Maricopa County Community College District

100%.

And I served on the governing board of Maricopa Community Colleges, which has 10 sites.

And this is when we had a clear workforce shortage, when we were booming here in Arizona and unfortunately through different policies and politics we are not but this is so wonderful when we can help students identify a career path forward which is not social media influencer but actually something tangible and nothing against those by the way but I think it's wonderful that this is where education meets the student and gives them a future and an ability to help them get there.

So not just a dream out there that they can't attain, but this is so wonderful that this is happening.

Welcome back to Native Talk Arizona, Native Health's Native American Cultural Affairs Program, presented by Native Health and KRDP 90.7 FM.

I'm Susan Levy, and the Storytelling Institute is an academic and community program within Maricopa Community Colleges that teaches oral storytelling for personal, educational, and professional growth.

On the phone to tell us more today, and also about the upcoming Stew and Stories event, is Kyle Mitchell.

South Mountain Community College's Manager of Workforce Strategies and External Relations.

I remember you performed, or if that's the right word, told a story at our open house many, many years ago at Central, and I've just watched you take off with all of that, and it's super impressive.

You're an amazing storyteller, and I love going to storytelling events, so I always enjoy hearing what you have to say and what you do.

But I want to back up a little bit and talk about Maricopa Community Colleges.

I know that they have specific programs for American Indian students.

Taylor Griffith, KJZZ News, Phoenix.

The Maricopa County Community College District will offer two new bachelor degree programs beginning next school year.

Jill Ryan has details.

It's been five years since former Governor Doug Ducey signed into law the ability for Arizona community colleges to offer four-year degree programs.

Maricopa County Community College District currently offers 11 bachelor's degrees, including public safety administration and information technology.

Next school year, students will also be able to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science or a Bachelor of Applied Science in Law and Legal Studies.

One is at Mesa Community College, the other at Rio Salado.

The district says its bachelor's degrees are a quarter of the tuition cost of a public in-state university.

So with our manufacturing program, we call it the automated te- uh, AIT, automated and industrial technology program.

We built that with Maricopa Community College and Pima Community College, so that way when an employer comes- It's the same numbers, it's the same, uh, you know, the same goals, the same outcomes.

So when an employer can say, "Okay, I've got somebody who's got that degree from Maricopa Community College," I know exactly what they, what they have because Central Arizona College has that.

We've expanded that program to, uh, Mohave College, Yavapai College, where we're here today-

Yeah

We're talking about data centers now.

Nailed it.

[laughs] So, um, you know, our, our friends up at Maricopa Community College, they built a, uh, data center program-

And there is more that these candidates wanna do, but I'll start with you, John, because I, I know you played football at a community college here in the Valley.

Uh, what do you do for a day job, because the Community College Board doesn't pay?

[laughs]

Um, and what did you...

Mm.

Um, and we need to pay more attention to that.

I ran for Paradise Valley School Board.

Um, there was a team of us of three.