Archive for Verde Campus

DURING JUNE AND JULY, PERSONNEL AT THE VERDE VALLEY CAMPUS WILL BE MOVING BACK INTO THE NEWLY RENOVATED $3.1 MILLION CENTER FOR LEARNING AND INNOVATION IN BUILDING M IN PREPARATION FOR THE START OF THE FALL SEMESTER

By R. Oliphant
Friday, April 5th, 2024

Demolition of Building 19 on the Prescott Campus will begin the week of May 13 in preparation for construction of the $15.3 million Center for Learning and innovation

After two years, the renovation of Building “M” on Verde Campus is nearing its final stages. Personnel are expected to begin moving back into the newly refurbished premises throughout June and July, in readiness for the upcoming fall semester. The last renovation of Building “M” took place during the 2011-12 academic year.

The Community College says that the revamped facility will boast state-of-the-art digital technology aimed at enriching the student experience “through accessible content.” Additionally, it will offer contemporary learning spaces, study rooms, and student support services akin to those provided at the current Learning Center.

In a move approved by the Community College District Governing Board, approximately $3.1 million was allocated for the renovation of Building “M” in May 2022. The structure will be rebranded as the “Center for Learning and Innovation.”

Furthermore, the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board approved spending $15.3 million in May 2023 for a more expansive facility, somewhat resembling the Verde Valley Center for Learning and Innovation, on the Prescott Campus. Demolition of Building 19 on the Prescott Campus, where the Center will be located,  is scheduled to begin May 13, in preparation for construction.

Categories : Construction, Prescott Campus, Verde Campus

FOUR VACANT KEYSTONE COUGAR TRAVEL TRAILERS SEEN GROUPED ON YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE VERDE VALLEY CAMPUS PARKING LOT

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023

It is presumed they are being staged to prepare them for eventual placement at the ten space trailer lot still under partial construction where they will be used for faculty/staff/student temporary  rental

Four Keystone Cougar trailers have been seen grouped in a Yavapai Community College Verde Valley Campus car parking lot. These are likely the same four travel trailers that were scheduled to be ready by fall 2023, and it appears they have finally arrived—at least to a parking lot. Once fully equipped and relocated to the still partially under construction College trailer park, these trailers are expected to be available for short-term rental to faculty/staff and students.

Yavapai Community College has not disclosed the purchase price of the four travel trailers to the public.

 

Categories : RV PARK ON VERDE CAMPUS, Verde Campus

COMMUNITY STAR GAZING NIGHT NOVEMBER 17 5-7 P.M.

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

A night to gave at the stars will be held November 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. on the Verde Valley Campus.  The event will be held on the Southwest Wine Center patio.  For more information, contact Bobbi Evans at 928-634-6511.

Categories : Verde Campus

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE OFFERS EXPLANATION FOR MOVING CONSTRUCTION OF PRESCOTT VALLEY HEALTH CENTER AHEAD BY YEARS – CRITICS PONDER WHETHER SCRAPPING/DELAYING TWO LARGE PROJECTS IN THE VERDE VALLEY MADE FUNDS SUDDENLY AVAILABLE FOR WEST SIDE DEVELOPMENT

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, November 4th, 2023

Total cost of potential new Prescott/Prescott Valley/CTEC projects  range from $55 to $65 million. Meanwhile most projects delayed or more likely abandoned on the Sedona/Verde Valley side of Mingus Mountain

Sedona, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Camp Verde ask:

As we approach 2024, the Community College has decided to invest potentially in total between $55 million and $65 million in capital projects at the Prescott Campus, CTEC and the Prescott Valley Center. The proposed expenditures include:

  • $15 million to renovate the Prescott Campus library. (Approved.)

  • $10 million to expand CTEC at the Prescott airport. (Approved.)

  • $3 million for workforce housing, with some portion of the funds allegedly going to the Verde Valley Campus. (Approved.)

  • $30 million to $40 million to construct the Health Science building, which may also include a conference center as a part of it, at the Prescott Valley Center. (Pending final approval; concept approved.)

Meanwhile, projects at the Sedona Center and Verde Valley Campus on the east side of Mingus Mountain have been delayed and in some cases possibly abandoned.  The only major approved development project is $3 million to renovate Building “M” on the Verde Valley Campus. 

How did the enormous disparity occur?

Read More→

Categories : Health Summit, Nursing, Residence halls, RV PARK ON VERDE CAMPUS, Sedona Campus, Verde Campus

VERDE CAMPUS AND SEDONA CENTER MAKE UP FOR LESS THAN 10% OF FOR-CREDIT CLASS OFFERINGS ACCORDING TO YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE REGISTRATION WEBSITE

By R. Oliphant
Friday, July 21st, 2023

West County dominates; on-line courses now make up 37% of all for-credit offerings

Yavapai Community College’s Fall 2023 semester registration data reveals that the Prescott Campus offerings, plus the  online courses, together constitute approximately 72% of all of the total of 1035 classes being offered for credit. The online courses alone now make up about 37% of all for-credit classes being offered. Interestingly, the west side of Mingus Mountain dominates the credit course offerings.

The Sedona Center for Arts and Technology has a limited selection of only four for-credit classes, which has raised concerns among many individuals about the future of the Center. In contrast, the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC), located at the Prescott airport, offers more for-credit classes than the Verde Campus.

This situation has raised troubling questions among those residing on the east side of Mingus Mountain, particularly due to the scarce availability of for-credit classes at the Verde Campus and the Sedona Center.

 

Categories : Enrollment data, Sedona Campus, Verde Campus

VERDE VALLEY CAMPUS TO BE CUT BY TEN FACULTY POSITIONS IN 2023-24 BUDGET ACCORDING TO DATA PRODUCED AT GOVERNING BOARD MEETING HELD APRIL 11

By R. Oliphant
Friday, April 21st, 2023

College increasing minimum wage for all employees plus an anticipated lower head count apparently led to drastic cut of Verde Valley  faculty

The Yavapai Community College Verde Valley Campus will suffer a major reduction in its teaching staff when the 2023-24 Community College budget is approved in May. According to data produced at the April 11 Governing Board meeting, it will lose at least ten faculty positions.

District One Representative Ray Sigafoos.

The information regarding the cuts came in the form of an explanation to District One Governing Board member Ray Sigafoos about a table presented during the meeting.  The table purports to provide a visual representation of the changes in positions at Yavapai College by Division and Major Business Unit.

Although there are more positions budgeted for next year, to support the Strategic Plan, the Verde Valley is scheduled to be reduced by 10.6 positions.

Vice President of Finance and Administrative services Clint Ewell justified the large cut of Verde Valley faculty by saying that  it was “because of the change in minimum wage” and also a “lower head count in the coming year.”  (See two minute tape of the brief discussion by clicking here.)

The only Governing Board member to query the chart and more clearly reveal the loss of faculty on the Verde Campus was First District Representative Ray Sigafoos.  Neither of the Board members who represent Sedona and the Verde Valley commented or questioned the decision to cut ten faculty from the Campus.  

You may view the brief two minute explanation of the faculty cuts given in response to Mr. Sigafoos’ query by clicking here.

Categories : Faculty, Verde Campus

A COUPLE OF ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS TO BE INSTALLED ON PRESCOTT AND VERDE VALLEY CAMPUSES

By R. Oliphant
Friday, January 20th, 2023

Near buildings 2, 19 on the Prescott Campus;  near building I on the Verde Valley Campus; will accommodate only a couple of cars at a time

Yavapai Community College is putting its toe into the Electrical Vehicle waters by establishing its first  charging stations for electrical vehicles on the Prescott and Verde Valley campuses.  The Verde Campus station will accommodate two EVs at a time.

It is not clear how much will be collected by the College, if anything,  for charging. It is also not clear  whether the charging stations are Level 1,  Level 2 or above. However,  it is suspected that they are Level 1 (slow) charge stations.

Level 1 charging stations provide a low-power (12-20 Amp), which is generally used for long-term charging. It is sometimes referred to as slow or ‘trickle’ charging.  Level 1 long-term charging is found at some airports and hotels. It is also found at some universities and casinos.

 Level 2 charging stations use  a 240 volt outlet (like a clothes dryer or oven) and deliver more power to a car to charge it faster.

Level 3 chargers are still quite rare in the United States. It is claimed that a level 3 charger can  fill a battery at a rate of 75 – 1,200 miles per hour. It would top off an empty battery in 30 minutes.

There are a number of small Tesla destination charging stations in the Verde Valley, with the largest number in the Sedona area.

 

Categories : Prescott Campus, Verde Campus

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE CHOOSES DR. IRINA DEL GENIO AS VERDE CAMPUS AND SEDONA CENTER DEAN

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, November 9th, 2022

First-generation immigrant who came to the United States in 2000 as an adult learner leaves position as associate dean of the Liberal, Visual, and Performing Arts Division at Elgin, Illinois Community College to join Yavapai | Replacing Dr. Tina Redd who resigned in frustration with Prescott based College executives

Yavapai Community College announced on November 8, 2022,  that Dr. Irina Del Genio would become the next  Verde Valley Dean at Yavapai Community College.  She is leaving Elgin, Illinois Community College, where she has the position of Associate Dean of the Liberal, Visual, and Performing Arts Division.

Del Genio replaces Tina Redd who resigned as Verde Valley Dean earlier this year out of frustration with the Prescott based executives who control the Verde Campus and Sedona Center.  The announcement was made by Prescott based Vice President Dr. Diane Ryan, Vice President of Academic Affairs. Most likely, Del Genio will report to and be supervised by Ryan.

Community College Prescott based president Dr. Diane Rhine did not make a public statement regarding the decision to hire Del Genio. Del Genio  will start her position at the Verde Valley Campus on January 9, 2023. The College said she will provide “leadership and administrative oversight of the Verde Valley campus, Sedona Center, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs, and three academic departments college-wide.

Adding the academic college-wide departments to her work requirements ensures she will be away from the Verde Campus and Sedona  Center once or twice each week, thus significantly diluting her work on the east side of Yavapai County.

Del Genio earned her Ph.D. in Political Philosophy and her master’s degrees in History and Political Science.  She has lived  lived, studied, and worked in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and most recently in the U.S. as a college instructor, grant manager, and college administrator. She is a frequent guest speaker on Russian American relations, asymmetrical warfare, the political impact of radical ideologies, and the global consequences of social unrest in contemporary societies.

She is described as an avid traveler and a healthy lifestyle advocate. She is a certified NIA (non-impact mind-body fitness) instructor. Del Genio enjoys sailing, skiing, dancing, and hiking in her free time with her partner George, her friends, and her family.

Sources:  Yavapai Community College press release dated November 8, 2022; Independent Blog research.
Categories : ADMINISTRATION, Sedona Campus, Verde Campus

CLARKDALE NEIGHBORS KILL OFF COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE DEVELOPER TO BUILD STUDENT AND STAFF LIVING FACILITIES ADJACENT VERDE CAMPUS

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, October 1st, 2022

Developer bails because of neighborhood opposition; College looks to its vacant 75 acres for possible new location

A Yavapai Community College tentative agreement with a Clarkdale private developer to build a housing project on five acres adjacent the Verde Valley Campus collapsed because of neighborhood opposition to the project (see sketch below). The private/government partnership would have provided badly needed housing for the first time in 50 years for Yavapai Community College students attending classes on the Verde Campus and staff working there. It would also have included housing for private families. The exact details of the proposed relationship between the developer and the College were not revealed by the at the September 27 Governing Board meeting.

Based on information supplied the Blog, the apparent strong “not in my neighborhood” reaction to the developer’s plan came during a meeting by Clarkdale retirees with town officials, college administrators, and the developer several weeks ago. The retirees seem to think the project would bring unwanted travel by autos on Black Hills Drive.

 However, the Community College intends to construct housing on its own 75 acres of vacant property for students and possibly staff. As noted by the College President at the September 27 meeting, “the need for housing continues and we know if we plan to grow or add destination programs, we must have housing. So, we have decided to move housing up in the priority order” of budget expenditures.

The following is a concept sketch of the proposed housing project killed off by neighborhood opposition.

You may listen and view the entire discussion in full about this issue at the September 27 Board meeting by clicking here. The video is about 16 minutes long.

Categories : Housing, Verde Campus

VERDE VALLEY CAMPUS CAFE TO TRY NEW APPROACH

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, June 29th, 2022

Will exclude from menu  all things frozen and fried, instead offering grilled cheese and other specialty sandwiches and salads, coffee and pastries

The effort to operate a Café/restaurant on the Verde Campus has a checkered history of starts, stops and closings.  When it reopens this year, most likely for fall semester, it will try something different. 

According to a news release issued by the College on June 22, 2022, it will now operate the Café/restaurant on the Verde Campus as a “laboratory for aspiring culinary artists and entrepreneurs as well as a showcase for the vegetables and herbs that horticulture students cultivate in an one-campus greenhouse.” 

It has hired an experienced restaurateur, Kelley Foy, to direct the operation.  She will be the manager and instructor for the “reimagined café.” The new café is “dubbed YCGC for YC Grilled Cheese.”

In its press release, the College says that “even while pursuing her passion for designing custom furniture and serving as the gelato chef for Merkin Vineyards in the Verde Valley, Kelley decided to tackle creating the teaching restaurant for YC because she loves cooking, loves teaching and believes hands-on experience is invaluable for students. `I’m drawn to teaching that involves actually doing the work at the same time,” Kelley said adding, “I want to be part of the direction the college is going’ — that is providing life-lifting career opportunities for individuals and strengthening our local economy.”

When it reopens, the café will operate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The Cafe’s  student staff will also cater college gatherings and events, including those hosted at the college’s teaching winery, the Southwest Wine Center.

Categories : Verde Campus
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