Coconino Community College’s dedicated faculty recognize that the 1,000 Leagues journey begins with the first steps, but for many, embarking on the journey to higher education can be a daunting task.

April is National Community College Month. I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the important role that community colleges like CCC play in helping you embark on a lifelong learning adventure.

Community colleges provide life-changing education to those who need it most. Frankly, our mission is access-focused and we strive to reach previously underserved populations. Underserved students, adults – that is not a problem. CCC has a place for you.

We are also rethinking what student services should look like. This will be a multi-year project, but we want to focus on students as a whole, not just academics. If students have excessive stress, housing insecurity, or food insecurity, their chances of succeeding in higher education are small, if at all. We are prepared to help students with external problems.

My goal is to help students sign up for classes, receive financial assistance, and enroll for necessary social services such as nutritional assistance.

With NAU’s upcoming Access2Excellence program, which guarantees underserved students access to a college education, CCC is committed to helping future NAU students by giving them the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to succeed in the college environment. Ready for students. I am proud to join NAU’s José Luis Cruz his Rivera President as part of the Arizona Attainment Alliance, along with other community college presidents in the state. As part of the CCC2NAU program, we participate in the Universal Admissions Program, which promises that any student who does not immediately meet the requirements for admission to NAU will be automatically connected to her CCC. Additionally, CCC is reimagining its own Promise program designed to ensure that all students who want access to higher education find it.

It reminded me of the story of CCC student Charmane Yazie. Charmaine, a native of Luchi, a Navajo tribe, worked his two jobs to support his partner and his three children. She needed something to change her life, so she took advantage of a free course offered through CCC’s Enhanced Indigenous Student Success Program. Nervous about things going wrong, she took her first steps and attended her first class. She currently helps other students take her first steps as a peer mentor and as a student at CCC2NAU, she plans to continue her educational journey at NAU.

Community colleges like CCC not only offer students the opportunity to dip their toe into a higher education environment before transferring to a university for a four-year degree, but they also offer a wide range of education in career and technical areas. Offers. – Nursing, Firefighting, Law Enforcement, Construction, Computer Tech, Automotive Technicians, Truck Drivers, etc. Finally, community colleges like CCC provide a home for a very human desire to continue lifelong learning through discredited continuing education courses. Community colleges are the educational backbone of the state’s higher education, and CCC, like all community colleges, partners with local businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits to develop students into the workforce and community. We help you acquire the skills you need to succeed. .

So during Community College Month, remember that CCC is here for everyone who wants to take the first step, start small and go big. At CCC, we are dedicated to the communities we serve. After all, community is our middle name.

For more information on what our community colleges offer, please visit: www.coconino.edu.