FIVE MILLION DOLLAR OR MORE RENOVATION OF BUILDING “L” ON VERDE CAMPUS PROCEEDING ON SCHEDULE

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, October 20th, 2019

Opening by fall semester 2020 so far appears feasible

Construction of Building “L” on the Verde Campus is proceeding.  The renovation is estimated to cost anywhere from $4 to $6 million when completed (cost includes related facilities electrical, air conditioning, heating, etc. upgrades that probably should have been done as a part of the 22011-13 Campus upgrade.)  As anticipated by the Administration, it appears that the Community College will be able to open the renovated facility by the fall 2020.

Facility Management reports that current

“interior work consists of metal stud framing on the first floor for new science labs along with columns in the soon to be enclosed first-floor breezeway. Fire sprinklers are being installed on both floors, along with ductwork and insulation.

“Metal stud framing will began the week of September 16 for the second-floor spaces. Structural steel is being installed to construct a floor above the advanced manufacturing lab, which will eventually be simulator lab space.

“Exterior work continues with trenching for roof drainage along with a new water line to support the fire sprinkler system at the west end of the building. As soon as the new line is inspected and approved by the fire marshal, lot 10 will be available for more parking.”

Building L will allow the Community College to increase capacity for both nursing and allied health while possibly adding other programs in emergency medical services, parent medicine and home healthcare. It will also allow the Community College to create and expend quality CTE programming that meets local workforce needs and prepares students for careers. (College is continuing to examine the possibility of constructing a separate large, flexible CTE facility.)  The College may add a manufacturing lab to building L and a lab for short-term programs that could ramp up and down as needed.

 

Categories : Construction

VERDE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER FEATURES STORY OCT. 19 ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE INVOLVEMENT IN DEVELOPING TRAIL SYSTEM

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, October 20th, 2019

130  miles of trail to be constructed over next several years to Forest Service standards by Prescott National Forest work crews

The Verde Independent newspaper (online article of October 19, 2019)  featured an extensive story about the involvement of Yavapai Community College in the development of a 132 mile trail system to be build in the Verde Valley with a trail head on the Campus (see earlier Blog story).  According to the article written by reporter Vyto Starinskas for the Verde Independent, persons will eventually be able to park on the Community College Verde Valley campus and hike to “anywhere in the Verde Valley.”

Volunteers, Community College students and staff will construct the Yavapai College Trail on the Campus property. The Prescott Forest has prioritized for development the Blowout Wash Trail System (about 20 miles of trail), Black Canyon National Recreation Trail (about 37 miles of trail) and Grief Hill Trail System (about 15 miles of trail) over the next five years.

You may read the full story that was published October 19 by the Verde Independent online news by clicking here.

Categories : Trail

FREE TUITION PROGRAM DRAWS OVER 300 DEGREE SEEKING STUDENTS THIS FALL

By R. Oliphant
Friday, October 18th, 2019

Students successfully completing “Promise” program pay no tuition; makes Yavapai Community College the most affordable Community College in Arizona

Yavapai Community College is moving ahead with its program that will provide degree seeking students an opportunity to attend tuition-free. The program is restricted to County residents. This fall, according to Vice President Clint Ewell, more than 300 new students are in the program. It does not apply to students seeking certificates.

In addition to County residency, students must meet certain other requirements if they are to participate in the program. For example, 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.

The courses taken by the student must have been paid for by the student or the student’s family, not any other source.

Courses must have been taken from Yavapai College (reimbursement does not apply for transfer credits) after high school graduation or GED completion.

There is no reimbursements for repeated courses or for Developmental Education credits.

Aerospace Science majors and courses are not eligible (including Fixed Wing, Rotor, Unmanned, and Air Traffic).

Students are responsible to pay all their expenses up front (tuition and fees, books, cost of living). As already noted, it does not apply to certificate seeking students.

It is not clear what the final cost to the Community College will be for this program. It may be minimal because most students are eligible for Pell grants, which already pay for tuition.  However, the College won’t know the full impact on on its budget until two years from now when the first crop of “Promise” students graduate.

Sources: Yavapai Community College “What is the YC Promise?” Click here to go to that web page. Yavapai Community College October 8, 2019 District Governing Board meeting.

Categories : Tuition

NAU ENROLLMENT DECLINES FOR FIRST TIME IN 14 YEARS

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, October 16th, 2019

Reasons given for decline include falling birth rate, international student enrollment decline, drop of about 100 students in the university’s hotel and restaurant management program, 100 fewer students attending the community campuses

In an article by Rachel Leingang, Arizona Republic, October 11, 2019 it was reported that enrollment had dropped at Northern Arizona University this fall for the first time in 14 years.  According to the article, “the drop fits into a larger trend of college enrollment falling nationwide as the birth rate has gone down.”

University President Dr. Rita Cheng gave  three reasons for the enrollment drop.  She said that NAU’s international student enrollment declined by more than 100 students. Kuwait, which was described as a major source of international students for NAU, sent significantly fewer this year. NAU officials told Ms. Leingang for the article that this “was because the Kuwaiti government believes the school has too high a number of their students already.”

Dr. Cheng also said that there was a drop of about 100 students in the university’s hotel and restaurant management program. According to Dr. Cheng, when the university reached out to students who stopped taking classes, they said they had found good jobs and wanted to keep working.

A third reason that might explain the drop was that about 100 fewer students are attending the community campuses operated by NAU.

This fall, the number of undergraduates across NAU’s campuses decreased from 27,078 to 26,513.

The only increase was with graduate students.  Enrollment for graduate students at NAU increased this fall by nearly 6%.

Source:  Article, Reporter Rachel Leingang, Arizona Republic, October 11, 2019. 
Categories : Enrollment data

GOVERNING BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES A 5% TUITION INCREASE FOR FALL OF 2020

By R. Oliphant
Tuesday, October 15th, 2019

Continues decade-long annual increase of tuition at Yavapai Community College

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board unanimously approved a request from the College Administration to increase student tuition by almost 5% at its October 8, 2019 meeting.  The increase will generate around $500,000 in additional revenue over the academic year 2020-2021.  The Governing Board has increased tuition in some form at the Community College every year for more than a decade.

According to Vice President of Finance & Administrative Services, Dr. Clint Ewell, the increase was needed  because of a decline in summer enrollment, a loss of a small amount of state aid, and an increase in employee benefits.

You may view an edited video (about 8 minutes) of Dr. Ewell’s presentation below or you may view his entire presentation when it is posted on the College web site by clicking here. 

 

 

Categories : Tuition

ENROLLMENT FOR FALL SEMESTER SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE; SUMMER ENROLLMENT LOWER THAN AVERAGE

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, October 12th, 2019

126 more students by headcount in fall 2019; 728 more credits being taken in fall 2019; but summer enrollment was down

Dr. Ron Liss reported at the October 8, 2019 Yavapai Community College Governing Board meeting that enrollment for the fall 2019 semester was slightly above the figure for fall 2018.  His data showed that there were 126 more students by headcount enrolled and that overall the students were taking 728 more credit hours than  the previous year.  (Please see video below.)

He also reported that there had been a substantial increase in the number of students in the 18 year old age range enrolling at Yavapai Community College this fall.

Dr. Clint Ewell, during the portion of the meeting devoted to increasing student tuition, commented that the summer session 2019 enrollment had been down  and that overall, the Community College was behind last year’s combined summer/fall enrollment. (Please see video below.)

 

 

Categories : Enrollment data

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON VERDE VALLEY CAMPUS TRAIL-HEAD

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, October 12th, 2019

Landscaping, restroom facilities installed

The long-awaited trail-head located on the Verde Campus is moving ahead.  (Recall interest and concern about the absence of a trail system on the Verde Campus was triggered when about a dozen years ago the Community College began investing in developing a major trail around the Prescott Campus.)  Most recently (October 2019), the College reported that new landscaping and a rest room facility was under construction.

 Recall that back in June 2017 Verde Campus Executive Dean Dr. James Perey first reported that the Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale may establish a trail head for what was described as “the West Mingus Avenue trail.” At the time it was described as 22 miles of possibly 122 miles of new trails being proposed by the Prescott National Forest. If approved, the total project covering 122 miles was estimated to take from five to ten years to complete. This is according to Prescott National Forest Verde Ranger District Recreation Program Director Thomas Palmer. Much depended on funding and public input.

Initial public hearings were held May 24, 2017  (Camp Verde) and May 25. 2-17 (Verde Campus). There was an environmental assessment completed by the end of September 2017. A final public hearing on the 22-mile trail system connecting the trail to the Verde Campus property was held in February 2018. The project was approved.

The trail  will be maintained by volunteers, according to the Forest Service.

In September 2018, Executive Dean Perey, updated the Governing Board on the progress being made on the project.  He described it as a 200 mile trail system with the trail-head located on the Verde Campus.

Dean Perey told the Board that the new trail was currently being mapped and improved.  He also told the Board that the trail had community and educational benefits.  For example, community members can use the trail for exercise. Furthermore, the College can develop courses around it such as trail maintenance and a 2+2 natural resources program.

Source:  Yavapai Community College Facilities Management Newsletter  (including photo) https://www.yc.edu/v6/office-of-the-president/docs/highlights/2019-09-facilities-management-newsletter.pdf.

Categories : Trail

UNANIMOUS GOVERNING BOARD EXTENDS SWEETHEART LAWYER CONTRACT FOR TWO YEARS; SAYS CONTINUITY MORE IMPORTANT THAN COMPETITION

By R. Oliphant
Friday, October 11th, 2019

Does not offer local lawyers with expertise in school law an opportunity to bid on the position; Bd acted without  information about reasons for previous extensions; legal justification was claimed need for “continuity, impact of change”

The Yavapai Community College Governing Board extended the current sweetheart contract  for the position of Governing Board attorney for two years.  It went to the Phoenix law firm that has represented the College Governing Board (not the College) for around a decade, possibly more.  Under the extension, the firm will receive a flat fee of $2,100 for one of its lawyers attending any Governing Board meeting, regardless of length.  (The October meeting lasted three and a half hours according to the video tape of the meeting—a charge of about $600 per hour based on the new contract extension.) The firm will also charge $385 an hour for any office work that the Governing Board might think its needs.

Deb McCaslind raised several issues about the contract and “reducing costs” but in the end the vote was unanimous. A “hope” was expressed by several members of the Board that a way might be found to reduce the need for the presence of a lawyer at its various meetings.

The Board also did not have information about the following issues before making the decision: 

(A)  Has this contract been extended since 2014 without competitive bidding on the basis of  claimed “continuity” or some other basis? Chair Ray Sigafoos’ initial claim that there was a competitive bid two years ago was completely shot down by College Procurement Director Ryan Bouwhuis who provided information at the meeting.  He has been Director since 2015. Although the contract has clearly been extended several times since 2014, Mr. Bouwhuis  could not recall any competitive bidding while he was head of the division, which began in 2015  (no RFPs).

(B) No information was provided about the number of lawyers living in the County who could provide the school law advice to the Board at a much lower rate than is now provided by the Phoenix firm.

(C) The Board received no information about alternatives in terms of communication by video or audio by the attorney and/or reducing the need for an attorney at all its meetings.

Board member Pat McCarver led the renewal effort, which was strongly endorsed by Third District Representative Paul Chevalier.  Chevalier opined that in his view it was not a good time to change attorneys as it might create confusion given a change in presidents. (see below video)  As noted earlier, Representative Deb McCasland raised questions about the extension and urged the Board to find creative/alternate ways to reduce the need for an attorney. 

The Phoenix law firm represents only the Governing Board.  The College has its own attorneys who represent it and the College president. They handle all of the College’s legal problems, often with the assistance of specialty defense lawyers. There is no relationship with the Governing Board attorney.

President Lisa Rhine took no part in the discussion or vote.

The edited version of the twelve minute discussion about the position  appears  in the below video. (McCarver was participating by telephone.)  You may view the entire discussion at the Governing Board web site, which may be reached by clicking here when it  is eventually posted by the College.

 

 

Categories : Attorney fees

PRESIDENT RHINE LAUNCHES NEW COMMUNITY COLLEGE INFORMATIONAL WEB SITE

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, October 10th, 2019

Provides details on what is happening throughout the District; making the College much more transparent to County taxpayers than ever before

Dr. Lisa Rhine has launched a new web site that provides information about Yavapai Community College, its budget, faculty, construction, events and much more.  The web site can be accessed by clicking here.  

The web site is obviously intended to provide Yavapai County residents with much more accurate information about the College that it has ever provided in the past.  Too often important information about the College may have been buried in an almost two hundred page Governing Board monthly meeting agenda or not provided at all.  The new web site will make the College much more transparent to the residents of Yavapai County.

Kudos to Dr. Rhine for showing concern for County residents who have been asking for Community College information on a regular basis for years but getting very little! 

Source:  Yavapai Community College web site:  https://www.yc.edu/v6/office-of-the-president/index.html (last visited October 2019).

Categories : ADMINISTRATION

RETIREMENT OF VICE PRESIDENT RON LISS ANNOUNCED AT BOARD MEETING

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, October 9th, 2019

VP of Instruction and Student Development retires January 26, 2020

Dr. Ron Liss

Yavapai Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine announced at the October 8, 2019 District Governing Board meeting that Dr. Ron Liss was retiring as Vice President of Instruction and Student Development.  His retirement date was set at January 26, 2020. Upon retirement, his position will be temporarily filled by Dr. Diane Ryan. She is  the  College’s current Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. 

Dr. Liss joined Yavapai Community College in 2016. He oversees academic degree and certificate programs, the College library, instructional support, teaching and e-learning support, and student development.

President Rhine commented that:

 “During my short time working with Ron, I was able to see the positive and transformational impact that he has had on the College’s academic offerings and support services. Many of our programs would not be where they are today without Ron’s leadership,” she said. “I wish him nothing but the best in retirement. Yavapai College will truly miss him.”

Upon retirement, Dr. Liss plans to spend more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren, as well as pursue many of his personal passions and plans to stay in the Yavapai community looking for the right volunteer opportunities.

Sources:  Announcement made at Yavapai College District Governing Board meeting October 8, 2019; also,  https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/yavapai-college-vice-president-of-instruction-and-student-development-dr-ron-liss-announces-retirement/.

Categories : ADMINISTRATION, Yavapai Community College
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