“Hard to compete if you can get the job without going to college, why go to college?” says College VP in response to question; Tuesday Sept 28 remarks muddy earlier view obtained by Blog that program is being “revamped”
Sedona Councilor Holli Ploog
The Yavapai Community College President, Dr. Lisa Rhine, and Vice President of Community Relations and Student Development, Rodney Jenkins, met September 28 with the Sedona City Council to provide an update on College activities. During the meeting, Councilor Holli Ploog asked the executives to shed some light on why the Hotel and Restaurant Management certificate program was put on hold.
Initially, the Community College executives appeared to not understand the query. Yavapai College District Governing Chair Deb McCasland, who was also present, quickly explained there were two programs: culinary and Restaurant and Hotel Management. (See video clip below)
Vice President Jenkins then provided some reasons why the program was not operating. He said that the program lacked students. It needed about 12 students in order to cover the cost of the classes. It was apparently not reaching this goal.
Mr. Jenkins also said that the Community College was finding it difficult to compete with the industry in this field. He observed that the industry does not require certificates for its workers. “It does not require any accreditation,” he said.
Moreover, said Mr. Jenkins, “It is hard to compete if you can get a job without going to college.” [Then,] “why go to college?”
The absence of any suggestion of a plan to reopen the program implied to many of those listening to this conversation that the Community College was not going to reopen the Restaurant and Hotel Management certificate program any time soon. If ever.
The Blog is open to corrections from the Community College about its conclusion .
A video clip of the exchange at the September 28 meeting appears below.