Salt River Project (SRP) donated a 2017 Ford Fusion from its fleet to the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation for the Automotive Service Program at MCC. Valued at $15,000, the gift provided the college with the opportunity to offer an intense Introduction to Electric and Hybrid Vehicles course (ASE265) the first week in May.

Addressing the growing demand for automotive specialists with EV capabilities as Electric Vehicle adoption increases in Arizona and nationwide, the new coursework exposes students to the inner workings of an EV and affords an opportunity to develop and practice real-world skills in the repair, service, and maintenance of a fully electric vehicle.

The course has been restructured from the four, eight-hour day format and is being offered again in fall 2024.

The MCC Automotive Service Program maintains its Master Automobile Service Technology Accreditation, the highest level of program accreditation, from the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Education Foundation. This accreditation is valid through February 1, 2025.

NXP Semiconductors donated $100,000 to provide scholarships and establish an endowment for Automated Industrial Technology (AIT) students at Mesa Community College and Estrella Mountain Community College.

As Arizona remains an important focal point in the future of semiconductor manufacturing, the need for technical talent in the industry is vital. The donation will help support Valley college students with the training and tools necessary to one day pursue a rewarding career in manufacturing and help to foster growth, innovation, and technological advancements in the local semiconductor community.

The program is administered through the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, and the first scholarships were awarded to 13 students during the Fall 2023 semester.

To illustrate how the scholarships benefit students, recipient Matthew Cardenas could finally pursue his AIT studies uninterrupted. His original plan was to attend college and earn his associate’s degree immediately after high school. However, life had other plans leading him to pursue college intermittently over a 12-year span.

He is currently on the cusp of completing his associate's degree with a major in AIT. His ultimate goal is to leverage the degree as a stepping stone to becoming an engineer, recognizing that the industry is in constant evolution and plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our world.

Jamf, a critical new course in Enterprise IT Professional for Apple Technology, was introduced at Mesa Community College (MCC) through the Maricopa Information Technology Institute (MITI), beginning in fall 2024.

The Jamf course is one of three trainings within the Enterprise IT Professional for Apple Technology program. Existing certifications include two AppleCare Device and Mac certifications. Students completing the Jamf course gain workforce experience in a 16-week internship leading to a six-month, paid apprenticeship ensuring success in the field after completing the Enterprise program.

MCC is the only college in Arizona to offer the Enterprise IT Professional for Apple Technology program and the only school in the U.S. with a direct relationship with Minneapolis-based Jamf Software.

While the IT job market is experiencing tremendous growth in computer science and engineering positions, it has been unable to fill positions with a qualified workforce, especially minorities. But through opportunity, pioneering academic curricula such as MCC’s Enterprise IT program, and innovative partnerships, MCC is helping to bring cutting-edge training to students plus greater diversity, equity, and inclusion to the IT industry.

Taking a bold approach to industry partnerships to help ease student financial burden, MCC requested and received a steep discount for students who complete the Jamf training who wish to take the certification exam.

In 2024, Mesa College Promise expanded to cover two years of tuition and fees at MCC for eligible Mesa residents who are 24 years of age or older. The successful program launched in 2021 as a public and private partnership with MCC, the City of Mesa, and the corporate sector will eliminate one of the top attainment barriers for adult learners, allowing many in the local community to upskill or reskill at no cost.

One of the first Promise Programs in the state, Mesa College Promise welcomed the first group of 88 students to MCC in the fall 2021 semester, 201 students in fall 2022, 216 students in fall 2023, and 320 students in fall 2024, 57 of whom are adult learners. Over 70% of the students are the first in their families to attend college.

More than $760,000 dollars of government and business private match funds have been donated to Mesa College Promise since its inception. Google has donated $100,000 for the program’s expansion to include newly eligible adults.

The application cycle for the 2025-2026 Mesa College Promise program will open in spring 2025.

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen visited the Southern and Dobson campus Saturday, May 5, 2024 for a guided tour of the technology building (TC). She met with staff and students learning about MCC’s Quick Start, Robotics, and Construction Trades programs. Secretary Yellen was accompanied by Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Mesa Mayor John Giles, Maricopa County Vice Chairman Jack Sellers (Dist. 1), and MCCCD Board Member Marie Sullivan.

Additionally, the Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute (AZAMI) at MCC welcomed a delegation from Mexico for a discussion on the semiconductor industry and the impact of its unique approach to address the urgent needs of the industry in terms of workforce development.

The Maricopa County Community College District, with MCC leading the way, developed a Semiconductor Quick Start Program to train technicians in an expedited and focused way to help meet the current and future demand for semiconductor technician jobs. The Quick Start Program for the semiconductor industry, as well as boot camp programs that AZAMI has created for the aerospace industry, have garnered a significant amount of attention not only statewide, but nationally and internationally. These two industries are the two fastest-growing in Maricopa County and have a critical impact on the economic growth of not only the state but the country.

The intention of such visits is to continue promoting the importance of innovative and creative solutions to very real industry challenges by sharing the AZAMI story, lessons learned, and best practices.

MCC and the Appraisal Institute (AI), the largest group of real property valuers in the nation, collaborate to remove barriers for MCC students to seamlessly meet real estate appraisal licensure requirements into the appraisal profession.

This partnership strengthens MCC’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Licensed Residential Appraiser degree by providing access to online real property valuation courses from AI.

Valuing real estate requires research, analysis, and expertise and reflects the skill set that is the key driver of wealth creation. MCC is the first college in the country to receive degree review/program approval on its AAS in Licensed Residential Appraiser from The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) of the Appraisal Foundation.

Key elements of the program include:

• MCC Associate in Applied Science, Licensed Residential Appraiser Academic Plan
• AI’s online real property valuation courses
• Access to the AI Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (AI PAREA) program

PAREA is an alternative path to the traditional supervisor-trainee model, developed to make the path into the profession more flexible and accessible.

Also, MCC students will have access to online PAREA courses and receive AI member guidance and mentorship to develop practical skills and leading industry perspectives.

MCC was selected to receive a portion of a $1 million Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grant to support construction trades programs. The grant, received by the Maricopa County Community College District and the Maricopa Colleges Foundation, supports programs at MCC, South Mountain Community College, and Rio Salado College.

The college will receive approximately $640,000 in grant funding to hire a part-time lab technician, expand facilities to include outdoor training space, purchase construction materials and equipment, and optimize outreach efforts through various marketing initiatives.

Funds will specifically be used for the purchase of industrial electrical education and materials handling equipment; completion of construction lab renovations; and the construction of an exterior construction laydown yard (to help students navigate Arizona’s extraordinary weather conditions) and the necessary utilities like electrical, water, and sewer.