Page 6 - 2014 DGB Annual Report

2014 EDUCATION ENDS
Ensuring that students achieve their educational goals is one of the District Governing Board’s three “ends” or goals. The College provides credit and non- credit options for student to access courses and programs ranging from Adult Basic Education (ABE) to career preparation, transfer to universities, and personal enrichment.
The College offers learning options to
fit the lifestyles/circumstances of the residents of Yavapai County. Alternative learning options include: online courses, credit for prior learning, internships/ service learning, non-credit courses, college for kids, high school partnerships (dual enrollment), senior programs (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, EDventures), and high school equivalency program (G.E.D. testing). Enrollment includes some 15,000 credit and non-credit students
a year.
2014 education highlights include:
Yavapai College awarded 1,377 degrees or certificates during its 44th Annual Commencement Ceremonies in
spring 2014.
Yavapai College began offering 6 new academic programs in fall 2014: Athletic Coaching, Canine Care and Handling, Electric Utility Technology, Therapy and Service Dog Team Skills, and new welding programs. The College now has 28 degree or certificate programs that can be completed entirely online.
The Board approved new certificate programs for Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance as part of the College’s Radiologic Technology program. The new certificate programs are intended for people working in the field to advance in their professions.
Enrollment in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) programs continued to increase, reaching a total membership
of 1,762 in 2014. Community Education enrollment was up 15% to 3,078 students.
The Radiologic Technology Associate of Applied Science program completed a self-study and passed a reaccreditation site visit by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).
Graduation is one of the highlights of the year for the District Governing Board members as well as the entire academic community.
The First Year Experience Team successfully implemented New Student Orientation (NSO) for the 2013-2014 academic year. All new students were sent invitations indicating that the orientation was “required for their success.” This approach resulted in a 26% increase in attendance from Fall 2013 to Fall 2014.
The Teaching Winery at the Southwest Wine Center, completed in 2014, will serve as a hub of education, research and rural economic development activity designed to support the Southwest’s growing viticulture industry in achieving its potential as a significant U.S. wine- producing region. Yavapai College
is developing a partnership with the University of Arizona in viticulture and enology. U of A is building a veterinary extension site in the Verde Valley,
and Yavapai College will offer related programming.
Yavapai College nursing student pass rates for national nurse licensure and certification examinations increased from 95.05 to 95.79 following changes to a nationally standardized test required by all accredited nursing programs. By contrast, student pass rates at most nursing programs in Arizona decreased following the changes, while the national pass rates dropped from 90.34 to 83 percent.
Yavapai College became one of two public educational institutions in Arizona authorized to fly Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), thus allowing the College to develop new training programs for agriculture and forestry uses at its Chino Valley center.
Small class size and personal attention are hallmarks of the Yavapai College experience.
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