Vice President Clint Ewell comments on moving funds during  June 2, 2023, interview with Sedona Red Rock News; question remains what was meant by the use of  “to other schools”

Due to its strict operational confidentiality policy, determining the exact allocation and utilization of the funds for the 10.6 adjunct positions that were removed from the budget of Yavapai Community College’s Verde Campus in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, and purportedly reassigned to “other schools,” has posed significant challenges. However, the Blog has managed to uncover some information thus far.

Dr. Clint Ewell, Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, addressed the issue of reduced teaching staff at the Verde Campus during an interview with the Sedona Red Rock News. The newspaper’s front-page article on June 2, 2023, which discussed the increase in property tax rates, featured Dr. Ewell’s explanation.

As a reminder, the Blog initially disclosed in its April 21, 2023, post the perception that a significant reduction of 10.6 teaching staff positions at the Verde Valley Campus was evident in the College’s 2023-2024 budget, based on a public discussion between Dr. Ewell and Community College Governing Board member Ray Sigafoos.

The issue was brought up during the April 11 Governing Board meeting in a discussion between Ewell and Governing Board member Ray Sigafoos. Sigafoos sought clarification regarding a reduction that seemed to be indicated by a chart provided by the College (refer to the chart below). Based on the discussion, many observers came to the consensus that it was reasonable to assume that 10.6 positions had been eliminated at the Verde Campus. (Click here to view that discussion.)

However, in response to the Blog story concerning the reduction, Dr. Lisa Rhine made an effort to address any potential misunderstandings. During the District Governing Board and Tax and Budget hearing on May 16, 2023, she provided a brief statement emphasizing that there had been no reduction in faculty at the Verde Campus. Dr. Rhine clarified that the funds were instead transferred to the budget allocated for the dean or deans. (Click here to see the video clip of Dr. Rhine making this statement.)

In a recent article published on June 2, 2023, in the Sedona Red Rock News, Dr. Ewell provided his explanation regarding the 10.6 adjunct faculty reductions. He is quoted as follows:

“We had budgeted  for some adjunct faculty  in the vice president of academic affairs, which also includes Verde Valley campus administration.  What we decided to do is move some of the adjunct faculty budget out to the different schools within the college, where the assets are actually being used.  When you look at that table and our budget, it looks like vice president of academic affairs, the number of positions went down 10.  But in reality, those 10 positions were simply moved to other schools within academic affairs.” 

Despite the provided explanations, some lingering questions remain. Firstly, it is unclear how many adjunct faculty were teaching on the Verde Campus in 2021 and 2022, and whether that number has decreased. Secondly, when Dr. Ewell mentions moving funds to “other schools,” it is uncertain whether he is referring to schools located specifically on the Verde Campus or elsewhere. Thirdly, upon careful examination of the table that supposedly demonstrates a reduction of 10.6 adjunct positions on the Verde Campus, it also indicates that 9.8 positions were added to the school of business, 2.4 to the school of health and wellness, and 1.3 to instructional support (resulting in a sum of 9.8 + 2.4 + 1.3 = 13.5). Furthermore, the table suggests an overall reduction of 21.5 positions across various schools (10.6 + 8.6 + 1.5 + 0.7 + 0.1 = 21.5). However, with the increase in some schools and reduction in others, this would seemingly leave a net reduction of eight positions overall (21.5 – 13.5 = 8). Please refer to the table below, highlighting the schools and Verde Campus in yellow.

It seems doubtful that residents of the County will ever obtain the complete story behind this fund reallocation. 

Board member Sigafoos indicates her viewed work exemplary; other Board members do not explain their vote

The Yavapai Community College Governing Board met in a secret Executive session on Tuesday, May 23 and discussed two issues.  First, extending the contract of the current president, Dr. Lisa Rhine (Ph.D).  Second, to decide whether to increase her current base pay.

Following the secret meeting, the Board reconvened and announced that it was extending her contract to June 30, 2028.  This is somewhat unusual as these types of employment contracts are normally not extended beyond a three year period.

The Board provided very few details to support its unanimous decision.  Representative Ray Sigafoos, who brought the motion to extend the employment period, praised Dr. Rhine and made it clear he felt her work was exemplary. However, Mr. Sigafoos failed to offer any concrete details that led him to his overall conclusion.

None of the other Governing Board members provided any specific reasons, which they must have had, for voting to extend the contract for five years.  Following a second to the motion to extend the contract brought by Mr. Sigafoos, which then allowed Board discussion, none of the Board spoke up to explain why they thought the long extension was necessary.

The Board voted unanimously to approve the extension.

Please click here to view the short  videotape clip of the voting process followed by the Governing Board.

Alert sent out by College late Friday afternoon, May 12 advising faculty to be aware of text  scam aimed at them

Yavapai Community College faculty were alerted Friday afternoon, May 12 that they were being sent a texting scam.  Faculty were advised not to open the scam message and if they did, to delete it from their computers.

The College did not explain in any detail the nature of the content of the texting scam sent to Faculty. It did say the scam message purported to be coming from the College leadership.

All classes, offices and services are closed

 😛 Yavapai Community College is closed until March 30.   The closure is due to its spring break. During this period all classes, offices, and services are closed.

Mr. Payne is a second-generation Arizona native, raised in Phoenix, who spent twenty-five years in Cave Creek/Carefree, and now lives permanently in Clarkdale

Yavapai County School Superintendent Tim Carter announced March 10, 2023,  the appointment of Mr. Alton “Toby” Payne to the Yavapai College Governing Board to represent District 3 (Sedona and the upper Verde Valley). Mr. Payne is a second-generation Arizona native, raised in Phoenix, who spent twenty-five years in Cave Creek/Carefree, and now lives permanently in Clarkdale.

The following is a portion of the press release regarding the appointment as released by Mr. Carter’s office:

Yavapai County School Superintendent Tim Carter is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Alton “Toby” Payne to the Yavapai College Governing Board to represent District 3 (Sedona and the upper Verde Valley).

Mr. Payne is a second-generation Arizona native, raised in Phoenix, who spent twenty-five years in Cave Creek/Carefree, and now lives permanently in Clarkdale. He spent thirty years as an entrepreneur in the audio-visual industry, as the founder of State Sound of Arizona. He has toured with Andy Williams, Sammy Davis Jr., Waylon Jennings, and designed and supplied the sound systems for the Papal Visit to Arizona State University. He also taught for ten years at the International Communications Industries Association Institute for Professional Development.

Mr. Payne has served on the Governing Board of the Cave Creek Unified School District, serving as President of the Board twice. The district spanned 144 square miles and included several municipalities including portions of Scottsdale, Phoenix, Carefree and Cave Creek. His service was at a time of rapid growth for the area when school construction was needed.

He has been working with various non-profits and community groups for many years, including Arizona Town Hall, Kiwanis, site survey for the Mabery Pavilion on the Clarkdale campus of Yavapai College, Growth Committee of the Clarkdale-Jerome School District, and the Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association.

Mr. Carter received a letter of resignation from Yavapai College Governing Board Member Paul Chevalier, effective January 30, 2023. Dr. Chevalier said, “today I turned 84 and, while my health is good, this is the moment for me to step down and let someone younger take my position.” Mr. Carter thanked Dr. Chevalier for his service to the residents of District 3. Mr. Carter posted the vacancy for this non-partisan seat for the remaining two years of the existing term. Prior to the deadline for receipt of letters of interest and the supporting information, Mr. Carter received the required materials from five qualified candidates.

Superintendent Carter makes use of a Candidate Review Committee in making community college appointments. This is a process which engages a cross section of community members from District 3 in the process.

He would like to express appreciation to the committee for their volunteer services to the community. County Supervisor Donna Michaels (Sedona) served as the elected official as she represents the same geographical area and residents within Yavapai County, Mrs. Barbara U’Ren (unincorporated areas) represented taxpayers, Chell Smart (Clarkdale) represented students, Kimberly Gould (Cottonwood) represented the college faculty, and Ruth Ellen Elinski (Cottonwood) represented economic development entities.

The committee reviewed the materials, prepared interview questions, decided who to interview and participated and evaluated the interviews. The committee also provides Mr. Carter with insight about their collective perception of each candidate, and they made very valuable recommendations for his consideration. The Superintendent and committee interviewed three finalists on Monday, March 6th in Sedona.

Mr. Carter hosted an opportunity for the public to meet with him personally in face-to-face meetings on March 9th in Sedona. He provided his email address and cell phone number for those individuals wishing to use one of those options. He spoke individually with many of the current Yavapai College Governing Board Members and college administration in person or on the phone prior to making the appointment. Forty-four (44) residents communicated with the Superintendent in one manner or another about their preferences. He appreciated and respected the responses.

Mr. Payne will be sworn in at a public event at Yavapai College, Sedona Campus at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. His term will end December 31, 2024. He has indicated an intent to run for the seat in the 2024 election cycle for a six-year term starting January 2025. He may be reached at 480.544.2290. Mr. Carter may be reached at 928.925.6560.

ASU, NAU, Private industry and others all setting up programs to attract what were once traditional community college students taking more traditional community college courses; enrollment declining

CHART CREATED BY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND SHOWN TO GOVERNING BOARD TO ILLUSTRATE CHALLENGES.

Yavapai Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine outlined to the College District Governing Board during its February Workshop the increasing competition for tradition community college students that is coming from a wide variety of sources.  She noted that over the last decade, enrollment in four-year public and private colleges and universities has brown by 12 and five percent respectively.  Meanwhile, community college enrollment nationally had declined by 41% FTSE during this same period.

Arizona four-year college enrollment grew by 53% since 2011 (67,000 FTSE) while Arizona community college enrollment  fell by 37% FTSE since 2011.  

Arizona State University is moving into community college territory with its experimental Associate Degree in professional studies being offered to students at three high school groups. Northern Arizona University is likewise expanding its regional efforts to attract traditional community college students to its campuses.

There were many additional challenges coming from employers who, for example, want courses on specific topics immediately available to employees.  Employers are also looking to private education providers who design educational programs specifically to meet their individual needs.

Technology is another challenge as it is changing rapidly and improving rapidly so the community colleges must harness these changes.

The Blog has listed below some of the areas of concern touched upon by Dr. Rhine during her presentation.  You may view her short presentation on this topic to the Governing Board by clicking here.

AN OUTLINE OF CHALLENGES TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES

1. Four year enrollments grow while two year enrollments decline
2. ASU offering Associate Degrees & NAU encroaching on what has traditionally been the domain of community colleges.
3. Public four-year colleges and universities grew by 12% since 2011 while private four-year colleges grew by 5% since 2011.
4. Nationally, community colleges Full Time Student Equivalency (FTSE) declined 41% from its peak in 2011.
5. Nationally, higher education shrank 12% since 2011. (Source IPEDS)
6. Arizona Community Colleges FTSE declined 37% from its peak in 2011. (-50,000 FTSE)
7. Arizona four-year college enrollment grew by 53% since 2011. (+67,000 FTSE)
8. About 30,000 FTSE of Arizona four-year college increase comes from lower division Arizona residents.
9. ASU looks to start two year Associate in Arts degree trial program, moving in on community college territory. The Associate Degree in professional studies will be offered to students at three high school groups.
10. NAU, statewide partners launch Arizona Attainment Alliance, to improve educational attainment and drive economic mobility in Arizona. Asking for universal admission with the community colleges meaning that any student admitted to a community college would also be admitted into NAU.
11. NAU Regional Centers: NAU Online and Innovative Educational Initiatives is seeking four (4) experienced and motivated Regional Director’s to join its team. The Regional Director is responsible for the development and cultivation of student and faculty centric strategic partnerships for the university.
12. NAU says that there are four (4) positions available to be located within the following regions. Northern Region: Apache, Navajo, Gila, Coconino, Mohave; Central Region: Maricopa, Pinal, Yavapai; Southeastern Region: Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee; Southwestern Region: Yuma, La Paz.
13. There has been a proliferation of new producers and distributors of educational offerings.
14. Increased demand for any time any/place educational offerings.
15. There has been an increase in demand for “just in time” education. Used to teach students classes and courses in what is characterized as “just in case.” It used to be you took a course just in case you needed it in the future. Now is seems to be that students want educational courses just to prepare you for “that specific job.”
16. Pivot from inputs to outputs. They want to see competencies in certain level skills that are valued by employers.
17. Employer driven curriculum is in demand. In the past the College would tell a student that “this is what you need to know.” Now employers are telling the College that their employees need to know “X, Y and Z.”
18. Technology is changing rapidly and improving rapidly so the community colleges must harness these changes.