Meeting The Needs Of OUr Community.
The history of the Santa Cruz County Provisional Community College District is a testament to how our institution evolved to meet the specific needs of the community. We continue to expand access to higher education, addressing local workforce demands, and serving diverse student populations.
A History of Local Post-Secondary Programs.
The creation of the Santa Cruz County Provisional Community College District (SCCPCCD), referred to as the Santa Cruz Center, grew out of the need for higher education opportunities in our border county and the desire of residents and community leaders to have access to local post-secondary programs.
State law requiring a minimum property valuation and population to form a community college district essentially prohibited what is one of Arizona’s smallest counties from forming its own college district. So, in 1980, Santa Cruz County started its odyssey to provide higher education opportunities by contracting with Pima Community College to offer classes at a community center.
Legislation Passed To Establish Provisional College District.
With that success, Santa Cruz County leaders began a quest to sponsor legislation that would enable the county to have its own college. In 1999, legislation was passed that provided for the establishment of a Provisional College District in Santa Cruz County. At that time, of the fifteen Arizona counties, only Santa Cruz, Greenlee, Apache, and Gila did not have a community college of their own. Today, with strong leadership from the Governing Board, and wide community support, SCCPCCD has focused on increasing higher education opportunities, comprehensively revisiting its strategic plan, and investigating the pathway to future independent accreditation.
New Facility Creates Buzz About The College District.
In the Spring of 2013, the Board entered into negotiations with Dino Panousopoulos, a longtime business and community leader, to lease a facility large enough to house all of the current operations and provide room to expand. Mr. Panousopoulos generously made the space available at a reduced price to make the move financially possible. The 35,000 sf mixed use campus has been wholeheartedly embraced by the community and students and continues to grow in popularity and enrollment. The campus includes offices, conference rooms, classrooms, labs, a student union, study areas and lounges.
A Roadmap For The Future.
Following a comprehensive review of this history and the vision of SCCPCCD, the Governing Board of the SCCPCCD, which included Mr. Greg Lucero, Ms. Liz Collier, Dr. Marcelino Varona, Jr., Dr. Angela Meixell, and Mr. John Fanning, developed a new five-year strategic plan for 2024 through 2029. The plan provides a roadmap for the Center’s future direction, aligning all stakeholders towards shared goals, ensuring efficient resource allocation, and enabling the Community College District to adapt to changing needs within the community while prioritizing student success and fulfilling its mission effectively. The plan serves as a guiding document for decision-making and long-term viability.
Meeting The Growing Needs Of Our Community.
Today, the Santa Cruz Center continues to modernize the campus to meet the growing needs of citizens and industry. We welcome the public to come visit our 35,000 SF mixed use campus.