Archive for CURRICULUM

SCOTTSDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CLAIMS TO OFFER FLEXIBILITY IN NEW B.A. PROGRAM WITH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON CLASSES BEING OFFERED – APPEARS TO BE IN COMPETITION WITH YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S NEW ALL ONLINE B.A. PROGRAM

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, March 19th, 2025

Says by 2031 39% of all jobs in Arizona  will require a bachelor’s degree

The Phoenix Business Journal ran a story in its March 3 edition, written by Maricopa Community Colleges, promoting Scottsdale Community College’s newly created Bachelor of Business Administration in Management (BBA) degree. The article emphasized the program’s flexibility, offering both in-person and online classes.

It cited a report by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, which projects that the number of new jobs in Arizona requiring postsecondary education and training will grow by 372,000 between 2021 and 2031. The report also stated that by 2031, 39% of all jobs in the state will require a bachelor’s degree, highlighting the increasing demand for highly skilled business professionals.

The Scottsdale program appears to compete with Yavapai Community College’s  Bachelor of Science in Business degree. Unlike SCC’s in-person and online options, Yavapai’s program is entirely online. It offers flexibility by allowing students to enroll on a full-time or part-time basis.

You may read the full article by posting the following link in your browser:  https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2025/03/03/scottsdale-community-college-bachelor-business.html

 

 

 

Categories : CURRICULUM

CHANDLER-GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE TAPPED BY GOVERNOR HOBBS FOR SECOND FUTURE48 WORKFORCE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, March 6th, 2025

Awarded $6 million from the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) to support creation of a  state-of-the-art training facility — Follows November 2024 $15 million ACA Future48 award, for semiconductor focused Future48 Workforce Accelerator approved for the Maricopa Community College District

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, the Arizona Commerce Authority, and partners from Boeing and Honeywell have joined forces to launch the first-of-its-kind Aerospace & Defense Future48 Workforce Accelerator. This aerospace and defense-focused facility will open in the fall of 2026 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s (CGCC) Williams campus, bringing together students and industry partners.

“We are incredibly honored to be selected for a second Future48 Workforce Accelerator,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Chancellor of the Maricopa Community College District. “Through this opportunity, our system will provide the critical education and training required by today’s aerospace and defense manufacturing workforce. We look forward to empowering individuals and driving innovation in this high-demand industry.”

The program will receive $6 million from the Arizona Commerce Authority to support the development of a state-of-the-art training facility. Students will have access to flexible training spaces, labs, and industry-standard equipment, ensuring a seamless transition between lectures and hands-on skill development. The accelerator will expand CGCC’s aviation programs, building on existing offerings such as Aircraft Maintenance Technology—providing affordable degree and certificate pathways in airframe, powerplant, and comprehensive maintenance—and Airway Science Technology. Flexible, accelerated training opportunities will support rapid upskilling and workforce entry in emerging aviation fields.

It is noted that in November 2024 the Maricopa County Community College District and GateWay Community College (GWCC), in partnership with Governor Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), launched the first-of-its-kind, semiconductor-focused Future48 Workforce Accelerator—slated to welcome students and industry in 2027.

Housed at GWCC’s Central City campus, the state-of-the-art fab lab facility marked the newest Future48 Workforce Accelerator planned for the state. MCCCD received $5 million from the governor’s office to provide critical wraparound services for working students. The Arizona Commerce Authority contributed an additional $15 million for infrastructure, equipment, and curriculum development. Industry leaders Intel, TSMC, and NXP partnered in the facility’s design and training focus.

The Future48 Workforce Accelerators are supported by a $30 million investment from the ACA to build six new advanced manufacturing training facilities across the state in partnership with local community colleges.

Categories : CTEC, CURRICULUM, Grants

ARIZONA’S LARGEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT CUTS DIVERSITY INITIATIVES AMID TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PRESSURE

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, March 5th, 2025

No public information about DEI changes at Yavapai Community College 

According to a March 4, 2025 article in the Arizona Republic by Helen Rummel, the Maricopa County Community College District is removing various diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from its schools following increasing pressure from the Trump administration. The changes are being made to comply with guidance from the Office for Civil Rights within the U.S. Department of Education. A four-page letter  from the Office required schools to remove race-based programming by February 28 or risk losing federal funding. The letter was said to be an effort to clarify existing legal requirements under Title VI, the Equal Protection Clause, and other federal civil rights principles, but apparently does not carry the force of law.

Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor Steven Gonzales announced that employee affinity groups, pronouns in email signatures, and all DEI and gender identity-related language will be removed from district materials. More changes may follow to comply with evolving requirements.

Employees are no longer to be able to use money from the district to attend any conferences or events focusing on DEI, including ones that center on race, identity or national origin. Employee groups focusing on race and identity would be removed, like affinity groups and the Diversity Advisory Council.

Websites for groups like HSI EXCELlence and the Black Student Union were removed, though student clubs are not impacted. Many DEI-related pages, including those on convocation ceremonies for diverse cultural backgrounds, were also taken down.

“As a public higher education institution, the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) must comply with all local, state, and federal laws, including recently issued enforcement priorities set forth by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights,” a Maricopa Community College district spokesperson said in a statement to The Arizona Republic.

“We recognize that these required changes may be disappointing to some of our students and employees. However, we remain committed to fostering a welcoming learning environment for all students as they pursue their educational goals.”

Yavapai Community College has not yet provided the public with any information regarding what action, if any, it has taken in regard to the Trump mandates.

Categories : CURRICULUM, Politics

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE ANNOUNCED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)

By R. Oliphant
Friday, January 31st, 2025

In a press release, says it is the first and only college in the nation to collaborate with the USPTO on this eight  week  training program

On January 15, the Regional Economic Development Center (REDC) at Yavapai Community College announced a training partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO. It says in a press release that it is “the first and only college in the nation” to collaborate with the USPTO on such an eight week  training program.

The partnership training program has a goal of providing  participants with comprehensive knowledge and skills essential for navigating the intellectual property world. The eight week course hopes to instill in its participants a deep understanding of the patenting process, strategies for innovation protection, and the role of patents in fostering technological advancements. It will also  offers critical insights into brand protection, trademark registration, and enforcement.

 

Categories : CURRICULUM

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT ADDS OUTSTANDING NEW FACULTY TO ITS EXPANSIVE PROGRAM

By R. Oliphant
Friday, December 27th, 2024

Five new instructors will teach acting, voice, and technical theatre courses at the Prescott Campus; it appears that no similar performing arts programs yet exist on the Verde Campus or at any of the College’s centers

In a December 19 press release, Yavapai Community College announced it has hired five new instructors for its expanding Performing Arts Department.  They will be teaching acting, voice, and technical theatre courses. They will be joining the faculty in January.

According to the Community College press release, the following are the new faculty hires:

“Mezzo soprano Danielle Corella will teach both Private Voice (MUS 101A) and Applied Voice (MUS 151A) courses. An Arizona Opera veteran, Danielle sang the role of Gertrude in AzO’s Roméo et Juliette and Belle in their Opera Tunity production of Beauty and the Beast. She holds a Master of Music Degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music from Westminster Choir College. She currently conducts YC’s Community Chorale.”

“Prescott Valley residents may know Ben Naasz from The Movement Studio, which he operates with his wife, Sasha. A talented actor, director, scenic designer and producer, Ben will draw from his 30-year theatrical career to teach Stagecraft (THR 141) and Lighting for the Stage and Media (THR 160). He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Technology (with an emphasis on Scenic Design) from the University of Arizona, and a BFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia.”

“With her Masters in Classical Acting from Brandeis University, where she taught movement and voice, Heather Scott earned her Meisner certificate from New York City’s Neighborhood Playhouse and is a certified theatrical combatant. Her professional credits include As The World Turns and multiple regional commercials as well as work with Disney Regional Entertainment. The co-director of the Yavapai College musicals It’s A Wonderful Life and Hello, Dolly!, Heather is also the J&LLPAC’s Director of Operations. She will teach the College’s Acting I (THR 131) and Acting II (THR 132) courses.”

“A dedicated educator and veteran actor, director, stage manager and producer, Layla Tenney is thrilled to bring her 20 years of theatrical experience to YC. She has been a prominent figure in the local arts community, teaching theatre at Prescott and Chino Valley high schools, where she directed numerous productions that inspired students and audiences alike. She has also been a creative force at the Prescott Center for the Arts since 2009, creating programs that support young artists. Layla has her Master of Arts in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Colorado, and her bachelor’s from the University of Arizona and will teach THR 231, Acting the One-Act Play.”

“Prescott-based baritone William Vallandigham is regularly featured on opera and concert stages in Arizona, Southern California and the greater Chicago area. In 2023-24, William sang Brahms and Mahler with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and appeared in Arizona Opera’s productions of Il barberie de Siviglia and Mozart’s Don Giovanni. He performed extensively with Opera Santa Barbara, with roles in The Crucible, Cosi fan Tutte, Carmen and the title role in Eugene Onegin. William’s career highlights range from Phillip Glass’s Kepler at the Spoleto Festival to orchestrated music from video game legend Nobuo Uematsu. William earned his master’s in music from Westminster Choir College, and his Bachelor of Music from Baldwin Wallace University. He will teach Musical Theatre I (THR 133) and Musical Theatre II (THR 134).”

Categories : CURRICULUM, Faculty, Performing Arts Center

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE – IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INTEL – IS INTRODUCING AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COURSE

By R. Oliphant
Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024

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.

 

Categories : CURRICULUM

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE REPORTS THAT IN 2023-2024 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACCOUNTED FOR OVER 30 PERCENT OF ITS ENROLLMENT

By R. Oliphant
Monday, June 17th, 2024

Variety of early college course offerings for high schoolers include dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment, and CTED classes

Yavapai Community College has reported that high school students taking classes in one of its early enrollment programs account for over 30 percent of its total enrollment. According to the College, in 2023-2024 the total number of high school students taking Dual Enrollment, Concurrent Enrollment, and CTED classes was 2,141 (fall) and 2,124 (spring). This represents over 30% of the College’s total enrollment.

There was a 4% increase from 2022-2023 in high school enrollment in 2023-2024. Students in Dual Enrollment, Concurrent Enrollment, and CTED classes took 25,137 credits through the College in  2022-2024. This represents a 12% increase from prior years.

Throughout the District,  44 dual enrollment instructors taught 18 different disciplines in 2023-2024 with students obtaining  11,8223 college  credit hours.

Categories : CURRICULUM, Enrollment data

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE SAYS IT NOW HAS FORMAL HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION ACCREDITATION FOR ITS FOUR-YEAR B.S. IN BUSINESS DEGREE

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, March 16th, 2023

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.

Categories : CURRICULUM

AFTER ALMOST TWO YEARS OF WORK, YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE WILL OFFER A FOUR-YEAR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BUSINESS ENTIRELY ONLINE BEGINNING THE FALL OF 2023

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, January 12th, 2023

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.

Categories : CURRICULUM

HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION HAS GRANTED MARICOPA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT ACCREDITATION FOR SEVEN BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMS

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, December 3rd, 2022

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.

Categories : CURRICULUM
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