Page 12 of Cochise College 2006-2007 Catalog by Cochise College Arizona

11 GENERAL INFORMATION General Information COCHISE COLLEGE HISTORY Cochise College opened its doors in 1964 as one of the first community colleges in Arizona. It is located in an area rich in history and cultural diversity and has come a long way from its humble beginnings when the administration offices were first housed in the Gadsden Hotel. The establishment of the College can be attributed to the efforts of the dedicated citizens of Cochise County, who voted in 1961 to create a community college district. A 1962 bond election resulted in the construction of the Douglas Campus, a 540-acre facility featuring unique architecture and panoramic views of the Mule and Chiricahua Mountains, as well as neighboring Sonora, Mexico. From the first semester, the College has been committed to serving citizens throughout the county and now offers classes in Benson, Bisbee, Douglas, Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista, Willcox and outlying areas. Classes also are offered online. During the first decade, the Colleges enrollments increased steadily as the faculty and administration worked to develop new and innovative programs. The growth of population at Fort Huachuca and Sierra Vista and the increased interest in higher education created a need for a second campus in the western part of the county. The campus in Sierra Vista evolved from a handful of temporary buildings at Buena High School in the early 1970s to the full-fledged separate campus that opened its doors to classes in 1978 at its present location on North Colombo Avenue. This facility now comprises 16 buildings. The Willcox Center, located in a historic ranching and farming area in northeastern Cochise County, offers classes to residents of the area under the supervision of Extended Learning and Workforce Development. The Center provides a variety of programs and services throughout the county and region. The Benson Center, which opened in the fall of 2000, is located in the northwestern part of Cochise County. The Center serves the learning needs of this rapidly growing and vital area. Cochise College began offering classes in Santa Cruz County in October 2003. The College contracts with Santa Cruz County to provide a variety of developmental and college-level classes. The development of community-directed college programs and services has included Workforce Training and Community Education, the Small Business Development Center, the Career Services Center, the Online Campus, various conferences, the Prison Education Program, Adult Education, and the Center for Economic Research. Cochise College continues to provide quality educational opportunities to the people of Cochise County and specific populations in the southwestern United States. President Karen Nicodemus is leading the College in a direction emphasizing the learning community. This direction focuses on teaching and learning, access and diversity and the use of technology and innovative instruction, including online classes and interactive television/distance learning course delivery. ACCREDITATION AND AFFILIATION Cochise College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. The College holds memberships in the Arizona Community College Association, the Council of North Central Two-Year Colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and the Association of Community College Trustees. The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400 Chicago, IL 60602-2504 (800) 621-7440; (312) 263-0456; Fax: (312) 263-7462 http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org The College also holds Federal Aviation Administration certification for its professional pilot and aviation maintenance programs and Arizona Department of Health Services/Emergency Medical Services certification for its paramedicine and

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