Despite stock market turmoil and economic convolutions that have impacted both public and private higher education institutions, Prescott College is attracting hundreds of students.
Dean of Enrollment Management Jerri Brown reports that while the final count is not yet complete because of late enrollments, almost 900 students have registered for coursework at the well-known liberal arts college.
That number represents both on-campus and distance learning enrollees.
President John Flicker is cautiously optimistic that enrollment growth will continue.
“The uniqueness of the degree programs we offer, coupled with the commitment of our dedicated faculty, is bringing students to Prescott and our campus for educational opportunities they have a hard time finding elsewhere,” he said.
Flicker acknowledges that competition for students is tough.
“We know that some of the larger colleges and universities seek the same students we enroll. But we think the big difference is that our students want the opportunity to craft a degree program that meets their interests and educational passions. That, and personal relationships with faculty and staff – the mentoring, hands-on experience and developing knowledge and competence in work completed both in and out of the classroom – that appeals to our students,” he said.
“I also think we are educating our graduates for jobs that may not even exist right now. Given the overwhelming need for the next generation of environmental leaders, we have an obligation, it seems to me, to train our students to ‘Make a living making a difference.’”
Students enrolling at the fully accredited college can select from 14 degrees: seven baccalaureate, six master’s or one doctorate. Areas of studies include:
- Adventure Education
- Arts, Letters &Humanities
- Cultural & Regional Studies
- Education
- Environmental Education & Sustainability
- Psychology & Counseling
- Sustainable Management
The college has student exchange agreements with several national and international institutions. It also is a member of the Eco-League, a five-college consortium focusing upon environmental studies.
College Refused to Die, Will Celebrate Its 50th Anniversary in 2016
The concept for Prescott College goes back to 1965, when some educators from around the country wanted to focus on the civil rights movement, the environment and other social issues emerging in the ‘60s. Some of them organized a private, non-sectarian liberal arts college on a 200-plus acre campus on the northeast edge of Prescott.
Its motto was “For the Liberal Arts, the Environment and Social Justice.” That motto is still cited on college documents.
Initial years saw the college offer courses such as “Wilderness Survival” and the then popular “Outward Bound” curriculum, according to historians John McCollister and Diann Davis from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The Outward Bound classes especially were directed at students who desired challenging learning experiences through self-discovery in and out of classrooms.
However, the historians note that financial problems and loss of donor funds prompted bankruptcy in December 1974, and the campus closed. That property later was purchased by the Board of Trustees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, and became the home for ERAU-Prescott.
But Prescott College refused to die. A determined group of faculty and students continued meeting in space available at a local hotel and in private homes. Enrollment grew slowly, and a dedicated administration and faculty finally found property near downtown Prescott on Miller Valley Road, where the current multi-building campus is located.
Subsequent years saw former office buildings and homes converted into educational facilities. In addition to those, the campus now has a new multi-story library, a new residence hall, an award-winning café and other up-to-date classroom buildings and offices.
President Has Distinguished Record of National Leadership
Flicker, prior to accepting the presidency at Prescott College in December 2014, was the 15-year president of the prestigious National Audubon Society. Before that, he was general counsel and executive vice president for the The Nature Conservancy. Flicker earned a Juris Doctorate at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota.
He said he discovered Prescott when he and friend were birding in the area in spring 2014. He learned about the curriculum at Prescott College.
“I fell in love with the area and with the college, especially when I sensed the passion the faculty, staff and students have for the college and the community,” he said. “The college is recognized nationally as a respected institution in liberal arts, environment and social justice. I am honored by the opportunity to become a part of the Prescott community.”
As president, Flicker administers a campus, which has 50 full-time and 16 part-time faculty, and 75 professional staff members.
College Faces Challenges with Optimism
Flicker is candid about what needs to be done to keep Prescott College competitive with public and private colleges and universities.
“We need to attract more students. We also need to be aggressive in developing fundraising programs and policies,” he said.
The college’s chief academic officer, Dean Loren Thomas, echoes Flicker.
“Like all small liberal arts colleges, our biggest challenge is enrollment. But I am confident we can do that by making our resident and limited resident programs succeed through aligning curriculum, deploying faculty and widening courses offerings for all,” he said.
Thomas also sees expanding the teacher preparation program as a major advantage, “…especially in view of the critical teacher shortage facing Arizona and the nation.”
Thomas, like Flicker, is fairly new to Arizona. With a doctorate in education from Seton Hall University, Thomas had been an administrator in major New Jersey schools before accepting a position at Prescott College in 2013.
“Opportunities abound,” he said, “and our programs are flexible enough to accommodate not just recent high school graduates but also older people – non-traditional students – who want to expand their career options. A clear emphasis is community-based experiential education. We’ll also develop hybrid courses that will allow distance students to experience Prescott and the field-based nature of our local pedagogy. Our technologically savvy faculty are focused on providing student-centered, individually crafted degree plans.”
Both men agree: the purpose of a Prescott College education is “…preparing students to make a living and make a difference.” QCBN
By Ray Newton, QCBN