COLLEGE PARTNERS WITH COUNTY LIBRARIES; RESULT OF VVBAC EFFORTS

By R. Oliphant
Friday, January 5th, 2018

Provides Computers without charge for coursework

This past year the College has partnered with local libraries to create Remote Learning Centers in Ashfork, Camp Verde, Spring Valley, and Yarnell to provide personal computers that community members can borrow at the library to participate in online College coursework as well as GED.

It appears that the College’s decision to create Learning Centers is an outgrowth of the work and recommendations of the now defunct Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee.  The Committee had repeatedly urged that the College engage more with the rural areas of Yavapai County and experiment by developing small local Learning Centers.

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Categories : Learning Centers

PRESCOTT CAMPUS HOSTS OVER 100 EVENTS IN 2017 AT PAC; COLLEGE HOLDS THREE EVENTS ON EAST SIDE OF COUNTY (VERDE CAMPUS/SEDONA CENTER)

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, December 30th, 2017

College provides huge public service to Prescott/Prescott Valley area; little to Verde Valley as discriminatory treatment in public service continues as between the east and west sides of the County

2017 was a banner year for public service by Yavapai Community College to the residents living in the Prescott/Prescott Valley area. It paid little attention to the one-third of the County population living on the east side of Mingus Mountain. Here, for example, is a sampling of the over 100 events held at the Performing Arts Center for West County residents:

National touring performances such as Art Garfunkel, Rita Rudner, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Wynona Judd.

Home of the Prescott Pops, Yavapai Symphony Association (featuring the Phoenix
Symphony), the annual Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering, and the Prescott Film Festival.

Satellite broadcast events from The National Theater of London, The Bolshoi Ballet, and
The Metropolitan Opera Live from New York City.

A school matinee series that presents live educational entertainment shows, at no cost, to Yavapai County school children living on the West side of the County. An estimated 8,719 students attended performances in 2016-17.

Meanwhile, there were three live performances of national touring artists in the Verde Valley/Sedona.  In addition, there were two school matinee series that presented live educational entertainment shows at no cost to Verde Valley school children.

Categories : UNDERSERVED

A VISION FOR THE VERDE CAMPUS AND SEDONA CENTER: 2018

By R. Oliphant
Friday, December 29th, 2017

An aggressive vision is outlined for developing the Verde Campus and Sedona Center in 2018 by the Blog

Unfortunately, there is a lack of vision for developing the Verde Campus and the Sedona Center coming from the College Governing Board.  As encouragement, below is a diagram of how the Blog would begin developing the Campus and Center.  This type of development will do for the east side of Yavapai County what has already been done for the west side.

 

 

 

Categories : Verde Campus

REVIEWING 2017: FOLLOWING LIST CONTAINS HEADLINES OF SEVERAL OF THE MORE IMPORTANT STORIES WRITTEN BY BLOG IN 2017

By R. Oliphant
Friday, December 29th, 2017

To keep you better informed the Blog authored over 200 stories about Yavapai Community College in 2017

The following is a list of only a few  of the more important stories posted on the Blog in 2017.  During the year, the Blog has posted over 200 stories about Yavapai Community College.  Areas of similar general interest have been grouped together.

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GOVERNING BOARD SETS NO SPECIFIC GOALS FOR PRESIDENT WILLS FOR 2018.

WILLS HIGHEST PAID COUNTY OFFICIAL: $277,811 ANNUALLY.

WHY THE ODD CLOAK OF SECRECY OVER WILLS’ TRAVEL? No formal explanation of absence from office March 21 to April 11.

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“MANSPLAINING” DIRECTED AT MCCASLAND CONTINUES DESPITE APOLOGY; LAWYER INTERVENES.

GOVERNING BOARD INSENSITIVE TO MCCASLAND HEARING DISABILITY REQUEST THAT WAS MADE AT PRIOR BOARD MEETING.

MCCASLAND WANTS VERDE VALLEY TO HAVE A YAVAPAI COLLEGE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER TO MATCH PRESCOTT FACILITY.

Mc CASLAND LISTENS TO TAXPAYERS; REMAINDER OF BOARD LISTENS TO WILLS.

WILLS, MC CARVER, SIGAFOOS FIGHT CONSULTANT SUGGESTIONS FOR CLARITY IN BOARD POLICY PROVISIONS. McCasland argues for greater detail to promote citizen awareness.

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COLLEGE SPENDS $17 MILLION DURING 2016-17  FISCAL YEAR ON CAPITAL PROJECTS. Total expenditures 148.9% of budget with overrun due to Prescott Valley building expansion and Sedona Center remodel.

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YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION AND COLLEGE MAY EXPLORE HOSPITALITY TRAINING AT NATION’S NEW HOTEL IN CAMP VERDE.

GOVERNING BOARD IGNORES YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION REQUEST FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE & EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION EXPLORING POSSIBLE NEW JUNIOR COLLEGE IN THE VERDE VALLEY.

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PEREY TELLS SEDONA COUNCIL BUILDING “L” ON VERDE CAMPUS TO BE RENOVATED AGAIN FOR NURSING/ RELATED ALLIED HEALTH PROGRAMS.

VERDE CAMPUS WINE CENTER STUDENTS CAPTURE JEFFERSON CUP AWARD.

COLLEGE HAS NO NEW INFORMATION ON MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT PENDING IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT REGARDING THE FIRING OF THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.

WAS HARRIS LEGALLY APPOINTED TO GOVERNING BOARD INTERIM TERM? WHERE DID REVISED RESIDENCY CRITERIA COME FROM?

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BOARD CHAIR APPEARS IRRITATED AT THOUGHT OF IDENTIFYING COLLEGE AS “YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE”

GOVERNING BOARD ELIMINATES MONTHLY MEETINGS IN JUNE, JULY, AUGUST–TRAVEL DISTANCE TOO MUCH.

GOVERNING BOARD BEHAVIORS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT.

GOVERNING BOARD CONTINUES TO KEEP CHINO VALLEY IN THE DARK ON RACEWAY AS FIRST HALF OF 2017 NEARS AN END.

WILLS AND SIGAFOOS UNDERGO A SUDDEN EPIPHANY WHEN IT COMES TO CONCERN FOR THE UNDERSERVED STUDENT POPULATION.

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COCONINO COLLEGE DOWN BY 12%; LOSS OF NAU RESIDENCE HALLS & REDUCED EMPHASIS ON VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS BLAMED.

ENROLLMENT SLIGHTLY UP IN 2017 FALL SEMESTER. Headcount up by 1.6% over last fall and total credit hours up by .7%.

DUEL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM EXPERIENCES FIRST DECLINE IN TEN YEARS.

ARE ANNUAL TUITION INCREASES AT YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONSTITUTIONAL? Are courses as “nearly as free as possible?”

“LEAD” FREE BRIDGE PROGRAM TO CONTINUE BUT ENROLLMENT DOESN’T MAX OUT.” WHY?

COLLEGE HAS A STUNNING 37.85% OF STUDENTS NOW TAKING ALL OR SOME ONLINE COURSES.

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HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR CTE IN THE VALLEY: SIGAFOOS READY TO SUPPORT AT LEAST $5 MILLION FOR CENTRALIZED CTE FACILITY FOR EAST COUNTY.

BASED ON COUNTY-WIDE SUMMER SURVEY STAFF RECOMMENDS GOVERNING BOARD EXPLORE CTE IN VERDE VALLEY.

BOARD APPROVES IGA BETWEEN COLLEGE AND VALLEY ACADEMY FOR CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

HOW THE COLLEGE KILLED OFF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN THE VERDE VALLEY. What happened to the 2004 Northern Arizona Regional Skills program that was to provide CTE from the facility on the Verde Campus?

EDUCATIONAL ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION AGAINST VERDE VALLEY ILLUSTRATED IN THE COLLEGE AND DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD APPROACH TO CENTRALIZED CTE FACILITIES.

MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE JTED HEALTH PROGRAMS MOVED TO YC PRESCOTT VALLEY CENTER.

MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE PARTNER ON 75 COURSES FOR FALL 2017.

WEST COUNTY JTED DISTRICT OFFICE (Mountain Institute) NOW LOCATED AT YAVAPAI COLLEGE CTEC.

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SCAMMERS MAKING FAKE YAVAPAI COLLEGE CALLS.

INFLUENTIAL COLLEGE FOUNDATION ADDS THREE NEW MEMBERS TO BOARD. All from West County; East County has only 2 seats on 27 member Board.

WEST COUNTY GOVERNING BOARD VOTING BLOC GREATEST OBSTACLE TO PROGRESS IN THE VERDE VALLEY.

YAVAPAI COLLEGE DID NOT APPLY TO ASPEN INSTITUTE COLLEGE EXCELLENCE PROGRAM.

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SEDONA CENTER CULINARY HAS FORMAL NAME; SEEKS REGIONAL IDENTITY. Will effort fail like Film School because of lack of affordable student housing in the Verde Valley?

CULINARY COURSES ALREADY FULL AT SEDONA CENTER.

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RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY TUESDAY OCTOBER 24 CELEBRATING $4 MILLION PLUS RENOVATION/NEW CONSTRUCTION AT ALLIED HEALTH CENTER IN PRESCOTT VALLEY.

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PRESCOTT CAMPUS AMPHITHEATER GOING UP.

PRESCOTT CAMPUS RENOVATION/NEW CONSTRUCTION CHARGING AHEAD.

PRESCOTT TRAIL SYSTEM COMPLETE; VERDE EFFORT OF 25 YEARS A FAILURE.

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FREE SOCCER CLINICS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 5-16 HELD ONLY ON WEST SIDE OF COUNTY.

WHY ARE ATHLETIC SUMMER CAMPS/CLINICS ONLY ON WEST SIDE OF COUNTY?

WOW! 75% OF INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS GOING TO ATHLETES,

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DECADES OF UNEQUAL DEVELOPMENT OF MUSIC COURSES COUNTY-WIDE CONTINUES IN 2017.

Categories : Politics

WHAT DID 2016-17 LOOK LIKE FINANCIALLY? WHAT DOES 2017-18 LOOK LIKE?

By R. Oliphant
Friday, December 29th, 2017

 Overall, it appears the College had $10,579,719 more to spend in 2017-18 that it did in 2008-09 and an overall student body taking accredited courses that had shrunk by almost 30%. 

The fiscal year for the College ended June 30, 2017.  This is the detailed information given the Governing Board about its financial and enrollment situation when it ended the fiscal year in June 2017.  It is worth reviewing as we close out the calendar year 2017.

  1. The College estimated in May it will lose an estimated $330,000 in 2017-18 state aid because of the decline in the number of students taking accredited classes. This estimate should change because student enrollment has leveled off.

  2. The aviation program, which has already lost more than a million dollars in tuition and fees over the past two years, will lose another $160,000 in 2017-18 because of the continuing decline in enrollment in that particular program. So far, there is no indication this estimate will change.

  3. County property taxes will not be increased in 2017. 2017 is the second year in a row the Governing Board has not increased the tax rate. Recall that a majority vote of three on this Board can increase the tax rate on the property taxes of Yavapai County voters. (And there is no oversight and no appeal.)

  4. Tuition was increased for 2017-18 by about 5%. This is far above local  inflation. The Governing Board has increased tuition in some form every year over the last decade. The tuition increases have far outpaced inflation every year.

  1. What is called the County “new-construction tax” will bring in about $680,000 in additional revenue to the College in 2017-18.

  2. When comparing student headcount from 2008-09 to 2015-16 (the last formal report from the College) there are 3,894 fewer students taking credit courses (14,139 vs. 10,245). This is a drop of 27.5% in student enrollment. The decline continued in 2016-17.  While the Governing Board received a prediction in May 2017 that enrollment would decline by 4% in 2017-18, it actually increased slightly.

  3. When comparing student tuition and fees 2008-09 to 2017-18 the College will be collecting $4,678,500 more in tuition and fees in 2017-18 than it did almost a decade ago despite the huge drop in student enrollment. ($6,927,300 vs. $11,605,800).

  4. When comparing primary property tax revenue from 2008-09 to 2017-18 the College will be collecting $8,683,119 more in property taxes in 2017-18 that it did in 2008-09 ($35,227,381 vs. $43,910,500). Almost all of the increase is used to support capital expenditures.  Traditionally, the College had to persuade voters to approve a General Obligation Bond before revenue was expended for capital improvements. The Bond was repaid by assessing a County-wide secondary property tax.  The College now uses primary tax revenue, which was once intended primarily for programs and staff salaries, for capital projects.  This keeps County citizens from asking questions about the projects; the process also gives the Administration almost total discretion to build and renovate whatever it desires  without justifying the project to the citizens (and the expenditure of their tax money) or  explaining the overall efficacy of the project to them.

  5. Note that in 2008-09 state aid accounted for $4,761,000 in revenue coming to the College. It is estimated that in 2017-18 the College will receive about $1,979,100 from the state of Arizona in total support. That is a difference of $2,781,900.

  6.  Overall, it appears that College will have $10,579,719 more in revenue to spend in 2017-18  that it did in 2008-09 and a student body taking accredited courses that has shrunk by almost 30% (using headcount) over the past decade.

 

Categories : Budget, Yavapai Community College

GOVERNING BOARD SETS NO SPECIFIC GOALS FOR PRESIDENT WILLS FOR 2018

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, December 24th, 2017

Under crude application of Carver Model of Governance, the refusal to set goals leaves citizens in the dark when it comes to assessing Wills’ annual performance

The Yavapai Community College Governing Board has set no specific goals for President Penelope Wills to meet in 2018. The reason there are no goals for Wills is the Board’s love and inaccurate understanding of the Carver model of policy governance.  For example, the Board could set a goal for Wills to increase enrollment by 1%.  Or, direct Wills to reduce the annual capital spending of primary tax dollars of from $6 to $8 million by 50% and put that revenue into educational programs and faculty salaries. But nothing as specific as this appears anywhere in the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board world.

As a consequence, Yavapai County citizens, whose property taxes now provide a majority of the funding for the College, are left in the dark about the President Penelope Wills’ performance during a given period. President Wills no doubt loves the approach because it removes here from being accountable to the citizens who pay her salary.

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Categories : District Governing Board

Workforce Development Partnership – College meets with local building industry on Verde Valley Campus to address workforce shortage

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, December 24th, 2017

College holds brainstorming program to boost construction workforce; press releases regarding Verde (no press release) and Prescott meetings another example of the difference in how two campuses are treated

Verde Valley industry leaders met on the Verde Valley Campus on December 15 to discuss training programs to bolster the construction workforce in the Verde Valley and Sedona. The purpose of the meeting was to ask building industry representatives for help crafting a plan to develop and retain a strong workforce to meet long-term industry needs.

In contrast to the meeting on the Prescott Campus in October, the College failed to issue a press release regarding the Verde Valley meeting containing details about the number who attended and any future plans that may have came out of the meeting.

See how different the College treated the Prescott meeting by going to the College web sight that you can access by clicking here.  

Also see Verde Independent Newspaper photo that appeared December 19, 2017 by clicking here. 

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Categories : Economic Development

DUEL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM EXPERIENCES FIRST DECLINE IN TEN YEARS

By R. Oliphant
Friday, December 22nd, 2017

Perey tells Sedona Council that high schools are experiencing problems attracting qualified faculty; new federal guidelines also a factor; new per credit fee imposed by West-County Voting Bloc at request of Wills over unanimous Verde Valley objection not discussed

Dean James Perey told the Sedona City Council during its November meeting that the dual enrollment program has experienced a decline in enrollment this year.  He did not provide any figures with the statement.

Thirteen high schools in the County have signed a dual enrollment agreement with Yavapai Community College. The agreement was approved by the District Governing Board at its June 13, 2017 meeting. Under the agreement the high schools can offer certain dual enrollment classes at the high schools taught by high school teachers.  Students who are qualified for the classes upon successful completion receive both high school and college credit. The credits are accepted by most Arizona post-secondary colleges and universities. (Students should, of course, always check with the college or university they intend to enroll in after graduating from high school to determine whether the dual enrollment credits will be recognized.)

The data below (taken from official College reports) shows that the Duel Enrollment program has steadily grown over the past ten years. 

Although the high schools absorb most of the cost for dual enrollment courses, last year President Penelope Wills persuaded the West-County Voting Bloc to approve a per student per credit fee.  The imposition of the fee was opposed by all of the high school superintendents in the Valley, the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee, and both Al Filardo and Deb McCasland. 

Dr. Perey did not list the fee as a possible factor for the decline in enrollment but it is a coincidence that enrollment dropped when the fee was imposed.  He attributed the decline to the inability of high schools to obtain  academically qualified faculty to teach dual enrollment courses and new federal guidelines.

You may view Dr. Perey’s short explanation on the video below. 

You may view the entire video report made by Dean Perey at the November 28 Sedona City Council meeting by clicking here.   http://sedonaaz.swagit.com/play/11282017-832.

 

Categories : Dual enrollment

COUNTY COST OF LIVING HIGHER THAN NATIONAL & STATE AVERAGE; FACULTY SALARIES FIVE TO TEN THOUSAND LOWER THAN MARICOPA COUNTY

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, December 17th, 2017

Perey explains staffing situation to Sedona City Council during his November report

In the fiscal year 2016-17 Yavapai Community College allotted $17 million for construction and renovation.  Almost all the construction/renovation revenue came from primary taxes paid by Yavapai County residents.  This revenue could have been used to increase faculty salaries.  Rather, it was directed toward construction/renovation rather than faculty salaries.

The need to address the faculty salary issue was highlighted by Dr. Perey when speaking to the Sedona City Council November 28.  He said that the cost of living in Yavapai County was higher than that found in the state of Arizona and the United States.  He cited an “environmental scan” as proof.  The page in the “environmental scan” referred to by Dr. Perey follows:

The entire environmental scan referred to by Dean Perey can be found by clicking here.

If the Administration and District Governing Board were so fired up about spending $17 million for construction and renovation, they should have gone to the citizens of Yavapai County and persuaded them to approve a General Obligation Bond supported by a secondary tax rather than grab the funds from the primary taxpayer fund. The Blog suspects they felt their arguments for spending the millions on construction/renovation were so weak they concluded they could not have obtained voter approval.  Therefore, they went around the voters and took the money from the primary tax fund.

Verde Campus Executive Dean James Perey outlined the issues to the Sedona City County during his report to them on November 28.  A video clip of Dr. Perey addressing these issues follows. 

You may view the entire video report made by Dean Perey at the November 28 Sedona City Council meeting by clicking here.   http://sedonaaz.swagit.com/play/11282017-832.

Categories : Faculty, Salaries

YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION AND COLLEGE MAY EXPLORE HOSPITALITY TRAINING AT NATION’S NEW HOTEL IN CAMP VERDE

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, December 14th, 2017

Perey tells Sedona Counsel he is meeting in December to explore spring 2018 hospitality program with Nation

The culinary program opened at the Sedona Center this fall has got off to a strong start. However, because of low enrollment, the hospitality programs offered on the Verde Campus failed to open in the fall of 2017. During questioning by the Sedona Council, Verde Valley Campus Executive Dean James Perey said that he is meeting with the Yavapai-Apache Nation in December to explore the possibility of using the Nation’s new hotel as a facility to provide real life training in hospitality.

Perey said he has been told by businesses in the area that they are seeking employees who have both culinary and hospitality training. He sees a partnership with the Nation as an answer to the low enrollment in hospitality courses. The hotel offers the possibility of real life clinical training in hospitality management.

You may view his remarks on this topic to the Sedona Council on November 28, 2017 below in a short 60 second clip of the meeting. You may view the entire Sedona Council meeting by clicking here.

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Categories : Culinary Arts, Hotel Restaurant Management, Yavapai-Apache Nation
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