During the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board meeting held on October 16, 2023, it was revealed that a substantial gift was made to the Athletic Department a year earlier. In 2022, a benefactor generously established an endowment of $1.2 million to support the Department.Yavapai Community College’s planners astonishingly located a 10-space trailer park adjacent to backyards of Clarkdale residents, which are separated from the park by only a poorly maintained narrow gravel maintenance road. Meanwhile, a location elsewhere on about 80 available vacant acres on the Campus with easy travel trailer access could have been chosen with no impact on Clarkdale residents
Home almost directly across from Community College trailer park.
The decision made by Yavapai Community College executives, who are based in Prescott, regarding the location of the trailer park on the Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale raises major concerns about their consideration for the neighboring residents. The 10-space park is located adjacent to backyards of Clarkdale residents, which are separated from the park by only a poorly maintained narrow gravel maintenance road.
While the College may have had its reasons for selecting the odd location for the park, presumably related to financial considerations, it is apparent that little thought was given to respecting the privacy and well-being of the immediate neighborhood.
It is truly astonishing that the trailer park was situated in such close proximity to the backyards of private homes in Clarkdale. This location choice appears both puzzling and, at worst, ignorant. There were clearly numerous readily accessible other locations on the 80 or so vacant acres on the Campus far from the Clarkdale neighborhood. If chosen, the location would have had no adverse impact on the lives of Clarkdale residents.
In response to this seemingly ill-conceived placement, it is evident that affected neighbors have taken matters into their own hands. Some have chosen to erect a substantial metal-like privacy and security fence as a means of shielding themselves from the College’s trailer park, which they seemingly perceive as unattractive and disruptive.
While the exact cost to the College’s neighbors of installing these fences remains unclear, one can reasonably surmise that it is a significant expense. The fact that residents are willing to invest in such measures underscores the inadequacy of the chosen location for the trailer park. Residents undoubtedly feel compelled to take these steps in order to safeguard their privacy and maintain their quality of life.
Four trailers parked on lot: no sign of promised RVs
The construction of Yavapai Community College’s Verde Campus 10-space trailer park is still ongoing. As a reminder, this small facility project commenced in March on an unused portion of the vacant 80-acre parcel of land owned by the College within the Verde Valley Campus.
Since the start of the fall semester, only four travel trailers have appeared on the premises.
Back in March, the College made a commitment to acquire and place four recreational vehicles in the park for rental purposes. The goal was to purchase them and have them ready for rental by faculty or students by the beginning of the fall semester. However, as of October 23, there are no signs of these vehicles being present at the park.
VERDE VALLEY CAMPUS TRAILER PARK SHOWING THREE OF FOUR TRAILERS PARKED ON IT AS OF OCTOBER 23.
Responsible for planning, directing, evaluating, and providing oversight of the Academic Affairs division of the College and will begin December 1. Third recent executive leadership hire
Copyright © Robert E. Oliphant
On October 19, Yavapai Community College made an official announcement regarding the appointment of Dr. Doug Berry as the new Provost. Dr. Berry presently holds the position of Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences within the Maricopa County Community College District. Prior to this role, he served as the Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs at Paradise Valley Community College, where he was responsible for the comprehensive planning, direction, evaluation, and oversight of the Academic Affairs division of the College.
Berry is the latest addition to Yavapai Community College’s roster of
recently appointed executive leaders. He takes over the position previously held by Dr. Diane Ryan, who resigned in June. Notably, Dr. Ryan was designated as a “Vice President” within the College’s administrative structure, despite her responsibilities seeming quite similar to those now assumed by Doug Berry. The reason for this title change remains unclear.
Berry will join the Community College’s Executive Leadership Team and will be responsible for overseeing various academic areas, including business and professional programs, visual and performing arts, humanities, English, social sciences, mathematics, science, and computer science. Additionally, he will have oversight of academic operations such as instructional support, scheduling, YC libraries, and academic initiatives like Open Education Resources, among other responsibilities.
Berry’s academic qualifications include earning his Ph.D. in General Psychology with a research emphasis in Emotional Intelligence and Team Cohesion from Capella University, his M.A. in Sports and Exercise Psychology from Argosy University, and his B.A. in Psychology from Olivet Nazarene University.
He begins his job December 1.
Provides an opportunity to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, RN-BSN; now taking applications for the program, which begins in the spring 2024 with an anticipated 50 students
Yavapai Community College has launched its latest all online academic offering in four-year degrees, the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, RN-BSN. The offering was officially unveiled during a press conference held October 16, 2023 at the Yavapai Community College Prescott Campus. Present for the news conference were Community College faculty, staff, students, healthcare figures from Yavapai County, and healthcare industry partners.
Copyright © Robert E. Oliphant
Students can now submit their applications and register for classes. This marks the second online baccalaureate degree program introduced by Yavapai College. It follows the launch of the Bachelor of Science in Business Degree that began in the fall 2023 semester on August 12.
The RN-BSN program is designed for RN professionals who are eager to elevate their careers by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, which should help them in gaining leadership roles in the healthcare industry.
The details about the program, as described by the College in its press release, include the following:
This will be the second baccalaureate degree offered by Yavapai College
The first classes will begin this spring 2024 semester with 50 students. For the fall 2024 semester, YC will have a cohort of 100 students.
Registration for classes opens today, October 16.
The degree is designed for RN professionals ready to complete their Bachelor of Science Nursing degree for career advancement in leadership roles.
It is offered entirely online, and students can attend full-time or part-time.
Phenomenal student support with immediate access to student advisors and computer help after hours when you need assistance.
No guesswork classes designed with consistent due dates, Instructor feedback, and weekly posted grades.
No prerequisites or corequisites.
You can complete coursework through 8-week classes, significantly reducing completion time.
8-week classes offered in January, June, and August, allowing program completion in one year or three semesters.
Affordable and competitive tuition pricing in comparison to other baccalaureate degree options (in-state lower division $168 per credit, upper division $252 per credit).
Students can transfer up to 90 credits.
Nursing core major 30.5 credits.
Electives can include LDR 201, 202, and 203 to earn a certificate in Organizational Leadership for professional growth and career advancement.
Applications for the BSN (RN-BSN) degree open today, October 16th. Classes begin for the spring semester on January 13. To learn more about the degree and to apply to the program, visit www.yc.edu/bsn.
Registration for all of YC’s classes for the spring semester is now open. To register for classes, visit www.yc.edu/register.
Construction of new apartment is well under way; College refuses to respond to emails requesting purpose and cost of project
Of the many Yavapai Community College construction projects now underway on the Prescott side of Mingus Mountain, one of the smallest in terms of relative cost is the construction of an apartment in Building 34 on the Prescott Campus. Yet, details regarding the tiny project remain under a blanket of secrecy.
Copyright © Robert E. Oliphant
Email requests simply asking the purpose and cost of the new apartment sent to the Community College Public Relations department, which is charged with answering residents’ questions about the Community College, remain unanswered. This is now a typical response from the PR boys as the College makes as much effort as possible to hide from residents and even the Governing Board members its operations.
An email request to the Facilities Management Unit also went unanswered. This was despite a specific statement on the College website saying, “If you have questions about the items listed, please email me at david.laurence@yc.edu.” The apartment construction was listed along with a photo.
Transparency is a fundamental principle that underpins the functioning of any democratic society, and tax-supported educational institutions like Yavapai Community College are no exception. Keeping secrets from the public is certain to encourage claims the College is neither accountability to Yavapai County taxpayers who support it nor can it be trusted. Only when Yavapai Community College decides to be transparent about its operations, finances, and decision-making processes, can it build any trust within the County and allow the public to hold it accountable for it actions.
Event is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. with a two hour study session followed by one hour business meeting
According to its website, the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold its second general meeting since last May on October 17, 2023, at its Prescott Valley Center. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
The Board’s posted meeting schedule, which was checked Saturday, says there will be a two hour study session and a one hour business meeting.
There is normally an opportunity for a citizen to address the Governing Board near the beginning of the meeting. A citizen wishing to address the Board is usually asked to complete a “Request to Speak” form, and give it to the Recording Secretary. The speaker should be prepared to limit his or her remarks to the designated time (from one to three minutes although typically three minutes).
Under Arizona law, a citizen has a right to attend, listen, tape record, or videotape all of 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.
You may access the agenda for this meeting at the District Governing Board’s website when it is eventually posted, which most likely a day before the meeting to minimally comply with Arizona’s Open Meeting Law.
No further information provided the public since last May’s statement by Dr. Rhine regarding the possible return of fire science program to Verde Valley Campus that was moved to Prescott over a year ago if instructors and students could be found—Could this be a first step in returning program to the Verde Valley Campus?
In an October 4, 2023, posting by Mr. Robert Borker, Yavapai Community College’s Director of Fire Science, it was announced that in cooperation with the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and the Yavapai Community College Fire Science division, fire service professionals from around the State recently attended Live Fire Instructor credentialing classes held at the Verde Valley Fire Training Center in Cottonwood.
Copyright © Robert E. Oliphant
Mr. Boker explained that the “Fire Fixed Facility Instructor Credential Program is a unique blend of distance learning and an intense three-day hands-on academy. The course focuses on the responsibilities of instructors charged with important safety duties as live fire instructors.”
He said that the course is “based on the NFPA 1403 Standard on Live Fire Training. Students completed an extensive on-line course prior to the hands-on live fire portion. They were challenged by a series of written and practical examinations to earn this three-year credential. Yavapai College is leading the industry by requiring our fire academy instructors to attend this course keeping with industry best practices.”
You may recall that back in May 2023, Yavapai Community College president Dr. Lisa Rhine was asked about the reason for closing down the Fire Science training program on the Verde Campus more than a year ago. She said that the program once alternated between the Verde Campus and Prescott. However, over the past several years there has been a decline in student enrollment in the Verde Valley and a decrease in qualified instructors for the program. Therefore, the program was permanently moved to Prescott.
Dr. Rhine also said that Director Borker was aware of the issue and was working with all the fire chiefs and advisory boards to try and return the fire science back to the Verde Campus. She said that if the Verde Valley Campus can produce 15 students and five qualified instructors who live in the Verde Valley, it will be returned.
It is not clear whether the Community College has yet found the students or qualified instructors to return the program to the Verde Valley Campus. The College has not issued any further public update to the statement made by Dr. Rhine in May. But is it possible this training course at the Verde Valley Fire Training Center is a good first step?
Without a tennis team, and few or no professionals now teaching at the complex plus an absence of events, the Yavapai Community College courts are almost always open to Prescott residents
Yavapai Community College has recently resurfaced its gorgeous tennis complex on the Prescott Campus, which was primarily built for Prescott retirees. The Community College has not disclosed the cost of the resurfacing project.
Construction of the seven-court complex was partially funded by Sedona and Verde Valley taxpayers through their property taxes. They likewise helped pay for the recent resurfacing.
Unfortunately, the complex is too far from most in Sedona or the Verde Valley to be of any real value. However, it is a great venue for Prescott retirees as the Community College does not have a tennis team, professionals are not using the courts for teaching, and no major events have been scheduled. It makes the courts available almost all the time for Prescott’s retirees.
Reports coming to the Blog indicate that tennis instructors and major tournaments are distancing themselves from the complex following the dismissal of tennis legend, Chris Howard. Many will remember the overwhelming dismay from the Prescott tennis community upon hearing of Mr. Howard’s departure. Despite the community’s urgent appeal to the District Governing Board to investigate the matter, their concerns were met with complete indifference.
Instead of fearing public scrutiny because it honestly shares detailed lawful information about decisions and projects in the District, it should embrace it as an opportunity for growth and improvement
Editor: Robert Oliphant Commentary
EDITORIAL: In an age where transparency and open dialogue are increasingly becoming cornerstones of effective governance and public trust, one ponders what is happening at Yavapai Community College. While touting the values of openness, community engagement, and collaboration, it appears Yavapai Community College has become paranoid when it comes to sharing any specifics about its operations and decision-making processes with the residents of the County who support it.
It seems to me that this closed-door approach to institutional governance is counterintuitive to its educational mandate and also potentially harmful to the very fabric of academic freedom and community trust.
The Irony of Withholding Information: Education, at its core, is about the dissemination of knowledge. Yavapai Community College is supposed to foster curiosity, encourage questions, and cultivate critical thinking. So, when it chooses to operate in secrecy, a stark contradiction arises. How can it instruct students the value of transparency, accountability, and democratic processes while simultaneously withholding as much information as possible about the inner workings of its educational environment from the public? It is hardly acting as a role model students should emulate.
Eroding Trust: Trust is a fragile commodity, and once lost, it’s not easily regained. That should be a lesson learned over the past half century in the treatment afforded residents of Sedona and the Verde Valley. By keeping its cards so close to its chest, Yavapai Community College creates a climate of skepticism and doubt. Parents, students, and the broader community on the east side of Minus Mountain question what it has to hide. Without transparency, unfounded rumors, often based on misinformation, can gain traction, further muddying the waters and eroding the trust that it needs to operate effectively.
The Fear Factor: You might ask: “Why has Yavapai Community College chosen this path of opacity? Are the executives operating the College trying to protect trade secrets, as a corporation might?” That seems unlikely. More plausibly, the executives fear a public backlash over unpopular decisions, possess concerns over competition between the five Districts in the County, or it has accepted an institutional culture that has historically valued secrecy over public transparency.
While these concerns are understandable to a certain extent, the solution isn’t to retreat further into the shadows. In the long run, such behavior only exacerbates its problems.
The Need for a New Approach: Yavapai Community College is not a mere corporate entity driven by profit. It is a center of learning, growth, and community building. It has a responsibility to its students, to society at large, and Yavapai County residents in particular. Thus, it’s crucial that the College operates with a level of transparency befitting its role.
Instead of fearing public scrutiny because of sharing information, it should embrace it as an opportunity for growth and improvement. Feedback from the community can lead to better decision-making and a more inclusive approach to governance. It’s time for Yavapai Community College to step out from the shadows of secrecy and engage openly with the public it serves. A culture of secrecy has no place in the realm of education. The future of the College and the trust it should command depends on its willingness to operate with transparency, integrity, and openness.