Community College: A Vital Link for Accessing Higher Education

At Coconino Community College, our dedicated faculty and staff realize that the journey of a thousand leagues begins with the first step, but for too many people, being able to embark on a journey in higher education is a daunting challenge. That’s why we say, “Start small. Go big.”

Last month was Community College Month across the nation, and this month, hundreds of CCC’s students will receive degrees or certifications. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the vital role community colleges like CCC play in helping people take that first step on the lifelong adventure of learning.

Community colleges provide life-changing education to those who need it the most. Plainly and simply, our mission is focused on access, and we will strive to serve those who have not been served well in the past. Underserved students, adults – it doesn’t matter. There is a place for you at CCC. We are also reimagining what student service looks like. While this will be a years-long project, we want to focus on the whole student, not just the academics. If students have too much stress, housing insecurity or food insecurity, the likelihood that they will be successful in higher education will be small, if it is possible at all. CCC is gearing up to be able to help students in life things by becoming the one-stop for both education and social services. My goal is to see students being able to sign up for classes, get financial aid and also be able to enroll in any social services they may need – like nutrition assistance, for example – all right from our campus.

With NAU’s upcoming Access2Excellence Program beginning in the fall, which guarantees underserved students access to university education, CCC stands ready to help NAU with those students not quite ready for success within the full university experience. I, along with the other community college presidents in the state, am proud to join NAU President Jose Luis Cruz Rivera as part of the Arizona Attainment Alliance. Together, we will participate in the Universal Admissions Program that promises any students who do not immediately meet the requirements to be admitted to NAU to be automatically connected to CCC as part of our CCC2NAU program so that they will be able to transfer to NAU when they are ready. Additionally, CCC is also envisioning our own Promise Program, designed to ensure that all students who want access to higher education will find it.

I’m reminded of the story of CCC student Charmayne Yazzie. From Le Chee on the Navajo Nation, Charmayne worked two jobs to help support her partner and three children. She needed something in her life to change, so she took advantage of free courses offered through CCC’s Strengthening Indigenous Student Success Program made possible with a Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institution grant. Nervous that she wouldn’t do well, she took those first steps to her first class – and she thrived. She now works as a Peer Mentor, helping other students make those first steps, and as a CCC2NAU student, she’s planning on continuing her educational journey at NAU.

Not only do community colleges like CCC offer students the opportunity to get their feet wet in the higher-education environment before transferring to the university setting to complete a four-year degree, community colleges also offer a wide range of education in career and technical fields – nursing, firefighting, law enforcement, construction, computer technology, auto technician, truck driver and so much more.

Finally, community colleges like CCC give a home to the very human desire to continue learning for a lifetime through noncredit continuing education courses. Community colleges are the educational backbone of higher education in the state, and CCC, like all other community colleges, partners with local businesses, government agencies and non-profits to help our students get the skills necessary to be successful members of the workforce and of our communities.

So, please, now that Community College Month has passed and graduation is upon us, remember that CCC is here for everyone wanting to take that first step, wanting to start small and go big. At CCC, we’re dedicated to the communities we serve. After all, “community” is our middle name.

To learn more about what your community college has to offer, visit www.coconino.edu. FBN

By Dr. Eric Heiser

Dr. Eric Heiser is the president of Coconino Community College.