Paradise Valley Community College
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| Paradise Valley Community College | |
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| Established: | 1985 |
| Type: | Community College |
| President: | Dr. Mary Kathryn Kickels |
| Faculty: | 103 (as of 2006) |
| Staff: | 248 total (as of 2006) |
| Students: | 8,800, with an additional 7,000 in non-degree programs (as of 2006) |
| Location: | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Campus: | Main (Phoenix, AZ) PVCC North (Cave Creek, AZ) |
| Colors: | Sand (beige) and Turquoise |
| Mascot: | Puma |
| Website: | www.pvc.maricopa.edu/ |
Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) is a 2-year community college in Phoenix, Arizona.
PVCC was originally founded by the Maricopa County Community College District as the Northeast Valley Education Center in 1985 with classes temporarily held at Paradise Valley High School. The district gave the college its present name and began campus construction in 1986 and inaugurated the permanent site during 1987. The college had operated as an extension of Scottsdale Community College and gained independent accreditation in 1990.
A branch campus will open near Carefree Highway and 60th Street, in the town of Cave Creek, by 2009.
The school mascot is the Puma and the colors are sand and turqouise.
Despite its name, PVCC is located some distance from the actual town of Paradise Valley, Arizona, which is adjacent to Phoenix but independent from it. Other locations in this part of the city use Paradise Valley in their names as well.
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[edit] Academics
Various liberal arts, technical, and vocational programs are offered. It awards the two-year associate's degree as well as non-credit courses.
A distance learning branch office of Northern Arizona University (NAU) is at the college. Students may take designated courses for NAU credit at the PVCC campus as part of completing an associate's degree. Those who meet NAU admission standards upon completion of the associate's degree can then use previous credit to complete selected bachelor's degree programs at this location as well.
[edit] Facilities
Initially, the college was small and isolated, but many offices and classrooms have been added. There is a new performing arts center on the east side. Many art and drama studios are nearby.
PVCC now includes the George L. Campbell Branch Library, formerly part of the Maricopa County Library District. There is also a Learning Resources Complex with its own library, computer labs, and tutoring center.
Several art collections, such as the over 600 Western-themed pieces donated by faculty-emeritus member Dr. Warren Buxton, are on display near the college's library.
[edit] Athletics
The Lady Pumas women's cross-country team has won the national NJCAA championships for several years in a row since 2000, with the men's team also winning their respective title in 2004. The women's soccer team has also become prominent, often appearing at the regional competition level. They have also gained student-athlete honors due to team members maintaining high academic standards and participating in community service.
Athletic facilities, such as tennis and handball courts, are on the south side of campus. New sports fields were recently built on land reclaimed from a low-lying floodplain in that same area.
The eastern edge of the campus borders on Paradise Valley Golf Course, which is operated by the Maricopa County government and is a popular destination for winter visitors and local residents.
[edit] Transportation
The college is a short distance west of State Route 51 and south of the Loop 101 interchange.
Valley Metro buses from regular routes 91 and 186 serve the campus. For many years, the campus was served by express route 500, but in 2003, this service was cancelled and replaced with the RAPID service that departs from Bell Road and State Route 51 Park-and-Ride. Route 32 (32nd Street) once only had rush hour service, but now goes to the campus all through the day, seven days per week, in an extended route from PVCC all the way to 44th Street and Washington in central Phoenix.
