Taught by Professor Philip Reid, the Artificial Intelligence course is part of an improved, two-year Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree

Yavapai Community College, in partnership with Intel, has introduced a new course titled “Understanding Artificial Intelligence” (CSA 250) as part of its two-year Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree. This three-credit course leverages Intel’s AI for Workforce platform to teach students the fundamentals of AI, including its applications, ethics, implicit biases, and regulatory and professional expectations.

Computer Science Professor Philip Reid explains, “It will take students through the full gamut of what Artificial Intelligence is, how it is used in the workplace, and how students can apply it in their careers.”

Professor Reid emphasizes the importance of viewing AI as a tool: “Think about the days when we didn’t have the calculator. Today, the calculator has become a staple in everything we do, right? You give your kids a calculator to do complex numbers. That’s what AI is going to be.”

CSA 250 is a component of the two-year, 60-credit A.A.S. degree program designed to prepare students for careers as software professionals by training them in Computer Systems Management. “They will learn things like the system development lifecycle and programming in Python – which a lot of data scientists use,” Reid says. “The degree is centered around giving each student a realistic chance of obtaining a good job right out of the gate.”

You may learn more about the course by viewing a YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYxBzDKPj3w.

March 7 announcement follows up on January 11 news conference where Dr. Diane Ryan  first announced it would offer the online degree in the fall 2023

In a March 7, 2023, press release Yavapai Community College announced it had received formal notice of accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer its Bachelor of Science in Business Degree.  According to the College, this means that the degree is now officially a part of the College’s curriculum. 

Registration for the fall 2023 classes will begin April 17. The program is described by the Community Collee as totally online.

The curriculum, according to Dr. Diane Ryan , Vice President of Academic Affairs for Yavapai Community College, who oversaw development of the four-year Bachelor’s degree and who announced the program earlier this year, will consist of  “120 applicable credits specifically designed to help students achieve career success.” She also said that the degree  is designed for new students, continuing students, or graduates. Those who are fresh out of high school, have no college, or already have an associate degree in any discipline can enroll.”

In the March 7 press release,  Dr. Lisa Rhine, President of Yavapai College said that “This is exciting news and means that Yavapai College is officially ready to begin offering a bachelor’s degree that is both convenient and affordable for our communities. This degree can instantly transform lives, help them reach a higher job level, increase their wages, start something new, grow something current, and most importantly, not be gouged with financial or travel burdens. We want our students to graduate from YC, and we want them to stay in Yavapai County.”

You may find many more details about the program by going to the January Blog post by clicking here. 

You may view the March 7 Yavapai Community College  press release authored Tyler Rumsey by clicking here.

New B.S. possible because of legislation passed by the Arizona House in February 2021 and approved by the Senate in May 2021 (Senate bill 1453)

Yavapai Community College announced at a news conference held on the Prescott Campus January 11, 2023,  that it will offer a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business online when the fall 2023 semester begins August 12, 2023.

The Yavapai College announcement follows one made in December by Maricopa Community College. Maricopa announced  that the Higher Learning Commission had accredited it for seven bachelor’s degree programs, which will be offered in the fall 2023.

Dr. Diane Ryan

Students who desire to register for  Yavapai’s Business classes can do so as early as April 17, 2023. They should visit  yc.edu/bsb for more information.

The curriculum, according to Dr. Diane Ryan, Vice President of Academic Affairs for Yavapai Community College, who oversaw development of the four-year Bachelor’s degree, will consist of  “120 applicable credits specifically designed to help students achieve career success.”   

The benefits to students who take the course follow:

• It is designed for new students, continuing students, or graduates. Those who are fresh out of high school, have no college, or already have an associate degree in any discipline can enroll.
• It is offered entirely online.
• It can be completed in the traditional pattern for a full-time student of 30 credits per year, which will take four years to complete.
• It can also be completed through 8-week classes, significantly reducing completion time. The 8-week classes will start in August, October, January, March, and June
• It is incredibly affordable when compared to other baccalaureate degree options. Students will pay $155 per credit for in-state tuition for upper-division courses.
• It will use Open Educational Resources for all classes, which means meaning that there are no textbook costs for students.
• It has no associated student fees.

It has a Credit breakdown of:

• 31 credits of general education requirements
• 44 credits of lower division requirements, which are introductory business courses
• 30 credits of upper division requirements in 300 and 400-level courses
• 15 credits for the organizational management and leadership concentration

Registration for classes begins on April 17, 2023, with the classes starting at the beginning of the fall semester on August 12.

Legislation allowing community colleges to start offering four-year degrees was approved in a bill signed by the Governor last year

The Higher Learning Commission has granted Maricopa County Community College District accreditation for seven bachelor’s degree programs.  This is a result of legislation signed last year that allows community colleges to begin offering four year degrees.

The newly accredited degrees and the campuses in the Maricopa Community College District offering them are:

• Data analytics and programming, Bachelor of Applied Science, Mesa.

• Information technology, Bachelor of Applied Science, Phoenix.

• Nuclear medicine technology and computed tomography, Bachelor of Applied Science, GateWay.

• Public safety administration, Bachelor of Applied Science, Phoenix and Rio Salado.

• Early childhood education – dual language, Bachelor of Arts, Mesa.

• Elementary education and special education, Bachelor of Arts, Glendale, Paradise Valley and Rio Salado.

• Behavioral sciences, Bachelor of Arts, South Mountain.

Program now encompasses students studying in such areas as mechanics, fire science and other trades who were not covered by the College’s 2017 free tuition plan

In a June 15 press release, Yavapai Community College announced that it was expanding student tuition free opportunities via a program it calls “Workforce Promise.” The new program expands free tuition to eligible students studying in many more areas than it did when it first began offering free tuition in its “YC Promise” program back in 2017.

Of significance, is that beginning in the fall 2022, the Community College will now offer students, of any age, the chance to earn a two-year degree in a variety of trades, tuition-free.

The Workforce Promise program covers students seeking degrees in the following fields:

Associate of Arts Elementary Ed.

Associate of Business

Associate of Science

Accounting

Agriculture Technology Mgmt.

Applied Pre-Engineering

Automotive Technology

Computer Networking Technology

Electrical & Instrumentation Tech.

Fire Science

Graphic Design

Management

Nursing

Paralegal Studies

Radiologic Technology

Viticulture and Enology

Among several requirements for the program is one that declares that  those in the tuition free program must complete their degree program in seven semesters. 

The College says that the Workforce Promise program is available for new students, enrolling for the Fall 2022 Semester, as well as qualifying first-year YC students. It also says that students must enroll through the Community College Promise Portal, meet regularly with advisors, maintain at least a 2.0 grade average and graduate within the stipulated time frame. The reimbursement covers direct tuition costs up to sixty-one credits. It will be awarded after degree completion, and cannot include any non-YC classes, transfer credits, developmental or re-taken courses. For a full list of eligibility requirements, please visit the YC Promise website.

There is a deadline for application to this program.  Students wishing to apply for the Workforce Promise must opt-in through the Community College  Promise Portal by Monday, August 1. Additional information can be obtained by visiting: yc.edu/promise

President announces a working group has been formed to establish a curriculum to meet state criterion

In a press release authored by Yavapai Community College reporter Tyler Rumsey on September 30, 2021, it was announced that the College has set up a process to bring four-year degrees to its campuses and centers. The release said  a formal  working group has been created and already established a tentative timeline for the first four-year degree to be available to Yavapai students by the fall of 2023.

According to the press release, the 2023  timeline provides the Community  College the time it needs to research, survey students and Yavapai County communities, develop a budget and infrastructure, develop a curriculum, and seek approval from the Yavapai College District Governing Board, the Higher Education Learning Commission, and the Department of Education.

“Yavapai College is committed to providing its communities with an accessible, affordable education that fits our students’ needs and prepares them for local job opportunities,” said President Rhine. “The process to launch four-year degrees will take time, but I am confident that the recommendations that stem from this working group will be data-driven, realistic, and impactful.”

In May, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed House Bill HB2523, allowing Arizona Community Colleges to offer four-year degrees  if they meet a specific criterion.

Classes are designed to be completed on an accelerated timeline, 50% shorter than normal classes

Yavapai Community College has announced that it will be offering over 130 eight-week classes beginning October 11.   All of the classes are eight weeks in length and designed to be completed on an accelerated timeline, 50% shorter than normal classes.

A variety of in-person classes are available at all six of  Community College  campuses and centers around the County while the majority of classes are on-line.   For a complete list of available classes, visit yc.edu/8week.

The Health and Wellness classes are one area where most of the classes are live.  However, there are no live Health and Wellness classes offered anywhere other than on the Prescott Campus.

Yavapai Community College president Dr. Lisa Rhine says implementation two or three years away

Governor Doug Ducey

Governor Doug Ducey signed legislation this past Tuesday that will allow Yavapai Community College to offer some baccalaureate degrees in the future. According to an interview given to Mr. Bill Helm, in the Verde Independent of Sunday, May 9, 2021, College President Dr. Lisa Rhine said the “process for implementing new baccalaureate degrees will take time.”

Dr. Rhine indicated that offering certain new upper division programs is two  to three  years away. She said that programs must be identified and approved by the District Governing Board. She also said that the curriculum has to be created and that any proposal then submitted to the Higher Learning Commission for approval.

The legislation contains specific requirements for any Community College considering offering new upper division programs leading to a baccalaureate degree. As noted by Dr. Rhine in her interview with the Verde Independent newspaper, the bill  requires a district governing board to determine if there is a local workforce need for the degrees that would be offered. There is also a provision that requires  a study of the costs and a determination of whether  a similar degree is offered by other Arizona colleges.

There are specific restrictions on Pima and Maricopa counties. In those districts, community colleges are limited to offering no more than 5% of their degrees at the baccalaureate level for the first four years. After four years, the number is  capped at 10%.

Community Colleges  also cannot charge tuition for the  courses offered to  juniors and seniors that is 150% higher than the fees for courses in the first two years. Finally, before new degrees can be offered, public universities are given an opportunity  to provide a written response to any planned community college degrees.

Dr. Rhine said during her interview that she will direct her staff to begin researching possible new programs by using “labor market data and community needs to determine what would have a lasting impact on our students and communities.”

Sources: Verde Valley independent, Sunday, May 9, 2021 article by Mr. Bill Helm; Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services, https://tucson.com/news/local/arizona-lawmakers-ok-bill-to-allow-4-year-community-college-degrees/article_6aa4fafa-a847-11eb-9f54-e3a56056748a.html; April 30 Blog.

Fall semester scheduled to begin Monday, August 17

College President Dr. Lisa Rhine has scheduled Yavapai Community College to  begin classes on Monday, August 17.  At that time, it is estimated that about 30 percent of the classes will be face-to-face.

Details of the plans regarding classes and the reopening of the College on August 17 follow below.