Community colleges must move with a changing world or remain still and get left behind. Transformation in education has been on a specific path for more than 20 years. However, change here in Pima County was most recently exacerbated or accelerated based on several factors: 1. The 2009 Great Recession led to a decline in our workforce as millions lost their jobs 2. In 2015, the complete disinvestment by the State of Arizona of both Maricopa and Pima Community Colleges. For Pima Community College, that was $6.5 million. 3. A decline across the nation in college enrollment over the past 15 years. 4. At around the same time we were defunded by the state, Pima Community College nearly lost its accreditation due to the scandalous nature of the then Chancellor, whose tenure was riddled with sexual harassment, mismanagement of the budget, and the incurrence of a sizable debt. 5. And, finally, the Pandemic. To be clear, this was not the cause for the changes we see today, it only served to accelerate many of the moves we see in Higher Education towards more online learning, workforce development projects, and community partnerships and further away from traditional classical education.

1. Adjusting to
New Realities
in Higher Ed
Catherine Ripley
Pima Community College
Governing Board Chair
7 Nov 2022

2. Is Knowledge for the Sake of Knowledge a
thing of the past?

3. Today’s Student Asks:
“How quickly can I turn this
into something that will allow
me to live a better life?”

4. Some Facts
ENROLLMENT IS DECLINING
ACROSS THE NATION.
WHY????
● COSTS
● New more attractive jobs that do not
require college degrees:
○ Gaming
○ IT and other “Certificate” programs
● Increased skepticism re College Degrees
● Stress/Anxiety
● Need a job NOW.
● Unsure of what to study–(also stress)
● The “Birth Dearth”
● Skills versus Degree are more valued

5. Pima CC: In-state tuition 2,250 USD, Out-of-
state tuition 7,566 USD
2020 – 21

6. How has the cost of college changed over time?
• Tuition and fees at private National Universities have jumped
134%.
• Out-of-state tuition and fees at public National Universities have
risen 141%.
• In-state tuition and fees at public National Universities have
grown the most, increasing 175%.

7. How do we keep up?
The Concept of Higher Education must be turned on its head.
Rather than intellectual elites (professors) deciding the Who,
What, When, Where, and HOW…to teach. We must turn to the
students:
• Who are today’s students? Who are today’s young people?
• What do they want?
• What do they care about?
• HOW do they learn?
• When do they learn?
• Where do they learn?
• And so….What do they need and how do we provide that?

8. Competitors
For-Profit
Grand Canyon University
University of Phoenix
Western Governors
University
Pima Medical Institute
Southern New
Hampshire University

9. Strategic Planning Must Occur
We must stop promoting popular agendas and entrenched
bureaucracies.
● Who will our students be in the next five to 10 years?
● Is our curriculum relevant to the changing needs of the economy/workforce?
● How do we prepare our students for a rapidly changing technology-focused
economy, workforce and lifestyle?
● Is our curriculum preparing our students for tomorrow rather than yesterday?
● What are the hard/soft-skills our students AND faculty/staff need?
● Is our technology infrastructure prepared to support these new realities?

10. Technology
Climate Change
Globalization
Demographic
Shifts

11. Reality:
Enrollment
Decline
College Enrollment
Nationally Is Down

12. Reality
Declining High
School Graduation
Rates

13. Reality
Arizona Total
Fertility Rates
1990 - 2020

14. Enrollment
Growth at
Pima
Fall First Day
Enrollment
9% Increase

15. Growth
Dual Enrollment

16. New
Facilities
Aviation Technology
Center Expansion
$21 Million
Opened October,
2022

17. New
Facilities
Advanced
Manufacturing
Building
$35 Million
Opening 2023

18. New
Facilities
IT/Cybersecurity
Center of
Excellence
Live Fire Cyber
Warfare Range

19. New
Facilities
Automotive
Technology and
Innovation Center
$12.5 Million
Opened 2021

20. Partnerships
TuSimple
Pony.ai

21. Accolades
Harvard University
Workforce
Development

22. Financial
Strength
Bond Rating
Aa2 Issuer Rating
Aa3 2019 Revenue
Bonds

23. Accolades
Forbes
5th Best Employer
to Work for in
Arizona

24. Financial
Strength
Pima Foundation
$
Donations
$3,074,000*
Gifts 2,490*
$
* Record$

25. Questions