Northern Arizona University is taking its acclaimed venture in Yuma to a new level after receiving unanimous approval from the Arizona Board of Regents to designate NAU-Yuma as a branch campus.<\/p>\n
The designation, approved Thursday during a regents meeting in Flagstaff, will allow NAU to build programming and resources at its Arizona Western College site.<\/p>\n
“This is an area where we need to provide much more accessible programming,” said NAU President\u00a0John Haeger<\/strong>. He anticipates adding new programs and faculty to meet the needs of a growing Yuma community.<\/p>\n Haeger added that as a branch campus, NAU-Yuma could seek a federal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution, which would qualify it for additional funding.<\/p>\n “NAU-Yuma is a significantly more independent campus,” Haeger said, “and we must develop programs that serve the students there.”<\/p>\n Regent\u00a0Ernest Calder\u00f3n<\/strong>\u00a0cheered the new designation. “Bravo,” he said. “This is a wonderful step in the right direction. It will bring greater recognition to NAU-Yuma’s already excellent track record of educating first-generation college students.”<\/p>\n Both the University of Arizona and Arizona State University applauded the change.<\/p>\n “We already are a strong partner with NAU in Yuma, and we welcome this opportunity,” said UA President Robert Shelton.<\/p>\n The NAU-Yuma campus was established in 1988 with 509 students. Today’s enrollment is nearly 700. The NAU-Arizona Western affiliation has been cited among best practices for university and community college partnerships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"