Scottsdale Community College 2024 IMPACT REPORT
January - December
VISION
MISSION
Scottsdale Community College will be a premier educational and cultural center that serves the needs of its diverse communities by providing innovative and creative opportunities to learn, grow, and achieve.
Scottsdale Community College improves the quality of life in our communities by providing challenging, supportive, and distinctive learning experiences. We are committed to offering high quality, collaborative, affordable, and accessible opportunities that enable learners to achieve lifelong educational, professional, and personal goals.
SCC Fulfills This Mission By:
• Delivering rigorous and relevant instruction
• Providing outstanding support to students, faculty, and staff
• Encouraging an open and dynamic exchange of learning among the college, tribal nations, and local and world communities
• Promoting civic responsibility, sustainability, and global engagement
• Fostering personal growth and connectedness
VALUES
EXCELLENCE
We value excellence in all areas because it optimizes the ability to compete and achieve distinction academically, professionally, and personally. By setting high standards, SCC maximizes effectiveness and improves the quality of life for all. We honor our communities by expecting and recognizing exemplary performance.
LEARNING
We value learning because it broadens our experience and promotes lifelong growth and success. We are committed to providing opportunities for students, employees, and members of our communities to learn and to develop personally and professionally.
INTEGRITY
We value integrity because it leads to a culture of respect and trust, resulting in a supportive environment in which people can thrive. SCC strives for integrity through decision making which is ethical, data informed, fiscally sound, and strategic. We uphold academic freedom. We expect personal responsibility and accountability from all individuals.
INNOVATION
We value a culture of innovation because we must anticipate and address the evolving needs of our communities. By encouraging and supporting appropriate risk taking and creative problem solving, we meet these needs and solidify our reputation as a premier community college.
INCLUSIVENESS
We value inclusiveness because we all benefit by embracing a diversity of voices, viewpoints, and experiences. SCC cultivates success when individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds are respected and empowered to contribute.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Hello!
I am excited to share this 2024 Impact Report with you, illustrating Scottsdale Community College’s commitment to student success and serving our community, from January to December 2024.
No matter how big or small, I am so proud of the many accomplishments of our faculty, staff and students every day on and off campus. SCC is well-known for our caring campus environment, which means everyone is welcomed, encouraged to succeed, and has the potential to make a big difference in our world.
SCC is one of 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District, whose extensive resources working together create one of the largest community college systems in the nation. This means unlimited opportunities and potential as a premier institution of higher learning.
The College offers rigorous, hands-on learning opportunities and educational pathways that are accessible to everyone. Many students begin their college journey at SCC with the plan to transfer to a 4-year university. Others are working professionals who are looking to reskill, upskill or change careers.
We know the workplace is constantly changing. That’s why SCC instructors and leadership regularly consult with local employers to ensure we are preparing students with the hands-on skills they need for success. It’s a true win-win for students, employers, and SCC.
I encourage you to learn more about SCC, and the results we’ve achieved together.
Dr. Eric Leshinskie
RECENT POINTS OF PRIDE
Bachelor of Business Administration –Management
• SCC announced its first-ever four-year degree program: Bachelor of Business Administration – Management. This new offering allows students to invest in their future with a bachelor’s degree while paying one-fourth the tuition cost of a traditional four-year state university. Classes start Fall 2025.
• The Fighting Artichokes athletics teams deliver a heart-pounding performance at every game. In 2024, our Men’s Soccer and Basketball teams and Women’s Soccer, Basketball, and Volleyball teams all advanced to the playoffs.
• Entertainment industry news leader Variety magazine named SCC’s Film program one of the best in the country in its April 2024 annual ranking – for the second year in a row. In addition MovieMaker magazine named the program as one of the 30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada.
• Vortex is SCC’s literary and art journal, and it continues to be recognized annually for outstanding achievement. In 2024, the Community College Humanities Association named Vortex the Best Literary Magazine for the Southwest Region and six SCC students won individual awards for their entries.
The “Almost Finished” painting by student artist Xianna Montoya won First Place in the Drawing & Painting category in the 2024 Vortex Creative Writing & Art Competition.
2024 IMPACT SUMMARY
7,066
CREDIT STUDENTS
612 NON-CREDIT STUDENTS
1,216
$97 PER LOWER -DIVISION CREDIT CURRENT TUITION
SCC STUDENTS HAVE SAVED $1.1M ON TEXTBOOK COSTS THROUGH OPEN EDUCATION RESOURCES Nearly $840,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO STUDENTS
1,241
AWARDS CONFERRED
302 290
649 TRANSFER DEGREES TRANSFER CERTIFICATE S OCCUPATIONAL AWARDS
Awards from Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2023-2024
518 NEW STUDENTS TRANSFERED TO AN ARIZONA PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN 2023-2024
202 STUDENTS SELECTED FOR INTERNSHIPS
Partnering with Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, SCC is the only two-year public college located on designated Tribal land.
95% OF STUDENTS WOULD RECOMMEND THEIR COLLEGE TO FAMILY OR FRIENDS (2023 Community College Survey of Student Engagement)
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
GIRLS GET IT CONFERENCE
200 Students Served
SCC is the sponsoring host of the annual Girls Get IT Conference, whose mission is to inspire middle and high school girls to pursue careers in information technology through hands-on experiential learning and networking with industry professionals. 2024 celebrated the sixth Girls Get IT event with more students, teachers, women IT professionals, volunteers and corporate sponsors. The event continues to be recognized locally and nationally for its innovative approach.
CENTER FOR NATIVE AND URBAN WILDLIFE
14,900 Individuals Served
Stop by the Center for Native and Urban Wildlife (CNUW) at SCC, where one can watch burrowing owls and solitary bees, visit pollinator gardens, and receive free seeds from a native seed library. Here, SCC students may be engaged in undergraduate research side-by-side with fourth-grade students from Scottsdale schools learning about native plants and geology, while discovering how to handle a chuckwalla.
SALT RIVER PIMA-MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
347
TOTAL STUDENTS
2024
SCC is located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the traditional lands of the O’odham and Piipaash peoples. The College is grateful of its unique location on Tribal land and is constantly seeking new opportunities for partnerships with our hosts.
CONSERVATION
Each year and in partnership with SRPMIC’s Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Division (EPNR), SCC participates in conservation projects, community events, educational outreach and meetings. In addition to volunteering at SRPMIC’s Earth Day Celebration and Fall Overhaul events, SCC provided live native animal exhibits and service projects along with interactive nature activities. CNUW also cultivated seedlings of native plants and trees that were planted during the events to help with regrowth in areas impacted by flooding along the banks of the converging Salt and Verde rivers.
WAY OF LIFE FACILITY
SCC offers non-credit, short-term classes at the Way of Life Facility (WOLF) for SRPMIC. These lifelong learning courses have evolved to cover topics such as dance, creative writing, local animals, bird watching, astronomy, and baking. Each class fosters a sense of community and creativity while offering useful learning opportunities for members ranging in age from 14 to 95.
INDIGENOUS STUDENT ASSOCIATION
SCC revitalized and relaunched this important student club in 2024 to offer leadership, networking and community involvement opportunities. Ninety percent of club leaders represent SRPMIC.
SUPPORTING COMMUNITY NONPROFITS
SCC’s deep roots in the community can be found in the long-standing relationship with Scottsdale Leadership, Community Celebrating Diversity, and the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, to name a few. In addition, SCC employees serve on the boards of Partners for Paiute, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, Blue Zones of Scottsdale, and the Scottsdale/Paradise Valley YMCA. The College is committed to supporting local high-impact service organizations with resources, facilities and personnel as part of its overall mission.
SERVICE LEARNING
1,000+ Student Participants
Service Learning combines academic instruction with meaningful community engagement for nonprofits in the larger community. Learning is intentional, communityidentified, reflective and celebratory. Students made a difference at Feed My Starving Children, Artie Has Heart, Food Distribution Days, Letters Against Isolation, and the YMCA, to name a few.
ARTIE’S FIT MARKET
197 Student Participants
In 2024, SCC renovated and reopened a space dedicated to providing essential resources to SCC students, enhancing their well-being, happiness, and academic success. Artie’s Fit Market has evolved into a comprehensive support hub, offering not only food but also hygiene products, baby items, and kitchen supplies. The pantry’s mission is to be a reliable resource for students facing food insecurity or simply seeking a quick snack, making it a crucial one-stop shop for basic needs.
SCOTTSDALE PROMISE PROGRAM
25 Student Participants
The Scottsdale Promise Program covers Arizona resident tuition and fees for qualifying students attending SCC. Offered as “last dollar” funding, the scholarship helps offset any remaining college expenses after using all other sources of funding. Launched Fall 2024, it was developed in partnership with the City of Scottsdale and Scottsdale Unified School District.
CORONADO PROMISE PROGRAM
45 Student Participants
Sponsored by the Coronado Foundation for the Future organization, the Coronado Promise Scholarship encourages Coronado High School Students to continue their education beyond high school and enhance their career opportunities.
GEHLER STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND
18 Students Served | $12,230 Awarded
Established by retired SCC President Dr. Jan Gehler and her husband Bill, the fund provides SCC students with financial support during a crisis. By offering assistance for essential expenses like rent, transportation, food, or childcare, a student is less likely to take the drastic step of dropping out of school. The fund is also resourced by generous contributions from SCC faculty and staff.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT & VOTER EDUCATION
SCC’s Office of Student Experience & Leadership held multiple events during the Fall 2024 semester to engage and educate students and the community on voting rights, voter registration, the U.S. Constitution, ballot and voting center security, and how to be ballot-ready. SCC also earned a Silver Seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for having a high voter turnout on campus.
PRESIDENTS’ HONORS
SCHOLARSHIP
299 scholarships
$439,530 awarded HONORS ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP
157 scholarships
$68,224 awarded
DECABOOTER SCHOLARSHIP
7 scholarships
$4,838 awarded
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
SCC ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
The SCC Alumni Engagement Program provides our alumni with the opportunity to remain actively engaged with the college and have an impact on the success of SCC and the students who follow in their footsteps. To support their role as brand ambassadors, we reach out to 22,000 SCC alumni via an electronic newsletter to share the myriad of opportunities available to help alumni stay engaged with the College and the community we serve.
SCOPE PROJECT FOR STEM STUDENTS
SCC was awarded a highly competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) grant through the Innovation in Two-Year College STEM Education Program. This grant, totaling $493,944, will fund the Science Opportunities and Profession Exploration (SCOPE) project, designed to significantly enhance the success of underrepresented minority students in STEM fields.
“ Thank you for your generous donation! You have made an impact in my life, and I promise I will do everything to put this scholarship to good use. This scholarship means a ton to me as it will help me pay for school and books I will need for my courses.
Thank you so much! ”
- Genae Morris SCC Scholarship recipient
