WILL UPDATE SEDONA COUNCIL REGARDING ACTIVITIES AND PLANS FOR THE VERDE VALLEY JANUARY 25

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, January 22nd, 2022

Meeting at Sedona Council Chambers 102 Roadrunner Drive Sedona  to begin at 4:30 p.m.

Dean Tina Redd

Yavapai Community College Verde Valley Dean Dr. Tina Redd will address the Sedona City Council on Tuesday, January 25 at 4:30 p.m. She intends to update the Council on  activities and plans for the Verde Valley campuses and local programming.

The Sedona City Council chambers are located at 102 Roadrunner Drive Sedona, AZ 86336.  The meeting is also carried live webcast.  Please check the Sedona City website to view the live webcast.

Categories : ADMINISTRATION

SEVEN YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS EARN PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIPS

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, January 20th, 2022

Students who represent a variety of disciplines and five different campuses and centers awarded the prestigious All-Arizona Academic Team scholarship for 2021 | Two from the Verde Valley

Yavapai Community College announced in a January 14 press release that seven students representing a variety of disciplines and five different campuses and centers earned the prestigious All-Arizona Academic Team scholarship for 2021.

The transfer scholarship allows a Yavapai Community College student to transfer to an Arizona university of the student’s choice. The award is made to  students who are academically successful and excel outside the classroom by leading or participating in community service activities.

The following are the students awarded the honor, according to the press release.

Gabrielle Baker

“Brie” is a Prescott Campus performing arts student who plans to transfer to an Arizona university in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, with a concentration in performing arts. Her career goal is two-fold, both professional performance and art education. Brie was named YC’s Outstanding Student in the Performing Arts last year, is an Honors student and member of PTK. Her extra-curricular activities include serving as a living history interpreter at Sharlot Hall Museum, serving as president of YC’s performing arts club and acting in Shakespeare plays with Laark Productions.

Jennifer Bergstad

Jennifer graduated from YC’s nursing program in fall 2021. She studied nursing at YC’s Verde Valley Campus, where she served as the president of the Student Nurses Association. She plans to continue her nursing education at Arizona State University and ultimately become a psychiatric nurse practitioner in the Verde Valley. Jennifer was a member of the YC Students of Leadership 2021 cohort, was a member of PTK and was awarded the Jewish Community Foundation’s Pathways to Careers scholarship.

Anna Componovo

Anna is an animal science student at YC’s Chino Valley Agribusiness and Technology Center. She plans to transfer to the University of Arizona to pursue an agriculture degree with an equine emphasis. Her career goal is to be an equine nutritionist. Anna is a member of PTK and is a volunteer with Stepping Stones Agencies and Spring Ridge Academy. She is the recipient of the Deb McCasland Endowed Scholarship.

Justin Hysom-Call

A U.S. Navy veteran and Honors student, Justin is studying science at the YC Prescott Campus where he serves as a tutor in the Learning Center, is president of the Juggling Club, is a member of the PTK leadership team and PTK Honors in Action. He plans to continue his science studies at the University of Arizona Honors College. His career goal is to direct an independent research laboratory tackling marine rehabilitation and sustainability.

Erin Markham

Erin is a YC Verde Valley Campus Nursing student who is concurrently enrolled at Northern Arizona University and expects to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing this fall. She aspires to a career in geriatric care. Erin is the founder and president of the Yavapai College Love for Our Elders chapter. She is a member of PTK and serves on the chapter’s Fun Run marketing team. She volunteers with Student Nurses Association blood drives and was named to the YC President’s List.

Justin Ritzenthaler

Justin is a pre-engineering student at YC’s Career and Technical Education Center and a member of the College Honors Program. He plans to study aerospace engineering at ASU’s Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering. His career goal is to work for NASA or SpaceX. Among other activities, Justin is a member of PTK, lifeguards at the YC Pool and is an organizer of the college’s Fun Run scholarship fundraiser.

Paul Schachtner

A U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Paul studies unmanned aircraft systems at YC’s Career and Technical Education Center. He plans to transfer to ASU and study conservation science enroute to a career tackling drinking water sustainability. Paul teaches algebra at AAEC High School, coaches the school’s mountain bike team and is a Prescott Valley performing arts construction volunteer. He was named CTEC’s Most Outstanding Aviation student in 2021 and is a member of PTK.

Source:  Yavapai Community College Press release of January 14, 2022 authored by JJ McCormack.
Categories : Scholarships

EIGHT-YEAR OLD STUDENT LOAN PRACTICE LAWSUIT YIELDS $1.8 BILLION SETTLEMENT

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, January 20th, 2022

2,200 Arizona student borrowers may receive $54 million in debt relief; 12,400 will receive over $3.3 million in restitution

The Arizona Attorney General’s office announced January 20, 2022 that thousands of Arizona student borrowers are expected to receive over $54 million in debt relief because of the settlement of an eight-year-old lawsuit with Navient.  Navient, once called Sallie Mae, was alleged to have used unfair, predatory, and deceptive student loan servicing practices.  Navient has denied the allegations.

It is also anticipated that 12,400 Arizonans will receive over $3.3 million in restitution under the proposed court settlement, according to Arizona’s Attorney General’s office.

In a statement, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said that “It’s disappointing how Navient took advantage of distressed loan borrowers who were simply trying to get an education to better their lives.” 

Navient is one of the nation’s largest loan services and the settlement still needs court approval. 

Of particular interest to Arizona, because is has so many for-profit schools, is the claim that  Navient provided predatory subprime private loans to students at these schools with low graduation rate while knowing many of those borrowers could not replay them.

Source:  Arizona Republic, January 20, 2022.
Categories : Tuition

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE WILL OPEN TUESDAY TO IN-CLASS STUDENT TEACHING WITHOUT ANY MANDATES

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, January 16th, 2022

Students in some healthcare training programs treating Medicare and Medicaid patients will  be required to be vaccinated after Supreme Court ruling January 14

Yavapai Community College will reopen on Tuesday  with  in-person classes without any mitigation mandates.  It does offer a series of recommendations that it encourages students and staff to follow. (See below)

It is possible that some of its students in its healthcare training programs may be required to be vaccinated. This is particularly true if the students do clinical training in a facility of any kind that participates in the Medicare and Medicaid program. The reason for this is that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced in September  its intention to require hospitals, dialysis facilities, ambulatory surgical centers and other facilities to vaccinate their staff as a condition for participating in Medicare and Medicaid.

The mandatory vaccination requirement was challenged in court.  Last Friday, January 14,  the Supreme Court narrowly upheld the requirement in a 5-4 decision. 

Categories : COVID 19

AS COVID SURGES, NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY TAKES MITIGATION STEPS TO REDUCE INFECTIONS

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, January 16th, 2022

Requires masks| Using COVID Watch, an anonymous exposure notification app |  Provides contact tracing for exposure management, and more

As COVID-19 continues to surge throughout the state of Arizona, Northern Arizona University (NAU) has instituted  a number of measures in an effort to mitigate the spread of the disease.  For example, NAU requires masks  in all classrooms and academic buildings and other locations where physical distancing is not possible, and strongly encourages there use  for outdoor events and gatherings.

Masks are also required in Campus Health Services, at COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites, and on public transportation, including on NAU buses. NAU cloth masks with filters have been delivered to most students, faculty, and staff throughout the state. It also provides masks  on request.

NAU is utilizing COVID Watch, an anonymous exposure notification app, to help stop the spread of COVID-19 on campus by using a person’s  cell phone.

NAU provides contact tracing for exposure management through an integrated system with Coconino County Health and Human Services. NAU has staff who are jointly appointed to work for Coconino County in order to coordinate contact tracing/exposure management in its  campus community.

NAU  has also set up  designated housing and student support services on campus for any students who require isolation or quarantine. Support for off-campus students will be provided to the extent available.

 

Categories : Northern Arizona University

DECLINE IN COLLEGE ENROLLMENT NATIONALLY CONTINUES

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, January 15th, 2022

Yavapai Community College is doing very well in its enrollment efforts

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported on Thursday, January 13 that  overall undergraduate enrollment in the United States  in fall 2021 dropped 3.1 percent, or by 465,300 students, compared with a year earlier. The drop is similar to the decline in fall 2020.  There has been  a 6.6 percent decline in overall undergraduate enrollment since 2019.

Public two-year colleges were  the hardest-hit sector since the start of the pandemic, with enrollment down 13.5 percent since 2019. Leaders of community colleges have said some of their students struggled to pivot online at the start of the health crisis because of spotty Internet access, while others took a step back from school because of family obligations.

Because community colleges educate a large share of students from low-to-moderate-income families, higher education experts worry a continuation of enrollment declines could erode their earnings potential.

Recall that Yavapai Community College enrollment reported enrollment  above the  2019 enrollment figure in the fall 2021. In data gathered by the Arizona Republic newspaper, it reported Yavapai Community College 2021 fall enrollment at 7,525.  This compares, according to the newspaper,  to 6,009 reported in fall 2020 and 7,429 reported in the fall 2019. For Arizona overall, the newspaper reported that community college enrollment is about 15% below pre-pandemic levels.

Sources:  National Student Clearinghouse Research Center; Washington Post article dated January 13, 2021, Arizona Republic article dated October 1, 2021.

Categories : Enrollment data

YAVAPAI’S CHINO VALLEY CENTER TO OFFER INAUGURAL CLASS IN PRINTING A HOUSE USING CONCRETE THIS SPRING

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, January 13th, 2022

First use of $400,000 used  to purchase  two (we think) concrete 3D printers back in  in February 2020

“Now they tell me a 3D printer can do my job?”

The following is a short history of this project.

Two years ago, January 31, 2020,  Yavapai Community College announced that it was launching  the Nation’s first 3D concrete construction program.  The program features emerging technology of 3D printing to construct houses. The Community College believes that by  using 3D concrete printers, consumers will save an enormous amount of time and money to construct a house. It is thought that the 3D printer would print the interior and exterior walls of homes using a special concrete mixture.

The program was approved and the budget altered to include  this purchase unanimously by the District Governing Board at its January 27, 2020 Executive Session.

Early estimates suggest the printers can have the foundation, interior, and exterior walls completed for a medium-sized home in 3-5 days. After roofing, electrical, plumbing, and other services are installed, it is surmised that these 3D printed homes could help alleviate Yavapai County’s attainable housing shortage.

At the time of the January 2020 announcement, the decision was made to use the machine(s) in an  experimental program set to open at the Chino Valley Center by  the fall 2020.  That was two years ago. Also, when the initial announcement was made,  the College indicated it would use   the machine(s)  to build a small manufactured home owned by the College that was in  need of repair.

Eleven months later, in December 2020, the Community College announced it had decided to construct up to three houses to showcase the ability of its recently purchased 3D concrete printers.  The project was to  go forward at the Chino Valley Agribusiness Center Property in Chino Valley.  Although Third District  Governing Board representative Paul Chevalier raised questions at the time about the use of the machines  on the Verde Campus (there are or were supposed to be two of them: a big one and a little one),  so far, the College has not indicated it intends to use the machines in any program at that site.  The Community College began  in December 2020 preparing to provide electrical, data, and water services to the construction site at the Chino Valley Center to support  the construction.

Start up company in Sedona?  Although little is known about exactly what is going on, information coming to the Blog indicates that the Community College has been working with a small start-up company in Sedona to create and patent the kind of cement that will go into the manufacturing process.  The work has been carried on at the Career and Technical Education Center located at the Prescott airport. There is apparently, although no one at the Community College has confirmed this, an agreement of some sort about the patenting and development of the concrete mix between the start-up and the Community College. The details are “hush hush.”

January 2022, the Community College announced student registration had opened for the first class to be  taught to use the 3D printing machinery to build a concrete house at the Chino Valley Center.  The class is “CBT250 – Introduction to 3-D Concrete Printing.” 

Note that Phoenix Channel 15 ran a story on January 5, 2022 about the Community College’s effort.  You may view the Channel 15 report by clicking here. 

Categories : Career and Technical Education

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO OPEN WITHOUT MANDATES

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, January 8th, 2022

Decision by the US Supreme Court in case argued January 7 may alter view; over 16,000 Covid cases reported in Arizona on January 7, 2022 as Covid surges

On Wednesday, January 5 Yavapai Community College President Lisa Rhine announced the Covid-19 mitigation strategy for the spring semester.  There are no mandates for masks or vaccinations for staff, faculty, and students  — only recommendations.  In her announcement Dr. Rhine stated that “The major change in the new CDC guidance is the reduction of quarantine and isolation times from 10 days to five days. This change is now reflected in the College’s COVID-19 operating manual and safety protocols.”

Dr. Rhine noted that the Community College was “monitoring the discussions currently taking place between the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) regarding workplace safety requirements and will provide updates if there are new requirements that affect the College.” The US Supreme Court heard arguments on Friday, January 7 about OSHA mandates and certain other health mandates.  A ruling is expected soon.

The Blog notes that the Arizona Department of Health Services reported on January 8 that  there were 16,504 new cases on Thursday, the day before,  alone.  There were also 88 more deaths, which brings the total death toll for Covid-19 in Arizona to 24,704.  Health officials say that most of the present serious Covid cases involve unvaccinated persons.   

You may view Dr. Rhine’s announcement at https://www.yc.edu/v6/college-police/covid-19/reentry/.

Categories : COVID 19

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE URGES COUNTY RESIDENTS TO TAKE MASTER PLAN SURVEY

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, January 8th, 2022

Link to survey appears below 

Yavapai Community College is urging Yavapai County residents to take the Campus Master Plan Survey that is posted on the Community College website.  The survey will be used, it is thought, in preparing a capital development plan for the next ten years.

Following below is the notice sent by the Community College Friday, January 7 to some residents about taking the survey.  To take the survey, go to https://mapmy.smithgroup.com/Yavapai/.

You can reach the master plan website by going to https://masterplan.yc.edu/.

Categories : ADMINISTRATION
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