ASDP/ARC PROFILE
PARADISE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Institution Name:
Paradise Valley Community College
18401 N. 32nd St.
Phoenix, AZ 85032Contact(s):
Michele Marion
Center for International Studies
602-787-7296Brief Institutional Description: The college is one of the ten colleges in the Maricopa Community College District and primarily, a liberal arts associate's degree institution with an enrollment of 7,200 students. Additionally, the college has several occupational degree programs leading to certificates or degrees in environmental science, business, computer science, and international business. Degrees Offered: Associate of Arts, Associate of General Studies. Affiliation or Control: State/Local. Academic Calendar: Semester. Setting: Suburban Phoenix. Regional Airport: Sky Harbor International Airport.
International Development: The Paradise Valley Community College Center for International Studies provides a wide array of innovative instructional and student development programs in international education with a primary focus on Latin America and the Pacific Rim.
Grants: The Paradise Valley Community College Center for International Studies was founded in 1994 under the auspices of an U.S. Department of Education Title VI-B grant. The Center's commitment to international education leadership and service has resulted in exemplary programs, awards, and initiatives:
- awarded a second U.S. Department of Education Title VI-B grant to access the global digital economy
- awarded an International Consortium for Education and Economic Development grant to create online courses bilingual courses with CETYS University, Baja California, Mexico
- awarded an USAID grant to train environmental technicians at the University of Tabasco, Villahermosa, Mexico
- awarded an U.S. Department of Education Title VI-A grant for humanities and foreign languages curriculum and program development
- awarded a U.S. Department of Education FIPSE grant to participate with a consortium of colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico on a trilateral student exchange grant
- awarded a Japan Foundation library grant
- designated as Regional Center for Asian Studies by the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii
- received the Faculty Recognition Award for exemplary international programs by the Consortium for Community College Development
- awarded the International Achievement Award for international faculty development and a comprehensive international resource center by American Council on International Intercultural Education
Recent/Planned Activities: In partnership with the Catholic Social Services of Phoenix Migration and Refugee Services, the Center for International Studies hosts two global village presentations each year. These one-hour presentations provide experiential opportunities to understand the material and non-material culture from different regions of the globe. The Global Villages for 2000-01 were Mexico and Africa and for 2001-02 are Mexico and Asia. This partnership also includes 12 insightful speaking forums each semester conducted by refugees or immigrants. These one-hour presentations are intended to facilitate discussion on the daily life, family values, importance of education, gender relations, and customs from the personal perspective of a refugee or immigrant. The fall 2001 Mexican Art series will have five major components: pottery, sculpture, painting, Mexican cinema, and Mayan art. And in spring 2002, the international focus will be on peace and harmony with an Asian global village, a peace and conflict resolution guest speaker, and a peace-based film festival.
Study Abroad: Ceramics in Mata Ortiz is a one-week workshop in Mexico. Participants spend one week in Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua, Mexico under the guidance of a Paradise Valley Community College art instructor to study with Mexican ceramic artists. Instruction includes clay collection and preparation, and special firing processes. Working with the artists, students create their own pottery. In Spring 2002, the college will be hosting a trip to Southern Spain. The purpose of this trip is to provide students with the opportunity to experience the art and architecture of Southern Spain while participating in the ultimate Spanish language laboratory. Students will enroll in Art History or Spanish for three college credits.
Primary Faculty Resources: Dr. Harry Birkmann, Geology; Dr. Sue VanBoven, Accounting; Dr. Jim Rassi, International Business; Dr. Gene Rister, Art Humanities; Dr. Sherry Loch, Psychology; Dr. Linda Knoblock, English Literature; Kurt Hill, Geography; Sherry Adams, English; Jan Downey, Anthropology, David Rubi, Spanish Language and Literature; Reyes Medrano, Business; Jim Patterson, Computer Science; Umar Sharif, Sociology and Alternative Medicine.