Where Education Meets Innovation
By Candace Oehler
Director of Marketing and Communications
Academics
As usual, exciting things are happening at Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC). The award-winning college, honored as one of the top 150 community colleges nationwide, is launching a new cutting-edge program – Healthcare Technology Systems (HTS) – that will meet evolving workforce demands and put students in careers that will influence the future of healthcare.
Medical professionals have turned to fully computerized charting and billing, and all of us rely more and more on provider web portals for access to our medical records. Hospitals, insurance companies, billing services, medical practices, and public agencies all depend on technology to support efficiency, financial stability, and patient satisfaction. Goldman Sachs recently issued a report that stated “a digital healthcare revolution is coming” with technologies that “bridge the digital and physical worlds to change physician and patient behavior.” This is creating a huge need for health information technology experts.
To meet that need, PVCC is partnering with Glendale Community College to pioneer an AAS degree and short-term certificate in healthcare information technolgoy. The first class – HTM 150 | Introduction to Healthcare IT & Systems – will be available online fall semester (beginning August 22). Subsequent courses will include a mix of business, IT and healthcare-related curriculum, covering programming, data integration, web design and database management, and more – all to prepare students for what’s coming next in healthcare IT.
For more information, contact Abigail.Rusu@paradisevalley.edu
Athletics
PVCC continues to rack up athletic achievements on and off the field.
Five PVCC student athletes earned academic recognition from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for the 2014-15 year. To qualify for the award, student athletes must have a minimum 3.60 GPA while earning at least 12 credit hours. More than 50 Pumas are transferring to four-year institutions next fall, from ASU to University of Hawaii!
In addition to the individual awards, 11 of 14 PVCC teams received academic honors for having an average team GPA of 3.00 – Golf (W), Indoor Track/Field (W/M), Outdoor Track/Field (W/M) Soccer (W), Softball, Tennis (W/M), Cross Country (W/M).
Puma baseball ended the year as conference co-champions, with a 38-15 overall record and a 30-10 Arizona Community College Athletics Conference (ACCAC) record. The college hosted the Region I – Division II baseball tournament and lost to Scottsdale CC. But overall, it was a fantastic effort and a proud Puma season. Four baseball players earned All-Region honors and RHP/OF Brick Paskiewicz was named to the All-ACCAC first team. And Puma baseball coach Victor Solis received ACCAC Baseball Coach of the Year honors.
Athletics Director Greg Silcox was named an Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year, and also earned the annual NJCAA Loyalty Award for his leadership in an athletic program that exemplifies excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
Performing Arts Calendar Highlights (Subject to change)
View complete calendar at paradisevalley.edu/cpa
First Saturday
Concert Series | 6 pm | FREE
- August 8
An Evening in Brazil with Grupo Liberdade
- September 5
The Cal Tjader Tribute Band
- October 3
Rebel Heart (country rock)
Saturday, Sept. 12, 7:30 pm
Center for the Performing Arts
10th Anniversary Concert
Oct. 9-11; 16-18
The Outlaw Robin Hood by Moses Goldberg.
An exciting classic for all age groups.
Saturday, Oct. 10, 1-4 pm
Fine & Performing Arts Open House
Keep up with PVCC – Your Community College – on the Points of Pride Blog at http://www.pvpride.blog.pvc.maricopa.edu/
