Coconino Community College — A quick word from the President and other news

The fall semester has come to a close, and the holiday season is upon us.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way Coconino Community College connects with students to help them realize their educational goals, we have, as our students have, risen to the challenge. This is a time of great uncertainty – for our students, for our faculty and staff at CCC, and for everybody across the country – and we are committed, with absolute certainty, to be here for all who need an education.

The College will continue to deliver the majority of courses online when we return in January for the Spring semester, unless a hands-on component is absolutely necessary to successfully complete coursework. We will continue to focus on delivering certificate programs geared toward getting our students trained in new skills so they can get into the workforce as quickly as possible during tough economic times. In addition to programs in Computer Information Systems, Emergency Medical Technician, Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician, CCC is now happy to offer certification in Automotive Technician. In an exciting partnership with Findlay Honda of Flagstaff, the program is accepting its first cohort of students this spring semester (see the related story below).

In the interest of the health and safety for all of us, I would like to share the latest recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding holidays here.

I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season.

Onward, and let’s gear up for spring!

Colleen Smith

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – On any given day, they could be fixing a broken faucet, or a heater that has gone out. Or, they could be repairing a broken window, or fixing a dishwasher on the fritz.

Maintenance Technicians for apartments, hotels and other commercial properties are continually in demand in northern Arizona, and Coconino Community College is offering a course, beginning Jan. 25, in Certified Maintenance Technician to help get people quickly into the workforce.

CCC is now in the ninth year of offering in the Maintenance Technician course in Flagstaff. The training lasts six weeks, and classes take place each day of the week starting at 8 a.m. Students learn a host of skills in electrical, plumbing, heating, construction, appliance, locks and more.

The training offers several certifications – Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT), which is good in all 50 states, water and piping systems, refrigerants, appliance repair, computer literacy, OSHA 10, EPA608 and more. There is even training in “soft skills” to prepare graduates for job interviewing and interacting with customers.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Once Corbin Felsted returned home to Flagstaff after a church mission, he knew he wanted to work with his hands.

“I thought electrician would be great, but nobody would hire me because I didn’t have experience,” Felsted said.

Finally, a local electrical company put him through an apprenticeship program – a grueling process of trade school, homework every night and working 40 hours a week. He finished a four-year program in two years, and he set his sights on college.

“I always thought I’d go to college,” Felsted said. “There never was a question of ‘if’ it was a question of ‘when.’”

He’d read that another community college in the state gave college credit for apprenticeship programs, so, he approached Coconino Community College in his hometown to see if the college would accept any of his apprenticeship work experience as credit. CCC did, and now Felsted has 32 more credits toward a degree in higher education under his belt.