VIDEOS DEMONSTRATE HOW NEW COMMUNITY COLLEGE 3D MACHINE FUNCTIONS

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, February 22nd, 2020

Three short videos from Mudbots company visited by Community College discuss operation and potential; two others discuss projects in and outside the United States where machines used

The Blog has selected three short videos from Mudblots, the Utah company visited by the Community College team, that manufactures 3d cement printing machines to help readers better understand how they work.  In addition, there are two other videos describing how similar machines may be used in other projects around the world.

Video #1:  Mudbots, Utah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEkSq3fyjTs

Video #2:  Mudbots, Utah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smZMGT9XWzM

Video #3:  Mudbots, Utah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO8iclXJveo

Video #4:  3d construction of home in Austin, Texas and plans for an entire village in El Salvador. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCzS2FZoB-I

Video#5:  Projects in Italy and the Netherlands.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SK7sptcpNA I

Categories : Career and Technical Education

ARCHITECT EXPLAINS HOW NEW 3D CEMENT CONSTRUCTION PRINTER CAN BE USED

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, February 22nd, 2020

Tom Riley agrees to design first Yavapai Community College building at Chino Valley Center gratis; sees 3d cement construction as the future in building

Architect Tom Riley explained to the Governing Board at its February meeting how the newly authorized half million dollars in Yavapai Community College 3d construction printing equipment can be used.  He has offered to draw the first plans for a small building at the Chino Valley Center that will be using the equipment. 

Riley, who was a member of the Community College team that looked at this equipment in Utah,  congratulated the College on its decision to expend the funds to purchase this equipment.  He said that this kind of 3d printing is “perhaps, the greatest leap that we’ve seen in construction technology since the 2 x 4.”  He went on to say that the “potential for creating low cost buildings, not just housing, . . . is fantastic. It is the brand new technology that is coming our way.”

Riley said the 3d printing machine makes it possible to construct facilities “with less people, less materials, and . . . at a much lower cost.”

You may view all of Mr. Riley’s short presentation to the Governing Board in the video clip below.

Categories : CTEC

SEDONA RED ROCK HIGH SCHOOL SELECTS TEN NINTH GRADERS TO COMPLETE FIRST TWO YEARS OF CREDIT AT YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DATE

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, February 19th, 2020

Students carefully evaluated, along with their past grades, before deemed ready to simultaneously handle the responsibilities of college and high school

A must read is Sedona Red Rock newspaper reporter Alexandra Wittenberg’s February 14 story about ten Sedona Red Rock High School ninth graders already starting Yavapai Community College.  She describes a new Early College Program launched January 6 at the high school that will allow 10 students to complete all 34 credits from Yavapai College needed to obtain an Associate’s degree. They will accomplish this while obtaining enough high school credits for high school graduation. 

The first ten in the program were carefully evaluated, along with their past grades, before they were deemed ready to handle the responsibilities of college classes as well as their high school ones.

The program is attractive for a number of reasons, one of which is cost.  Because of its partnership with Yavapai Community College, “ the school district pays for the majority of the tuition, with the high schooler’s family only having to pay for books and student’s fees. However, if the student doesn’t finish the program, then the family is responsible for paying the school district back.”

To read in full Alexandra Wittenberg’s February 14 story in the Red Rock Newspaper please click here.

Categories : Tuition

SEE DOCUMENTARY MOVIE “RECORDER” AT THE COMMUNITY ROOM, VERDE CAMPUS, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 AT 6:30 P.M.

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, February 19th, 2020

Film describes  Marion Stokes life and her secret recording of television programs 24 hours a day for 30 years (Admission $10; $5 for students and faculty)

The documentary movie, “Recorder,” was released in November 2019.  It is 87 minutes long.  It will be shown at 6:30 p.m. on the Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale Tuesday, February 25 in the Community Room.  The Community Room is located in Building “M” on the campus. The film is rated “Genre.”

 

Categories : Event

ART GALLERY ON VERDE VALLEY CAMPUS NAMED IN HONOR OF PATTY MIKLES

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, February 16th, 2020

Naming celebrates and recognizes Mikles’ lifetime of teaching and giving to others and her family’s  scholarship support of the College

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board unanimously approved naming the art gallery on the Verde Valley Campus for Patty Mikles at its February meeting. Mikles was  a former Yavapai College art instructor who passed away from cancer in 2015. The honor recognizes the ongoing financial contributions (currently at $40,000) being made by her family in support of aspiring art students at the Verde Valley campus, abd celebrate and recognize Patti’s lifetime of teaching and giving to others.

Mikles began her tenure at Yavapai College as an adjunct professor in 1995. She served in that capacity until she was selected to be a full-time member of the faculty in 2004. She was a successful artist and designer before joining Yavapai College.

Mikles was a gifted artist with the ability  to teach, motivate, and build upon the talents of her students. She facilitated  the achievements of students with superior and marginal talents. .

She was also  a fiercely dedicated champion for the art programs at Yavapai College. She spearheaded the completion of curriculum for the Associate Degree in Fine Arts. She also passionately ran and supported the Verde Valley Campus Gallery.

At her last graduation, she was recognized for 20 years of service to the college and had tears of pride at having given so much of her life and work to Yavapai College.

Ms. Ruth Wicks spoke of Ms. Mikles’ work at the college during the Governing Board meeting.  Bob Oliphant commended the president and faculty for its support of this honor.  Mr. Paul Kirchgraber, executive director of the College Foundation, presented the resolution to the Governing Board. You may view their remarks in the video below.

Categories : Foundation

COLLEGE DESCRIBES HOW NEW 3D HALF MILLION DOLLAR PRINTER WORKS

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, February 15th, 2020

First program to begin at Chino Valley Center this fall; may reduce construction costs from 40 to 70% on a home

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board has authorized the College to spend a half million dollars on purchasing a futuristic 3d construction printer that can be used to print out construction materials and use the materials to construct a building with minimal labor. It is estimated that, according to information supplied the College, the machine may reduce construction costs from 40 to 70% on some structures.  

The first Community College experimental program is set to open at the Chino Valley Center in the fall.  There the machine will be used to build a small manufactured home owned by the College that is need of repair.

It appears that the initial courses on how to operate the machine will be offered at the Career and Technical Education Center that is  adjacent the Prescott airport.   At some point, there is the possibility of using the machine and developing courses for operating it on the Verde Campus. 

With this futuristic machine and curriculum, the College hopes to attract a new group of students for its construction program. It has a long-term desire to partner with a builder.

You may view the interesting presentation on the half million dollar investment  below.

Categories : Career and Technical Education

COMMUNITY COLLEGE MAKING SERIOUS EFFORT TO PURCHASE LAND FOR ELECTRONIC MARQUEE NEAR 89A AND BLACK HILLS DRIVE IN COTTONWOOD

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, February 13th, 2020

Part of 2020-21 Capital Improvement Plan

The Community College is seeking to purchase land so it can place an electronic marquee near 89A and Black Hills Drive in Cottonwood.  (The Community College is several blocks west on Black Hills Drive from that location.) The project is part of a larger plan that includes having electronic marquees on the Prescott Campus,  CTEC,  Verde Campus and the Prescott Valley Center.

The College Facilities department has  already installed a new electrical service for the Prescott Campus marque. That  marquee replaces the existing one and is scheduled for completion the second week of February. Both CTEC and Verde Valley Campus require land acquisition and no deal has been finalized yet.

The marquees are among the projects approved by the District Governing Board for 2020-21. 

Below is a rendering of a possible marquee for the Verde Campus. 

Source: YAVAPAI COLLEGE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT NEWS, February 2020.  Photo is copied from the newsletter.   https://www.yc.edu/v6/facilities/docs/newsletters/2020-02-facilities-management-newsletter.pdf
Categories : Construction

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD GENERAL MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2020, 1:00 P.M.

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, February 8th, 2020

To be held at Rock House on Prescott Campus

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold its General Meeting on Tuesday,  February 11, 2020, 1:00 P.M. The meeting will beheld at the Rock House on the Prescott Campus.

The public may address the Board at the beginning of the meeting, according to the agenda published by the College. This is an opportunity for residents of Yavapai County to provide their input on any issue within the jurisdiction of the Yavapai College District Governing Board.

Members of the Governing Board are not supposed to discuss or take legal action on matters raised during an Open Call to the public unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action. A citizen wishing to address the Board should complete a “Request to Speak” form, and give it to the Recording Secretary and be prepared to limit his or her remarks to the designated time (usually three minutes).

Under Arizona law, the public has a right to attend, listen, tape record or videotape these meetings. The public may not disrupt, but may speak during the call to the public at the beginning of this meeting if the call is on the agenda. See Ariz. Att’y Gen. Op. No. I78-001.

The full agenda for the afternoon meeting can be found on the Community College web site by clicking here.

Categories : Event

MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOLLOWS YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN OFFERING FREE TUITION

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, February 8th, 2020

Any costs incurred by the Community College for the new program will be paid for by the City, businesses and education community; Yavapai launched its tuition-free program in fall 2019

Mesa Mayor John Giles announced Tuesday, February 4, the decision to provide free tuition for eligible Mesa Community College students beginning fall 2020. According to Giles, the city of Mesa has been studying the issue for the past year and received recommendations the end of January for starting the Mesa College Promise campaign.

“The Mesa College Promise means free tuition at community college for eligible students graduating from local high schools,” Giles said during his State of the City address.

Under the direction of Dr. Lisa Rhine, Yavapai Community College has already launched an experimental program somewhat similar to the Mesa effort. In the fall 2019 more than 300 new students enrolled in the program at Yavapai.

It does not apply to students seeking certificates. And there are specific requirements. For example, the Yavapai program is restricted to County residents and they must complete their degree within seven semesters after graduation from high school.

The program provides eligible students a last dollar scholarship, meaning it will cover tuition not otherwise covered by Federal, State, Yavapai College, or other 3rd party (for example, high school, Yavapai College Foundation, Tribe, employer) grants, discounts, or scholarships. However, the program will reimburse no more than 61 credits of the tuition paid by a student.

When an eligible student completes his or her coursework after seven semesters of high school or GED graduation, any tuition that was paid out-of-pocket for tuition will be reimbursed. The program is strictly limited to tuition. It does not reimburse other related expenses including, but not limited to, books, course and program fees, or other cost of living expenses such as transportation, food, and housing.

Categories : Tuition

VA SETTLES MISREPRESENTATION CLAIMS FOR TUITION SUBSIDY PROGRAM AT FLORIDA ACADEMY

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, February 8th, 2020

In a VA claim similar to that made against Yavapai Community College Academy agreed to pay $512,000; violated 85/15 rule

The Florida Academy in Fort Myers, Florida has agreed to pay $512,500 to the United States to resolve allegations that it made misrepresentations to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in order to maintain its eligibility to receive VA funding under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Among the claims made in Hamilton v. Yavapai College, et. al., is one almost identical to that made by the Government against the Florida Academy.

Beginning in 2012, the VA provided financial assistance for veterans taking classes at Florida Academy as part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a VA educational benefit program for veterans who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. As part of that program, the VA provides tuition and fee payments directly to qualifying schools on behalf of eligible veterans. In order for a school to qualify for the program, it is required to certify to the VA that no more than 85% of the students for any particular course are receiving VA benefits. This requirement, commonly referred to as the “85-15% Rule,” is intended to prevent abuse of Post-9/11 GI Bill funding by ensuring that the VA is paying fair market value tuition rates since at least 15% of the enrolled students would be paying the same rate with private funds. Schools that receive GI Bill funding are required to certify their compliance with this rule and notify the VA in the event they are no longer in compliance.

According to the Settlement Agreement, the United States alleged that, from January 1, 2017, until January 1, 2018, Florida Academy received Post-9/11 GI Bill funding during a time when they knew, or reasonably should have known, that it did not qualify because almost all of the students who were enrolled in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (“HVAC”) Advanced Fundamentals class were veterans, whose tuition was paid for by the VA. The settlement resolves allegations that Florida Academy made misrepresentations to the VA regarding its compliance with the 85-15% Rule.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

Source:  Department of Justice Press Release, Monday, January 27, 2020.  Please click here to read the entire press release.
Categories : Lawsuits
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