Scottsdale Community College / Northern Arizona University Partnership Celebrated

~University Center Building at SCC to be Re-Dedicated April 16 in Honor of Partnership~

Scottsdale, AZ (March 31, 2009) – Northern Arizona University (NAU) has spent the past 13 years on the SCC campus offering upper division courses to SCC students who have earned associate’s degrees in Hotel & Restaurant Management -- with Interior Design, Early Childhood Education, and Parks & Recreation as newer additions to the program lineup. 

Also called “2+2” programs, students complete their first two years at SCC in these programs, then stay on the SCC campus to complete their bachelor’s degrees as registered NAU students. Over 500 students have graduated from NAU’s 2+2 undergraduate programs since 1999.

Considered a best-kept secret in higher education in the Phoenix area, the SCC/NAU connection continues to focus on personalized service and quality education.  “Our biggest challenge is letting people know we’re here,” said Kathrine Yeager, Area Coordinator for Northern Arizona University.

On Thursday, April 16 at 1pm, college officials from SCC and NAU will meet in the new University Center Building at SCC to celebrate the longstanding partnership between the two institutions, and re-dedicate the building that houses NAU’s classrooms and administrative offices.  A ‘time capsule’ will showcase the events and achievements of both partners through the years.

“The dedication of this building and our shared use agreement reflects the importance of our continued SCC-NAU partnership,” said Dr. Jan Gehler, SCC president.  “SCC and NAU are committed to our students' success along a seamless educational pathway, from start to finish and into the future.”

NAU currently serves over 200 undergraduate students and over 75 graduate students on the SCC campus.  Students already know each other when they start their NAU courses.  Class size remains small, service continues to be personalized, and students can remain on the campus they have come to know from their first two years of study. 

Affordable tuition and convenience are key benefits of the 2+2 programs.  Students pay community college tuition rates for two years, then pay NAU tuition rates for their final two years – all while attending classes on the SCC campus. 

In the Fall of 2009, NAU will offer a new “90/30” program (90 hours of community college credits and 30 hours of NAU undergraduate credits) culminating in a Bachelor of Science or Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Public Management.  In addition to the convenience of staying on the SCC campus, affordability to students can be seen in the cost of tuition:  Three-quarters of the cost of tuition to earn this bachelor’s degree will be based on SCC’s tuition rate and the remainder on NAU’s tuition rate.  NAU’s credits can be completed in one year.

Graduate programs offered through NAU on the SCC campus include the new Master of Administration (Leadership focus) taught by current and former business professionals.

SCC is located at 9000 E. Chaparral Rd., Scottsdale.  The University Center building (UC) can be located on the campus map:  www.scottsdalecc.edu/maps/scc_campus_map.html

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Scottsdale Community College offers over 1,500 academic and non-credit classes each semester. Located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the campus is known for its serene atmosphere and beautiful plant and wildlife. With nearly 12,000 students, Scottsdale Community College is proud to offer high-quality, affordable programs in small class settings. From Motion Picture/Television Production and Culinary Arts to Nursing and American Indian Studies, students have a wide variety of programs from which to earn credits for university transfer, launch their careers, train for new ones, or pursue a special interest. The SCC Business Institute offers customized programs to meet the needs of local business. Scottsdale Community College is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges.

To learn about the many academic programs at Scottsdale Community College, call us at (480) 423-6000 or visit our website at www.scottsdalecc.edu.