River Cities Business Journal: Education

River Cities Business Journal

MOHAVE COUNTY - Mohave Community College Chancellor Tom Henry, who recently announced his intent to resign the position, was met with many challenges when he took the reins of the college five years ago.

When he took over enrollment had remained steady for a decade and the majority of the classes were oriented toward recreation or leisure enhancement t.

“For the whole decade of the ‘90s our enrollment was flat and the population increased 60 percent,” Henry said. “The residents of our county are really hurting in formal education level. We needed to address that.”

The big problem was that it was difficult to take the academic courses at the college that led to advanced degrees or career goals. That was something that had to change.

“We did it by creating a non-credit division,” Henry said. “We called it the Division of Leisure Studies and changed the perception that this isn't a college.”

During his tenure the school not only shook the reputation of being a recreational institution, but is now a leader among the state's community colleges.

Through Mohave Community College students can now get four-year degrees through 10 different universities, including the recent addition of the University of Indiana.

In the past three years the school has added 16 new vocational programs that lead directly to certificates or degrees that qualify students for direct employment in the private sector.

It has also instituted specialty programs where the college provides specialized training for employers in the community. An employer can go to the school and tell counselors what they need and the school will develop a training program and provide instructors and train recruits to fill specific jobs.

“Right now we're doing promotions with the high schools,” Henry said. “We're getting these students and tracking their careers in their junior year in high school.”

They're also offering advanced placement classes to high school students who can earn college credits while still in prep school.

But, the recruiting of youngsters and fostering higher education isn't stopping at the high school level.

“We have a curriculum plan we are rolling out in the county. By the ninth grade every student in the county will have a career plan,” Henry said. “(If you want them to go to college) you have to give them a chance and a feel for what careers are out there.”