President’s Welcome
This report is just a sampling of the amazing work happening right here, in your community, at your local community college - Northland Pioneer College. Some of the highlights include an overview of the college’s new Bachelor’s Degree programs. These Bachelor’s degrees will allow students the opportunity to earn four-year degrees in high-demand career fields while remaining connected to their home communities. Meeting the needs of our communities and students is the foundation of our purpose, and this report will give you a taste of NPC resources, and the incredible perseverance our students exhibit. The student stories relate to he unique academic journeys that our community members face including traveling long distances, students who feel they have to choose between education and family or ceremonial commitments, or even believing that a degree is out of reach. However, our students’ stories are a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue your educational goals and that those seemingly difficult obstacles can be overcome.
One common challenge in attending college is the idea that you might not be able to afford it, but in this report, you will learn about the tremendous work the college’s Friends and Family Foundation is doing to offer students an avenue to earn scholarships which can make taking classes at NPC a reality.
Before I began serving the college in upper administration, I was a long-time faculty member and Chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Department. So, I would like to direct your attention to the summary of the opportunities that the department can offer to you. Since we live in a society that can seem increasingly stressful and contentious, what better way to move away from all that tension than by tapping into your own creativity and learning new skills for self-expression? That is what a fine arts class (like painting, drawing, sculpting) can unlock for you. You might also appreciate connecting with other students and community members in performing on stage or by supporting the work of performers backstage. These types of creative outlets are also available at Northland Pioneer College.
Thank you for your interest in the college and I hope you will enjoy learning more about the work that is being done to support our students and communities by reading this annual report.
NPC Highlights
Academic Highlights
NPC has a fifty-year tradition of preparing students for the workforce, or for further education with opportunities for students to transfer credits directly to any of the Arizona state universities. Supported by taxpayers, grants, and private philanthropy, NPC has one of the lowest costs of attendance in the nation.
We continue to see our students succeed in many ways. Our Registered Nursing program students had a first-time pass rate of 96% on the NCLEX exam in the 2022-2023 academic year. This is the licensure exam that allows students to start working as a nurse.
Each year, our welding, automotive, cosmetology and construction students excel at the regional and national Skills USA competition where they compete against students from other colleges. In 2023, we had six students attend the national competition. At the regional level, we had students place in every category. This goes beyond just the technical skills but also prepares students with interviewing skills and professional networking talents.
"Every year NPC is among the top producers of the All Arizona Academic Team members."
Students from all nine locations are eligible for this competition which leads to a full tuition scholarship to continue at any of the Arizona universities. Past winners are currently at Arizona State, the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University studying everything from cyber security to veterinary medicine.
Whether a student accesses NPC classes while still in high school through any of our Early College programs, or is taking courses after high school, the college boasts highly qualified faculty, small class sizes, and staff that is ready to help each student plan their individual path to life success. From taking a single class, to our new bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, there are options for students to get the skills and credentials needed to grow into higher-wage jobs within northeastern Arizona without leaving the area.
ALL ABOUT Your College:
OUR MISSION: Northland Pioneer College provides educational excellence that is affordable and accessible for the enrichment of communities across northeastern Arizona.
OUR VISION: NPC continually responds to the needs of our communities by cultivating generations of learners. By 2030, NPC will transform lives by advancing student success and socio‐economic well‐being through a spirit of innovation, partnership, and creative problem-solving.
Northland Pioneer College’s service area is over 21,000 sq. miles and includes all of Navajo and Apache Counties, Arizona. NPC’s centers are outfitted with high-tech connected classrooms to provide virtual learning experiences to remote locations increasing access for our students and community members.
2 counties
3 tribal nations
4 campuses
5 centers
REVENUE AREAS
$1 of public money invested in NPC = $2.10 in cumulative value to taxpayers over a student's working life!
NPC's Revenue Sources
APPROVED BUDGETS:
- Top Bar: 2023-2024
- Bottom Bar: 2024-2025
Information presented is on cash basis.
Dual Enrollment/NAVIT Agreements:
NPC partners with 20 area high schools to allow students to earn college credit while attending high school (dual enrollment). NPC also partners with the Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology to bring vocational training to 12 area high schools.Major Accomplishments 2023-24
NPC Received approval from the Higher Learning Commission to offer two new bachelor’s degree programs (Bachelor of Arts in Early Education and Bachelor of Applied Management).
NPC was awarded an Arizona 3-year grant totaling $8.98 million to build a new Center in Kayenta. The new location will provide better visibility and access to students.
New programs in behavioral health, administration of justice studies, and personal training and rehabilitation are being offered at NPC.
Utilizing funding from the State’s Office of Economic Opportunity, NPC was able to purchase equipment for welding, firefighter, and new commercial driver license programs.
The College and Career Preparation program raised Measurable Skill Gains from 28% in FY22-23 to 43% in FY23-24, a seven-year high for the program and the first time meeting the state’s goal in several years. The number of individuals earning their High School Equivalency also increased 2.5 times from the previous year.
The Nursing program graduated 37 students with a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate.
The Springerville/Eager center location was moved from a K-12 facility to a new stand-alone location with a science lab. The new location provides better visibility and access to students.
NPC Implemented a new Integrated Education & Training (NAT-IET) program for College and Career Preparation students to work on their High School Equivalency preparation/developmental education and to complete Nursing’s NAT 101 course to prepare for the Licensed Nursing Assistant certification examination. Many students in the IET are Native American and live from Kayenta to Whiteriver in the NPC service area. The NAT-IET program also won the League for Innovation Award. Read more on page 14.
Upgraded microwave tower equipment was installed to enhance reliability and expand bandwidth for campus and center connections in addition to upgraded network equipment to support faster internet and network speeds.
Using Title III grant funds, NPC created an online Virtual Student Success Center (www.npc.edu/vssc) for students to navigate the NPC website more efficiently and mobile Virtual Online Student Centers by installing computer workspaces at all campuses and centers. Using these workspaces, students can communicate in a virtual setting with various offices and departments across NPC. NPC also hosted student success/financial wellness workshops, open house events, and community focus groups at each tribal center to promote Native American Student Success and partnership opportunities.
The remodeling of the Goldwater Building at the White Mountain Campus has begun! The renovated space will be used to create a welcome center for students and visitors and a more centralized front office space.
Administration of Justice
Building off of the established 20-week (36 credit) training course offered through the Northern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy (NALETA), NPC expanded the program to include an Associate of Applied Science in Administration of Justice Studies since many local and state agencies require additional education such as an associate degree, to obtain a promotion in the field. This program provides the necessary education and training to support law enforcement professionals in advancing their careers and is transferrable to a four-year university for continuing education.
Behavioral Health Studies
NPC’s new behavioral health studies track provides the necessary education, training, and potential certification for students to find successful employment in behavioral health settings. Employment opportunities in the field include social work, inpatient and outpatient mental health services, substance use recovery services, developmental disability support, and forensic behavioral intervention, to name a few. The new Associate of Applied Science in Behavioral Health Studies degree will also prepare students to gain advanced credentials and transferable credit to a four-year behavioral health degree program.
Health & Physical Education
The program includes certificate options in sports medicine and in personal training and rehabilitation. Earning a certificate from NPC will qualify students to work as personal trainers, physical or occupational therapy technicians, assistants to athletic trainers, or as aides to physical therapists, occupational therapists, and chiropractors. Graduates with an Associate of Applied Science in Physical Health and Performance degree can continue professionally in the field, and work toward gaining the required education and training for advanced positions as physical therapy assistants, athletic trainers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, and medical doctors.
Bachelor’s Programs
Three Bachelor’s Programs are Now Available at NPC!
Northland Pioneer College (NPC) has added two new bachelor’s degrees to its program offerings. The Higher Learning Commission and the Arizona Board of Education have granted approval and accreditation for NPC’s Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (BAEE) and Bachelor of Applied Management (BAM) degrees. The new programs will begin enrolling students at all nine NPC locations this spring 2025 semester.
Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in education equips individuals with the essential knowledge and skills to become effective and impactful teachers. NPC’s first bachelor’s degree program, the Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education (BAS-ECE) debuted last spring and currently has 26 students enrolled in its first two cohorts. The BAS-ECE builds on associate degree programs in Early Childhood to deepen teaching knowledge and prepares graduates to become highly qualified and certified early childhood educators for children in preschool through 3rd grade. The new Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (BAEE) expands on NPC’s teacher certification pathways. The BAEE prepares graduates for careers in private, charter, or district elementary school kindergarten through 8th grade settings. For both degrees, emphasis is placed on educational theory, child development, and classroom management techniques providing students with the tools they need to build engaging and supportive learning environments. Upon successful completion of NPC’s Board of Education-approved bachelor’s educator preparation programs, students will receive an Institutional Recommendation (IR) creating a streamlined and smooth process for graduates to earn teacher certification.
NPC’s Associate Dean of Educator Preparation programs, Dr. Allison Landy explained, “In working with various schools, principals, and superintendents from across our communities we recognized a significant need for high-quality teachers locally. There are vast teacher shortages and a surplus of emergency and long-term substitute teachers in our classrooms,” she said. “Local education providers need qualified candidates who are rooted in our communities and who want to live and work here. We knew we needed to grow our own,” she said. “Our communities need locally driven quality educator preparation programs that are accessible and affordable.” Most of the credits for the BAEE and BAS-ECE are in lower-division coursework, making it much more affordable to earn a bachelor’s degree in education through NPC than elsewhere. Additionally, 100 percent of an earned associate degree in education from NPC applies toward the bachelor’s degrees—creating a true half-and-half pathway.
NPC is also opening pathways to bachelor’s degrees in the field of business. The new Bachelor of Applied Management (BAM) degree builds on any earned associate degree, including those in technical fields such as cosmetology, automotive, welding, construction, surgical technology, pharmacy tech, computer science, and more. The BAM is a stackable degree option designed to teach students how to apply management techniques in various business environments. Students learn financial management, information systems management, and human resources management consistent with industry standards.
According to NPC Faculty in Business, Rachel Arroyo-Townsend, who orchestrated the development of the BAM degree, “This is the perfect degree for students who want to go into something they are passionate about, and then build on that experience to earn a bachelor’s degree that specializes in either entrepreneurship and leadership or medical administration management. This is a way for students to keep the credits they earn at the associate degree level and apply them to a bachelor’s degree that they can earn locally. All 60 credits of an applicable associate degree are guaranteed to apply to the BAM. This gives people in our area a way to move up in their careers and build on their educations without having to leave the community.”
With NPC’s bachelor’s degree offerings, students can now complete their upper-level coursework where they live, where they work, and where they raise their families.
Associate degree graduates from NPC will be given priority for admission to the new bachelor’s degree programs. Tuition for the upper-division (300 and 400 level) courses is one of the lowest in the state and is significantly less than that of state universities. An array of scholarship opportunities are also available to students who enroll.
NPC is currently accepting applications for the BAEE and BAS-ECE programs. The application deadline is November 1st for entry in the spring 2025 semester. Learn more and apply to the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (BAEE) at www.npc.edu/baee or contact the program’s director, NPC Associate Dean of Educator Preparation Programs, Dr. Allison Landy at allison.landy@npc.edu.
For those interested in enrolling in the new BAM degree program, students can prepare now by reaching out to an academic advisor or by contacting NPC Faculty in Business, Rachel Arroyo-Townsend at rachel-arroyo-townsend@npc.edu. Visit www.npc.edu/bam for more information.
NPC Friends and Family
Making education possible through scholarships
In 2014, the NPC Foundation, established in 1983, was reorganized under the name of Northland Pioneer College Friends and Family, Inc., or NPC Friends and Family. It is the mission of the organization to support lifelong learning through fundraising, advocacy, and volunteerism, with an emphasis on connecting students with scholarships. The fledgling NPC Friends and Family established goals that prioritized growth, measured by the number of “friends” who supported the organization, through donations, participation in fund-raising events, and/or volunteering; amount of assets; and number of scholarship dollars awarded each year. With regard to the latter, it became apparent very early on that, even more important than raising scholarship dollars, NPC students had to be taught how to apply for them and encouraged to do so. So many NPC students are the first generation in their families ever to attempt college, and there was considerable misunderstanding about what applying for and winning a scholarship entailed. Teaching scholarship workshops and creating accessible online scholarship tutorials became and remains a top priority.
In 2014, the number of “friends” on the NPC Friends and Family contact list totaled fewer than 200, not counting NPC employees. Today, there are over 1,400. In 2014, the 501(c)3 organization had a total of $213,960.00 in net assets, which included seven unique scholarship funds. As of 2024, net assets for NPC Friends and Family total over $2.5 million and include over thirty named and memorial scholarships. In the academic year 2014-2015, a total of $18,390.00 in scholarships was awarded to 29 unique students. In the academic year 2023-2024, over $173,000.00 was awarded to 96 unique students. Since 2018, the organization has been awarded the Platinum seal of approval by Candid (Formerly GuideStar) the nonprofit that helps other nonprofits across the country to connect with funders who support their work. This award is based on integrity and transparency and enhances the ability of the organization to continue to help NPC students improve their lives, and thus the lives of their families and communities, through the transformative power of education.
About NPC Friends and Family
NPC Friends and Family is organized exclusively to support the mission and goals of Northland Pioneer College through advancement of college programs and services, the establishment and growth of student scholarships, and positive promotion of NPC. NPC Friends & Family Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) organization and all donations are tax-deductible. You can also make a tax-deductible donation at https://www.npc.edu/friends-and-family.
NPC Friends & Family, Executive Director
betsy.wilson@npc.edu | (928) 536-6245
1611 South Main Street, Snowflake, AZ 85937
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
About the SBDC
Northland Pioneer College’s SBDC provides individual guidance, educational programs, and resources that help both prospective entrepreneurs and existing business owners be successful. All services are provided at no cost and your information is held in the strictest confidence. Our award-winning business consultants are an objective resource, focused only on your best interests. We can help you start, grow, sustain, or even sell a small business. No matter where you are in the business cycle, we can customize a program based on your specific needs.Regional Economic Review
The overall economy in Navajo and Apache Counties fared well in 2024. Driven by construction and tourism, local businesses were able to capitalize on the growth.
Northern Areas:
The Hopi lands and the Navajo Nation were hit harder during the pandemic and have been slower to recover. The SSBCI funds have been slow to get going, however 2025 should see some incredible investment into small businesses in the region. This, in addition to the increase in access to broadband will be pivotal in assisting small business owners in the area.
Holbrook and Winslow, are seeing growth in the small business arena. While there is constant talk about a large employer moving into the region, it’s the small business owners that are creating the jobs and tax base that are driving the growth.
Southern Areas
Local small businesses in the southern portions of Navajo and Apache Counties continue to experience strong sales and customer growth. The real estate market remains strong and is expected to do so for the coming year.Retail, construction and hospitality continued to have strong revenue, although revenue has declined a bit since the pandemic. The economy is predicted to remain up for 2025.
2023-2024 Statistics
- New Capital = $25.59M
- New Jobs = 62
- Business Startups = 32
- Businesses Counseled = 238
- Underserved Business Startups = 32
Questions For more information, contact:
Craig Boston, SBDC Center Director
Goldwater Center, Rm 106-108
1001 W. Deuce of Clubs, Show Low, AZ 85901
craig.boston@npc.edu (928) 532-6707
Northland Pioneer College 2022-2023 Facts
NPC's 2023 Annual Report.
