Central Arizona College Recognizes Community College Month (#CCMonth)
During the month of April, Community Colleges around the country are celebrating Community College Month (#CCMonth.) The goal of this month long campaign coordinated by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is to improve awareness of the economic, academic and equity advantages of attending community colleges, and to bust longtime stigmas wrongly associated with public two-year colleges.
Community colleges are a uniquely American educational model that was designed to guarantee access to affordable, high-quality higher education for all people. They are the primary educators of graduates who are trained for a myriad of career choices. They also serve as an onramp to bachelor’s, master’s and higher-level degrees for many students, and particularly for the most demographically and socioeconomically diverse students. They guarantee fair admissions for all students. They offer assistance for adult students who must work to support their families. Without community colleges, many American students would not be able to access higher education at all.
“Community colleges are engines of diversity, equity and inclusion,” said ACCT President and CEO Jee Hang Lee. “They give opportunities to all students, and they support all students throughout their educations, whether they attend to attain an associate degree or certificate, intend to transfer on for a bachelor’s or higher degree, or they take one or a few courses to learn a new skill or expand their horizons.”
Since the fall of 1969, Central Arizona College has been Pinal County’s community college. With five campuses located strategically throughout the county, CAC provides accessible, educational, economic, cultural, and personal growth opportunities for those of all ages through dedicated coursework, personal enrichment classes, community education, and online and university transfer courses.
Workforce development partnerships benefit CAC students and Pinal County by providing specific industry certifications, certificates, and degrees that prepare students for workforce needs in a variety of areas.
Additionally, the College offers a variety of community events throughout the year at the Don P. Pence Center for the Performing and Visual Arts on the Signal Peak Campus. For a listing of all CAC Community Events please visit www.EventsAtCAC.com to RSVP for free events and purchase tickets for ticketed events.
CAC provides a world class learner experience and empowers its students and staff to succeed by providing a TRUE “Teaching. Reaching. Understanding. Empowering.” Learning community.
It is the College’s goal to be transparent about what is needed for each program of study or transfer pathway while providing inspiring and relevant courses. CAC’s guided pathways provide a clear road map of sequenced courses that lead to a specific degree or certificate. With nine areas of interest, students can find the pathway they want to a great career. For a listing of the nine areas of interest and related guided pathways maps visit: https://centralaz.edu/academics/areas-of-interest/.
Students who choose Central Arizona College as the place to pursue their educational dreams can do so without the worry of having to pay too much for their continued education. In-state tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year is $75 per credit.
All students who reside in Pinal County and graduate from a Pinal County high school are eligible to receive two years of in-state tuition (fall/spring, fall/spring) funded by CAC and the CAC Foundation through Pinal Promise. This alleviates a huge financial burden for students who may not otherwise be able to attend college. Pinal Promise provides funding for any tuition need that has not been met, meaning that Pinal Promise funds will be applied after all other Financial Aid has been applied to the student’s account (this excludes student loans). To be eligible for Pinal Promise, students must reside in and graduate from a Pinal County high school, participate in 20 hours of community service that can be completed in high school or while attending CAC and complete the CAC Scholarship application. For a complete listing of requirements and additional information visit www.centralaz.edu/pinalpromise.
Fall 2023 classes begin on Mon., August 21. Advising appointments are available face-to-face on campus, virtually through Microsoft TEAMS, or by phone. To schedule an appointment with an advisor visit www.centralaz.edu/advising.
CAC business hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. For additional assistance please call 520-494-5111 or email centralhelpdesk@centralaz.edu.