PAUL CHEVALIER LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN WITH MAJOR DISTRICT #3 ENDORSEMENTS

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, August 29th, 2018

District #3 County Supervisor, Chairwoman, Yavapai-Apache Nation, present and former Board members and former Sedona mayors throw their support to him

Paul Chavlier

Paul Chevalier’s  campaign for the Yavapai Community College Governing Board District #3 seat has picketed up steam with the receipt of numerous strong endorsements from Verde Valley leaders and education advocates.  According to the campaign, among those now endorsing Mr. Chavlier are: 

Randy Garrison, Yavapai County Supervisor, District #3.

Jane Russell-Winiecki, Chairwoman Yavapai-Apache Nation.

Deb McCasland, present District #2 College Board member.

Three former  Community College Board members from District #3: Al Filardo, Bob Oliphant and Donna Michaels. 

Two former Sedona mayors, Rob Adams and Dick Ellis. 

In addition, 16 other Verde Valley leaders and education advocates have endorsed Chavlier.

Chavalier states that he is dedicated to (1) lower property taxes flowing to the College, (2) lower community college tuition for County residents, (3) equitable distribution of education resources, (4) accessible educational opportunities for ALL Verde Valley residents, and (5) improved job skills training in the Valley that will lead to well paid jobs.

 

Categories : Politics

SEARCH COMMITTEE POSTS FINAL CRITERIA FOR IDEAL NEW PRESIDENT

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, August 29th, 2018

Based on Community and College input, Consultant adds 20 more ideal characteristics to draft version that already contained 21

Yavapai Community College has posted the new Search Committee Governing Board approved profile for a new College President on its web site.  Click here to go to web site where the final profile has been posted.  Among other changes to the original draft, the consultant added 20 more ideal characteristics a successful new President should possess. That brings the total, I think,  to 41.

The Blog has created a document in pdf showing the final version of the profile with the most recent changes underlined and in red. The changes were made after the Consultant met with the public, staff, faculty and the Governing Board.  The pdf may be accessed by clicking on the following. COMPARED DOC 

 

Categories : Search Committee

COLLEGE CONSULTANT SAYS RUMORS ABOUT FEW PRESIDENTIAL APPLICANTS WITHOUT FOUNDATION

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, August 29th, 2018

Says many applicants wait until the last minute; applications stay open until position closed;  October 26 is current target date for receipt of applications

Pam Fisher, the ACCT Search Consultant retained by Yavapai Community College to help with its presidential search, who moderated the Verde Valley citizen forum August 27, said  that rumors that applications for the position were down were unfounded.  She explained that the ACCT did not keep records regarding total applications.  Furthermore, she expects that some applicants will wait until close to the October 26 date before showing interest in the position.

The forum was devoted to providing citizen input to the Consultant from the Verde Valley on the following two questions:  (1) What are the major opportunities and challenges facing Yavapai College in the next 3-5 years?  (2) What would be the ideal personal and professional characteristics of the next Yavapai College president?

 

Categories : Search Committee

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY REPORTS 12% INCREASE IN FRESHMAN ENROLLMENT THIS FALL

By R. Oliphant
Tuesday, August 21st, 2018

Announces that nearly 13,000 first-year students are enrolled; largest freshman class ever

Arizona State University reports that there has been a 12% increase from last year in its freshman enrollment.  It says that preliminary enrollment figures show about 13,000 incoming freshmen.

The University also reported that this year’s freshman class is the “most academically inclined” in the school’s history.  It said that 55% of the students received a top academic scholarship offered by the University.  The incoming class also boasted higher average SAT scores than their predecessors, with an average of 1210 compared with 1190.

The freshman class consists of 62% Arizona residents.

Categories : Enrollment data

MAYORS, SUPERINTENDENTS AGREE ON HOST OF NEEDS IN VERDE VALLEY AT COLLEGE PUBLIC FORUM AUGUST 17

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, August 18th, 2018

Critical need for affordable student housing; major economic development; centralized Career and Technical Education Center and improved cooperative relationship between East Valley and College; overarching theme was “it’s finally time to invest in the Verde Valley: Take some chances.”

The Community College held a Verde Valley public forum on the Verde Campus in Clarkdale August 17, 2018.  The forum was led by College Vice President of Community Relations Rodney Jenkins and Dennis Garvey, Lifelong Learning/Community Education Director for Prescott Campus. There were about two dozen interested citizen observers from throughout the Verde Valley and fourteen guests invited by the College who were the only ones who could participate in the forum. The guests included the superintendents, mayors and others from throughout the Valley.

The following is a list of items discussed by the guests during the forum and the Blog’s view of how they were received.

  1. Education is the College’s highest priority, which is intimately linked to the critical need for Economic Development. No disagreement.

  2. There is a critical need for student housing in the Verde Valley. No disagreement.

  3. There is a critical need for a centralized Career and Technical Education Center in the Verde Valley. All superintendents agree on this issue.

  4. There is a need for the College and the communities and school districts to partner together more effectively. Everyone agreed on this issue.

  5. There is an overarching need to seriously develop or “redevelop” community college education in the Verde Valley. All appeared to agree.

  6. There is strong opposition in some quarters to the College’s continued used of the Governing Board  Carver model of policy governance. No disagreement.

  7. There is a need to develop internships in the Verde Valley. No disagreement.

  8. There is concern that the College has been foot-dragging on CTE development, with it making what are perceived as excuse after excuse not to move forward on CTE development. No disagreement.

  9. The College was applauded for its recent efforts at economic development training at Camp Verde. No disagreement.

  10. There is concern with the decreasing number of students in the schools in the Verde Valley. No disagreement.

  11. The Yavapai-Apache Nation stands ready to invest in the Community College if it will work with the nation and offer courses needed by its students. Out of frustration with the College it has turned to NAU for assistance. No disagreement.

  12. Having heard the voices of the Valley at this forum, the College should return with a plan to meet the issues raised and submit it to the invited group for further discussion. No disagreement.

Categories : Forum for Public Affairs

ENROLLMENT ON VERDE CAMPUS/SEDONA CENTER ESTIMATED TO HAVE ABOUT SAME NUMBER OF STUDENTS (13 DOWN) IN FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES BUT STUDENTS WILL TAKE FEWER COURSES WITH A CORRESPONDING DROP OF ABOUT 300 CONTACT HOURS

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, August 18th, 2018

College attributes decline in students taking courses to part-time employment

The Yavapai Community College informed the Sedona City Council that the number of students taking classes face-to-face on the Verde Campus/Sedona Center would remain about even (13 down) in the fall semester 2018. However, because at least “60 percent of  students are part-time” and working at jobs,  fall enrollees are taking fewer classes with a reduction from last fall of about 300 teaching contact hours.

The College noted that its second largest campus is now on-line; second only to the Prescott Campus. It also noted that District wide, the College was up about 40% this  summer. However, enrollment in the District this fall is “flat” when compared to fall 2017.

See video clip below in re the College discussing enrollment with the City Council.

You may view the entire presentation by Yavapai Community College to the Sedona City Council by clicking here (takes you to the City video web site).

 

Categories : Enrollment data

COLLEGE ANNOUNCES NEW HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, August 15th, 2018

Emily Weinacker began work August 12

Dr. Emily Weinacker

Yavapai Community College has hired a new Director of Human Resources.  She began August 12. She is. Dr. Emily Weinacker.

Dr. Weinacker most recently worked at Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Show Low. Before that she was the Associate Dean of Human Resources at Mesa Community College for more than 5-years.  She was also the Human Resources manager at Glendale Community College from January 2006 to August 2008.

 

Categories : Yavapai Community College

COLLEGE TELLS SEDONA IT HAS DONE LITTLE IN RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC REQUEST MADE 18 MONTHS EARLIER THAT IT LOOK INTO CTE TRAINING FOR CARPENTERS, PLUMBERS, HVAC, ETC. ON EAST SIDE OF COUNTY

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, August 15th, 2018

College says request was forwarded to Vice President  Liss  but knows of no  progress being made on it

Scott Jablow, Sedona City Council

On August 14, 2018 Executive Verde Valley Campus Dean James Perey and Vice President Clint Ewell appeared before the Sedona City Council. Perey and Ewell were there to explain why the College failed to explain to the Council the reasons such an increase was needed prior to the vote that was taken by the Governing the Board to approve it in May 2018. 

During the wide-ranging discussion, Councilor Scott Jablow asked Dean Perey about the progress the College had made on his specific request regarding training for plumbers, HVAC service people, and carpenters on the east side of the County. He reminded Perey that the request was made 18 months ago. 

Jablow said that there is an “urgent need for qualified workers.” He also said that Perey promised 18 months earlier he was going to do “outreach to these different groups.” Jablow concluded that he was not seeing “any improvement” by the Community College in response to his request and asked what progress had been made.  

Perey responded that “I haven’t done much on that front. That project is being overseen by Dr. Ron List.  . . . I passed that information on to him in regard to reaching out to those individuals.”  Perey went to say, “I understand your concern.”

The exchange between Councilor Jablow and James Perey on this issue is posted below.  The clip is a part of the 45 minute presentation at the Sedona City Council meeting and you can view the entire discussion on the City of Sedona web site by clicking here.

 

Categories : Career and Technical Education

COLLEGE ANNOUNCES THAT NEW DIRECTOR OF CULINARY & HOSPITALITY PROGRAM IS ROBERT BARR

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, August 12th, 2018

Businessman, educator, well-travelled and experienced chef

Yavapai Community College has announced it hired Robert Barr about a month ago to replace Jenn Jackson as the Director of the Sedona Center’s Culinary and Hospitality program.

Over the last ten years he has held a variety of positions:

He was the Chef Instructor for the Art Institutes of Phoenix from June 2015 – July 2016 (1 year 2 months).

Worked with Le Cordon Bleu at the Scottsdale Community College June 2015 – July 2016). Le Cordon Bleu began shutting down its Scottsdale program  in December 2015. Despite no longer having the Le Cordon Bleu program, the Scottsdale Community College continues to offer a wide variety of culinary courses. (To view the various courses offered at the Scottsdale facility, click here.)

Executive Chef, Fremont Golf Club June 2013 – June 2015 (2 years 1 month).

Executive Chef/Owner, Harvest Café, February 2011 – April 2013 (2 years 3 months), Omaha.

Executive Chef, No Frills Supermarkets, May 2010 – December 2011 (1 year 8 months) Omaha/Elkhorn.

Owner/Executive Cheff, Culinary Class Management and Catering Company, November 2009 – present. Greater Omaha area.  

Vice President of Food Service, Resort Lifestyle Communities, April 2007 – November 2009 (2 years 8 months).

Other positions are listed on his linkin page, which can be accessed by clicking here.

He has received several industry awards for his work as a chef.

You may read more about Mr. Barr in the College’s press release to the local newspapers (here the Verde Independent) by clicking here.    

 

Categories : Culinary Arts

EIGHT-WEEK LEAD PROGRAM ATTRACTS 25 STUDENTS THIS YEAR

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, August 11th, 2018

Prescott students stay in residence halls; Verde Students drive to school each day; program enrolled 25 when 48 has been the historic but never attained goal

The LEAD program at Yavapai Community College has just completed its fourth year in offering an eight-week campus experience for 25 students.  It began June 4 and ended July 26. Once accepted, a student’s tuition is free and the student is offered two college credit courses on Monday and Wednesday for eight weeks.  Books are included without charge.

The program also includes free tutoring, study skill instruction, mentoring and academic advising. 

The program was created in 2015 by former College Vice President for Instruction and Student Development, Dr. Stuart Blacklaw. When asked about the program, he explained that “the LEAD seeks to create an environment that leads to a successful start in college. Some students have no trouble moving from high school graduation in the spring to college matriculation in the fall. Others find those intervening months filled with distractions. The LEAD program is designed to move college-minded students directly to campus after high school graduation, before life elements deter them from their college aspirations.”

The program is offered at both the Verde Valley and Prescott campuses. However, there is one big difference between the settings of the program: On-campus housing and meal plans are provided for students participating at the Prescott campus. No housing is provided for students participating on the Verde Campus. Participants are responsible for their transportation to and from the program – any transportation required during program activities is provided.

The Blog remains concerned that all 48 possible seats, the historic goal, were not filled in any of four years of the program. This is a concern because the program can apparently provide the kind of educational lift that may be of significant benefit for many in the underserved population of students. This is a group that outgoing president Penelope Wills and others claim they are particularly concerned about.

You may read about some of the positive LEAD student reactions to this year’s program in an article written by Bill Helm that appeared in the Camp Verde Bugle July 25 by clicking here.

Categories : LEAD program
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