OLLI is independent nonprofit Institute with separate governing committee

OLLI exists on Yavapai Community College because of a two million dollar grant that was given to the College to set it up.

The Community College spin-masters seem to be using OLLI as their next excuse for the loss of 6,000 students (by audited headcount) in the last decade.  They use it because few in the County understand how OLLI was created and what it does.  Here are the facts.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes are found on the campuses of 119 colleges and universities from Maine to Hawaii and Alaska. Each provides a distinctive array of non-credit courses and activities specifically developed for seasoned adults aged 50 or older who are interested in learning for the joy of learning. 

OLLI operates free of College direct interference. It is a self-directed membership organization within Yavapai College, which means it has a  Governing Council and its own curriculum, finance, long range planning, policies and procedures and social committees.

The OLLI administration receives operating income from the $2 million dollars Yavapai holds in trust for it.  OLLI faculty are not paid.  OLLI accepts donations that are tax deductible because its is separate from the Community College.  Students receive no college credit for attending an OLLI program and normally pay a registration fee for the program that goes toward operating OLLI. Students are 50 or older.

OLLI states that “We are a membership organization within Yavapai College, created to meet the needs and interests of local retirement-age people.” The OLLI program has a staff in Prescott and a separate staff in Sedona. According to OLLI, “Our learning groups are discussion groups conceived, created and facilitated by our own members, who volunteer their time. There are no tests, grades, or college credits associated with our groups. Our members are excited about learning and sharing knowledge and thoughts. They gain a great deal of satisfaction in the process of stimulating and stretching their mental capacities.”

In an article appearing August 18 in the Verde Independent (click here to read the article), it was suggested the decline in students at Yavapai College was because “students who only took non-credit courses five years ago are taking courses through the college’s OLLI [Osher Lifelong Learning Institute] program.” 

Because of OLLI’s mission (stated above), the above quoted statement is puzzling.  Moreover, because headcount is based on students taking credit classes, that has little to do with the student decline.  That decline was measured using credit courses–the original reason Yavapai Community College was created.

Attends Post-Secondary International Network’s (PIN) 2016 Executive Leadership Conference at  Olds College in the heart of Central Alberta, Canada  held July 10-16

Yavapai College President Dr. Penelope Wills found a great way to get away from Arizona’s summer heat when she attended the Post-Secondary International Network’s (PIN) 2016 Executive Leadership Conference at  Olds College, in the heart of Central Alberta held July 10-16. According to the material distributed by the Conference, Conferees and guests spent five nights at the recently constructed 82-room, Pomeroy Inn & Suites extended-stay Hotel, built on the grounds of Olds College. Amenities included Hypnos Sleep System beds with premium Eden Indulgence linens, flat screen TVs, ergonomic workstations, free Wi-Fi Internet and Keurig Coffee station with a selection of Starbucks coffee.

There was a state-of-the-art fitness facility, pool, hot tub, waterslide, and fully equipped business center. The facility also includes an onsite restaurant and lounge bar.

Also featured is the Olds College Teaching Brewery which houses the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Diploma Program and also the commercial component for Olds College beer products. The Pomeroy Inn & Suites at Olds College has been ranked as the 17th Best Hotel for families in all of Canada.

Also according to the conference literature, conferees spent two nights nestled in the majestic Canadian Rockies at an elevation of 1,522 meters at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis. The Resort was described as the base camp to an outdoor adventure playground, offering a variety of guestrooms and suites, multiple dining and entertaining options, a full conference facility, and is home to the Summit Spa and Fitness Centre. Kananaskis Country is known for its kilometres of hiking trails, horse trails, mountain biking, backpacking and fishing. It was 45 minutes from Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise.

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Refuses to allow VVBAC to hear from Marketing & Recruitment

For the Prescott based College Administration, too much knowledge is NOT a good thing.  That was the gist of the Administration’s response  to a request made  to the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee that it be allowed to ask some questions at a future meeting of the Marketing Director and the Recruitment Director.

Al Filardo reported at the May 11, 2016 VVBAC meeting that because the VVBAC had  talked months earlier with the former Marketing Director, that was all the information the staff was going to supply to the Committee. (Well, maybe it might change its mind sometime in the future but that was not definite.) The fact a new Marketing Director had since been appointed was apparently not relevant to the request.

So much for cooperation between the College Administration and the VVBAC.

Sweeps Gateway Community College Tuesday

The Yavapai Community College softball team swept a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon April 5 in Phoenix over Gateway Community College. Yavapai won the first game 10-2 and took the second game  6-0. The softball team is now 27-9 in the ACCAC standings and 35-11 overall.

In the first game, Lyndsie Smith, Jocilyn Ellis, Andrea Sotelo, Sydney Forray and Mahina Chong had two hits apiece. Chong and Ellis hit home runs. Amy Robinson got the victory. Earlier in the day, Robinson was named the ACCAC DI Pitcher of the Week for her efforts last week.

In the second game, Karissa Pena went 3 for 4 with a double. Mikayla Newham, Sotelo, Dustie Durham, Chong, Lyndsie Smith each had two hits each. Smith collected a double and a home run.

Community Colleges failing to  recognize the importance of setting goals to increase the number of residents who have post-secondary degrees or certificates

In an editorial appearing in azcentral.com, Linda Valdez lamented the failure of Arizona Community Colleges to increase the number of persons who have post-secondary degrees or certificates.  You may view her editorial by clicking here.

She writes that “ by 2020, 68 percent of jobs in Arizona will require a post-secondary education, according to a report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. At least 31 states have recognized the importance of setting goals to increase the number of residents who have post-secondary degrees or certificates. Arizona isn’t one of them.”

She stated that “ Not only is Arizona’s post-secondary education level low, it is significantly lower among the fastest growing demographic in the state. Currently, the majority of K-12 students in Arizona are Latino.”

Valdez quotes Arizona State University President Michael Crow as saying that raising Arizona’s post-secondary education rate is a “prime directive” and an “apple-pie agenda.  It is essential to our economic competitiveness and our social and cultural success.“

That’s in line with what states like Colorado and Texas have done in recent years, says Valdez.

Wouldn’t it be great if Yavapai College began to focus on increasing the number of residents who have post secondary degrees and certificates in the County  rather than continuing its wild spending spree on nice but unnecessary building projects! Wouldn’t it be great if the Governing Board set a specific goal that we all could understand for the coming year for the present administration to reach!!! Oh yes, the Carver model doesn’t allow setting a simple goal.  Maybe someone will have the courage to finally get rid of that model. 

President Penelope Wills scheduled to speak

President Penelope Wills is scheduled to address the Committee at the 8:30 a.m. meeting this coming Wednesday, February 3.  The Committee normally meets in room M-137 on the Verde Campus in Clarkdale.  The full agenda for the meeting has not yet been published.

The meeting is open to the public.

Location:  Verde Campus, Clarkdale