Greetings! As president of Paradise Valley Community College, I want to welcome you to PVCC, one of the 10 community colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District.

Please stop by for a visit. . . . We have a beautiful campus and a dedicated faculty and staff who are happy to take the time to talk with prospective students and guests. Our campus hosts a busy schedule of events throughout the year: concerts, plays, fitness seminars, arts shows, guest lectures, athletic competitions, and noncredit classes and workshops. We think there is something for just about everyone at our college, and we’d like to invite you to join us in these engaging and educational activities. You can discover more about current happenings right here on our website.

I am pleased to announce that in March 2005, Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) was recommended for a 10-year re-accreditation and continued affiliation with The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. A team of nine consultant-evaluators—all, college professionals selected by the HLC from institutions throughout the region—completed a comprehensive on-campus evaluation and found that PVCC meets the requirements and criteria for re-accreditation. The team noted that, “The pride in your college is evident. . . . You have embraced the concept of the Learning-Centered College. You really believe that students are the center of the college.” And, of course, we do. This is truly a strong endorsement of the work that this college has accomplished, of our high academic standards, and of our commitment to excellence in education. For our students, continuing accreditation by this national accrediting body means transferability of credits to colleges and university across the nation, and continued eligibility of federal financial aid funds.

Our motto “The Power of Learning” is at the heart of all we do at PVCC; our faculty and staff are very purposeful in learning about how students learn and the best ways to structure teaching, learning more about technology in the classroom, and learning about the needs of our community. This power of learning is a potential we want to share with you as you explore the world of higher education. We think you’ll find it exciting and truly transformative. Welcome to PVCC.

Cordially,

Dr. Mary Kathryn Kickels
President