pvcc to open north campus in partnership with community
August 12, 2009 Connie Cone Sexton, The Arizona Republic
Paradise Valley Community College takes a major leap this month in serving the needs of residents living in north Phoenix and Scottsdale.
After offering classes in churches and a high school, PVCC now has a north campus, a partnership with the community that district officials hope will boost enrollment.
Paradise Valley Community College at Black Mountain is on 60th Street, just south of Carefree Highway. The college is sharing 10 acres with the YMCA, for recreational needs, and the Foothills Community Foundation, which is providing a community center. The Y is freestanding. The college and community center share one building.
Registration for classes at the site is under way. The fall semester begins Aug. 22.
The community center is to open by mid-September and the YMCA building is expected to be completed by November.
The partnership developed, in part, because of the struggling economy, said Arlen Solochek, director of facilities planning and development for the Maricopa Community Colleges District.
"Everybody is squeezed and everybody is looking to stretch resources," he said. "We saw the great potential it gave us, an opportunity to open at the site a number of years earlier than expected."
The partnership is community-oriented, he added, and offers residents the ability to drop in at one location and meet several needs.
Denise DiGianfilippo, interim dean of academic affairs for Paradise Valley Community College, said she is excited about drawing in new students from the area, including those living in Anthem.
The focus of the new campus will be on lifelong learning. "We have people who are returning to school who didn't get to go to college right away or maybe it's people who are re-careering," she said. "Sometimes, it's just for personal enrichment."
DiGianfilippo said having partners will help the college expand its offerings.
Both credit and non-credit classes are available.
Credit and non-credit classes are available at the new Paradise Valley Community College at Black Mountain campus. Register at 602-787-7000, www.pvc.maricopa.edu/blackmountain/ or in person at the Black Mountain campus, 34308 N. 60th St., Scottsdale, or at the PVCC main campus, 18401 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. Cost is $71 per credit hour. Fees vary for non-credit classes. Here are a few of the classes offered this fall:
World Religions—REL 243: Development of various religions from the prehistoric to modern times. Political, economic, social and geographic relationships among world religions. Consideration of Eastern and Western religions. Prerequisites: None. 3 credits. Meets from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Aug. 24 to Dec. 18.
Owning and operating a small business—MGT 253: Starting, organizing and operating a small business, including location, finance management processes, advertisement and promotion, credit, inventory control and ethics. Prerequisites: None. 3 credits. Meets from 6:30 to 9:10 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Aug. 24 to Oct. 14.
Intro to Jewelry Making—Cont Ed 100-10147: Learn basic jewelry techniques and you'll be able to make an infinite number of items. Texture metal, cut discs, wire-wrap beads and jump rings. Non-credit. Meets from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 22. Also offered other days. Materials fee: $10. Class fee: $65.
Sustainable Xeriscape Landscape—Cont Ed 100-10198: Learn site analysis, hardscape and landscape design, as well as the selection of materials and plants. Topics covered include vegetable gardens, herb and rose gardens, desert landscapes with native and drought-tolerant plants. Non-credit. Meets from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17 to Dec. 8. Class fee: $99.
More on this topic: Black Mountain campus opens
What: 10-acre site shared by Paradise Valley Community College at Black Mountain, Foothills Community Foundation Holland Community Center and Desert Foothills Family YMCA.
Where: 34250 N. 60th St. in Scottsdale, just south of Carefree Highway.
Architect: Architekton.
Builder: Summit Builders.
PVCC at Black Mountain: 10,151 square feet.
Six classrooms, including personal and advanced computer facilities, administrative offices, information/admission center and common area with computers. WiFi throughout.
Holland Community Center: 10,160 square feet.
Large multi-purpose room, arts/crafts room, executive conference room, small counseling room, public lounge and reading room with computers. Bad Donkey, a local Carefree vendor, will manage a cafe with subs, pizza, salads, smoothies and ice cream.
The Desert Foothills Family YMCA: 44,687 square feet, including pool.
Fitness Center with cardio, strength and circuit training; outdoor pool, gymnasium, racquetball courts, aerobics studio, rock climbing wall, outdoor play area, teen/technology center, locker rooms and family changing area.
See a slideshow on this project at azcentral.com: http://www.azcentral.com/commphotos/azcentral/11657/1/10