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Eye on Yavapai College

Yavapai Community College in Northern Arizona

Archive for Verde Campus – Page 9

Editorial suggests Sedona Taxing District secede from College

By R. Oliphant

Thursday, October 22nd, 2015

“Imagine what could be possible after we secede from college”

Christoper Fox Graham

In the October 21 editorial in the Redrock News, (Also in the Cottonwood Journal Extra) Managing Editor Christopher Fox Graham, outlines the future possibilities for Sedona and the Verde Valley if the residents could secede from Yavapai Community College and create their own East County community college. Mr. Graham points out that secession “would be a costly and litigious process for Yavapai College, but if President Penny Wills, and the Governing Board that is supposed to direct her actions, doesn’t listen to the needs of the Verde Valley — and understand the value of our tax money — a proposal by state legislators could make secession an alternative for taxpayers to have a return on our investment.”

This is an interesting and informative editorial and Blog readers can access it by clicking here. You are urged to read it.

Categories : Editorials/Essays, Politics, Sedona Campus, Verde Campus, Yavapai Community College

College administration fights to keep individual campus costs from public view

By R. Oliphant

Tuesday, August 18th, 2015

College says it can’t give financial information as requested because it doesn’t keep books so it can; reluctantly agrees to provide some estimates

For more than 20 years, the Yavapai Community College has functioned almost completely out of the public eye. Its administrators have been able to do whatever they chose to do with taxpayer funds with little or no question. Given this history, the administrators were no doubt shocked by the action of the Verde Valley Advisory Committee to the District Governing Board.

The Verde Valley Advisory Committee to the District Advisory Board has been trying to obtain the specific costs of operating the Sedona Center and the Verde Campus in Clarkdale with little success.

Hiding data When the Committee asked for the information from Vice President Clint Ewell, he refused to provide it. He claimed that the financial records are not kept by the College in such a way as to provide the information the Committee was seeking.

At the District Governing Board meeting on August 5, 3rd District Representative Al Filardo asked the Board if it would join him in asking Ewell for the information. During the discussion, which you can view by clicking here, Ewell again stated that he could not provide the details the Committee sought. However, he reluctantly agreed to provide some financial information based on “estimates” to the Committee.

The detailed financial data is viewed as operational and is kept closely guarded by the Administration. The budget it produces fails to provide any details regarding the costs of operating individual campuses. Ironically, it closed the Camp Verde facility in 2010 and tried to close and sell the Sedona Center in 2013 because of low enrollment and operating costs. Amazing how those costs seem to be at the fingertips of the administrators when they want to close something down in the Verde Valley.

Categories : Advisory Committees, Budget, Sedona Campus, Verde Campus

Dean Ralston outlines why Verde Campus is struggling

By R. Oliphant

Saturday, August 8th, 2015

Suggests aggressive effort to get things going on the Verde campus, which is experiencing “tough times”

Dr. Ralston

For many, this was a breath of fresh air in terms of actually having an educational expert begin to analyze and share some of the reasons post-secondary education on the east side of the County has collapsed. It was also a stark warning of the college’s future on the east side of the County without a major injection of effort from the community.

Here, in summary, are the major factors he suggested that may explain, at least in part, the collapse since 2006 of the Community College on the East side of the County.

1. In at least one high school on the West side of the County, students were specifically told not to attend Yavapai College because the education was “substandard.” In his first year, Dr. Ralston has turned that view around. (May or may not have affected the Verde Valley enrollment.)

2. Yavapai College’s strict adherence to a minimum number of students (usually 15) before a class is offered is probably going too far. In Dr. Ralston’s experience, he had never been at an institution that had gone so far as to say, “if you’re not close to 15, we’re going to shut down the class.” He evinced concern that if courses are shut down for various reasons because enrollment has dropped, then programs associated with the courses will collapse.

3. Yavapai Community College faculty appear resistant to change. It is imperative that faculty engage with the community and the high schools. Dr. Ralston does not see the kind of investment at the high schools and in the community that is needed; rather, he sees a high degree of resistance from faculty because of perceived past failures.

4. There is a need for increased funding for recruiting, marketing and promotion of the Community College in the Verde Valley.

5. There is not an organized base of supporters, donors, people that the College can tap into to help make its presence in the Verde Valley known. There is a lack of participation from the community.

6. Dean Ralston warned: “Honestly, in the real world, this campus should not be open in a sense, these are tough times on this campus, …”

Categories : Advisory Committees, Verde Campus

President says cartoon and editorial inappropriate

By R. Oliphant

Wednesday, June 17th, 2015

Wills’ speculates that newspaper cartoon may hurt chances of getting gift if College loses out in grant writing war for DK ranch

At the May monthly meeting of the District Governing Board, President Penelope Wills refused to give Representative Deb McCasland an update on the grant application that was in the works for the D.K. ranch in the Verde Valley. However, at the June meeting, an obviously angry Wills’ gave a full update without being asked by anyone. That 4 minute report can be accessed by clicking here.

During the update, Wills focused on the Sedona Redrock News (but not by name) and a cartoon and editorial in that paper to take the blame if the College grant request is denied. Wills’ told the Governing Board that the paper seems “to be mocking” this potential gift.

If the newspaper was “mocking” the College and the potential gift, it should have come as no surprise to Wills. The Blog believes the Cartoon, which appears below, acccurtely depicts how most folks in the Valley feel about the domination by Prescott over Sedona and the Valley. Wills’ did not identify the date of the editorial so the Blog cannot link you to that item.

DK RANCH

Categories : Gift of ranch, Verde Campus

No bookstore on Verde campus or Sedona Center

By R. Oliphant

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015

Only College bookstore on Prescott campus

Students enrolling in courses on the Verde Campus or Sedona Center must use the only College bookstore, which is, you guessed it, located on the Prescott Campus. Oh, well. BOOKSTORE 1

Categories : Underserving the Verde Valley, Verde Campus

President Wills explains number of staff cut on Verde Campus

By R. Oliphant

Saturday, May 30th, 2015

Wills’ reports 13 staff cut; 2 positions created on Verde Campus and Sedona Center

President Penelope Wills reported that there were 13 staff cut at the Verde Campus and the Sedona Center from 2012 to 2015. She also said that 2 new positions (15% of total reduced) had been created.

Fired Total staff cuts since 2012 came to 46. A total of 14 new positions have been created since then. This means that about 12/46 or 26% have been restored on campuses on the West side of the County. Two new positions are slated for the Verde Valley in 2016. She did not say how many new positions are slated for the West side of the County om 2016.

You may view President Wills’ statement to the Governing Board on this issue by clicking here.

Categories : Budget, Sedona Campus, Verde Campus

June 1 deadline for College submission to obtain ranch as a grant

By R. Oliphant

Friday, May 15th, 2015

More information about possible grant of DK Ranch surfaces

Thanks to an article by Mark Lineberger of the Larson newspapers, a great deal of new information has surfaced regarding the possible gift of the DK Ranch in Cornville. It has about 1,500 feet on Oak Creek on 45 acres of land. The ranch is located in Cornville and has been listed for sale for as much as $4.5 million dollars. The College will submit its proposal for the property by June 1. There is a home and a barn, which President Penelope Wills describes as in “excellent condition.”

According to the article, the ranch is now owned by the Steele Foundation, a philanthropic organization based in Phoenix The Steele Foundation has awarded more than $75 million in grants to over 300 organizations within the state of Arizona. Apparently, this is not a Charitable Remainder trust, as was originally thought. It now appears that if the College is successful, it will receive the property free and clear—although those details have yet to be publicly confirmed by the College.

In the interview with President Penelope Wills, she told Mr. Lineberger that the College was “invited to submit a proposal” to the Steele Foundation. She said that the property cannot be “flipped” for resale and must be used for educational purposes. . She also said that the property could be used for classrooms. Wills said it would likely take at least a year to develop a plan for the property should the college acquire it.

Stuart Blacklaw was also interviewed by Mr. Lineberger. He said that the ranch could potentially be used for agricultural instruction and the teaching of animal sciences. “That’s the primary focus that we envision,” he told the reporter.

The property has water rights going back to 1919. Other uses of the property discussed in the interviews were: (a) Use the ranch to teach conservation and environmental science. (b) Partner with the Universality of Arizona’s veterinary medicine program. For some, it was odd that a discussion of expanding the viticulture program to that site was not discussed.

The article by Mr. Lineberger appeared in the May 13, 2015 issue of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.

dk ranch

Categories : Gift of ranch, Verde Campus

Enrollment for fall appears flat

By R. Oliphant

Friday, May 8th, 2015

Dean Perey reports enrollment on Verde Campus remains about flat

Enrollment one Enrollment for the Fall, 2015 semester remains about flat, according to Executive Dean Dr. James Perey. There are about 15 more students enrolled than a year ago, although the exact enrollment number will not be established until July 15, when tuition payments for the semester are due. Dean Perey shared this information with the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee at its May 6 meeting.

Categories : Enrollment data, Verde Campus

Possible land gift disclosed

By R. Oliphant

Friday, May 8th, 2015

College to be considered among others for possible land gift

Turns out the District Governing Board did not call the Wednesday, May 6 meeting to discuss a specific land purchase in the Verde Valley. Rather, it was to consider whether it might accept a gift of land if it was offered.

In a press release, the College said that the Board unanimously agreed in principle to accept a potential donation of real property located in the Verde Valley should the donor decide to give the property to Yavapai College. The 45-acre property was described in the press release as “located on the banks of Oak Creek in the Verde Valley and is owned by The Steele Foundation of Phoenix. This Foundation approached the Yavapai College Foundation in April to ask if the college would be interested in submitting a competitive proposal for educational/agricultural use of the property if it were to be donated to the college. A vote on its willingness to accept the donation was a prerequisite of submitting a proposal.”

Possible gift The Yavapai College Foundation, not the College, will now prepare and submit a proposal that will include a wide range of academic, agricultural, educational, and community programs that fit the property, are consistent with the college’s mission and would serve the Verde Valley and the rest of Yavapai County.

According to President Penelope Wills, The Steele Foundation is soliciting proposals from other potential recipients. She said that the donated property, known as the DK Ranch on Oak Creek, will be used for educational and agricultural purposes. Proposals are due later this month, and The Steele Foundation is expected to review proposals on June 1. No date has been announced for a decision on the recipient of the donation.

While unclear from the College announcement, this type of deal usually involves a Charitable Remainder Trust. The donor receives a tax break by donating it to a nonprofit plus an annual stipend. The bidding process usually looks at which nonprofit will provide the largest annual stipend.

If an annul stipend is to be paid on this property, it is also not clear whether the independent 501(c)(3) College Foundation would be responsible for it or the College, which would use taxpayer funds and student tuition to pay the stipend.

You may read the entire College press release by clicking here.

Categories : Verde Campus

Another fine performance in trying conditions on Verde Campus

By R. Oliphant

Sunday, May 3rd, 2015

Reville 3 trio performs in wind-whipped conditions to small audience

The wind whipped through the Mabery pavilion causing the performers to hang on to their skirts and some in the audience to huddle in corners protected from the gusts. And the dust from the gravel floor kicked up in the faces of the audience sitting on steel backed chairs. But in true show business style, the show “went on.” For the audience of about 50 patrons, most quite elderly, who braved the wind, threatening skies, and hard seats, it was a delightful evening with the Reville 3.

Reville 3

The trio brought cool nostalgic sounds and charming choreography to the small but appreciative audience. They sang with precision harmonies and swinging vocal rhythms, incorporating many of the songs made popular by the Andrews Sisters. They told the story of three ladies living during WWII, woven with letters inspired by actual correspondence during the war.

The College continues to bring fine performances to the Verde Campus with little advertising about them. One also wonders at the wisdom of the selection of this particular program for the Verde Campus. This is more a niche presentation aimed at veterans groups and national patriotic celebrations. Without substantial advertising, a regular spring program to provide adequate notice of the concert, the turn-out for such a program is predictably small in the Verde Valley.

Categories : Event, Verde Campus