Citing recent empirical research results, Northern Arizona University President
Rita Hartung Cheng received enthusiastic response as she announced that the university would aggressively expand its program offerings at the NAU-Yavapai campus in Prescott Valley.
Cheng presented study results to the Prescott Valley Town Council in a meeting on Aug. 18.
“As you can see, we are investing more in our Prescott and Prescott Valley presence. Earlier today, we formally opened our new NAU Visitor and Outreach Center located in the heart of the entertainment district. But more important, we are ready for more students, enhanced degree options and even stronger cooperation with this council and other partners in Yavapai County.”
Cheng, now in her second year as president at NAU, continued, “This community is a critical center of Arizona’s workforce and economy. We are proud that NAU can be your partner. Almost 5,000 NAU graduates currently live in Yavapai County, and more than 1,000 students from the county are enrolled at NAU right now.”
From 2010 to 2014, some 924 Yavapai County students received bachelor’s degrees from NAU.
“We’re proud of this progress, but we’re just getting started,” she said. “Our cooperation with business and community leaders, coupled with support of this council, is opening more opportunities for Yavapai County residents of all ages.”
She also affirmed that the university would go beyond academic programs for the benefit of the community. She said that NAU wanted to join with the community in supporting the arts, cultural events and sports programs.
She specifically noted that the NAU IceJack hockey team would play six hockey games in the Prescott Valley Event Center this season.
Cheng stressed that decisions about what courses to offer should be based upon quantitative research not speculation. She said data collected helps the university make solid decisions.
“Local employers told us that NAU is a valuable asset to the community,” she said. “We want our degrees to fit employment opportunities and student demand, and our research provided those insights.”
“I am so glad this expansion is happening,” said Prescott Valley Mayor Harvey Skoog. “It’s one of the greatest assets this community and the greater community can have – a genuinely solid university program that meets student and employer needs.”
“More health care training is needed, especially in registered nursing, to meet the demands of a market with a growing retiree population and diverse medical needs,” said Cheng.
She also noted that there are educational opportunities in finance, accounting and education.
“Employers encouraged us to provide more ‘soft skills’ in programs, so that students will graduate with strong communication and team-building abilities as well as technical and academic expertise. Industry leaders tell us there is room for more student internships, too. We also have more opportunity for providing training that qualifies for certificates rather than bachelor’s degrees.”
Cheng cited existing relationships with several Quad Cities-based groups such as Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Prescott Unified School District, Humboldt Unified School District and Yavapai College.
“We have opportunities for new partnerships. The Mountain Institute JTED is interested in 2+2+2 programs that will align their students with Yavapai College and NAU and create new learning pathways. Local employers, too, expressed interest in providing NAU students with valuable internship experience,” she said.
Medical programs are receiving special emphasis in the expansion mode. NAU is offering training services to OB delivery nurses, and is providing one of NAU’s birthing simulators to YRMC so its staff can provide its own regular training sessions.
Cheng said the university would work with Yavapai College to adopt a concurrent nursing program to streamline the path to an NAU bachelor’s degree in nursing. “This is a proposal that the Arizona State Board of Nursing is expected to consider in the near future. The Arizona Nursing Association has adopted a goal of having 80 percent of Arizona nurses with a bachelor’s degree by 2020, and we’re ready to be a partner in that effort to strengthen education of healthcare professionals.”
Arizona Governor Ducey recently named Cheng to the State Board of Education, and she said she was eager to work with Yavapai County Superintendent of School Tim Carter, who has been a member of the State Board of Education for several months.
“We’re taking a fresh look at our service to local school districts,” she said. “We are prioritizing the expansion of our faculty on the ground here in Yavapai County.”
“Being able to have NAU provide higher education degree opportunities for our youngsters so that they don’t have to leave the community will make a major difference in the quality of life we already enjoy,” said Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Marnie Uhl.
“I look forward to the future growth of our partnership with NAU. All of us are going to benefit,” said Yavapai College President Penny Wills. QCBN
By Ray Newton, QCBN
Photo by Ray Newton
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