Offering four courses beginning in August with 68 seats available; so far only 20 students have signed up
Registration data from Yavapai Community College as of July 16 indicates that the Sedona Culinary Institute program registration is going slowly. According to the Community College, only 20 students have signed up so far for one of the four courses offered in August. That leaves 48 open spots.
Registration data for its October program shows that four of 16 slots have been filled so far.
The Institute works against many obstacles this fall. Layoffs in the food industry because of COVID-19 may have an impact on enrollment. Camp Verde high school students may not take courses at the Institute because the Camp Verde High School has its own culinary program. There is apparently no organized bus transportation between Mingus High School and Sedona or from the Verde Campus to the Institute. There are no residence halls on the Verde Campus or Sedona Center to accommodate those students who cannot find inexpensive housing in the Valley. The entire project is overseen ultimately by Prescott based officials who may have neither the time nor the local East County contacts to deal with developing the Institute in the Verde Valley.
Similar problems like these have persisted since the Sedona Center was originally opened in 2000. They have not been directly addressed by the Community College or the towns and cities in the Verde Valley.
