THATCHER — The marching band played, the Encore choir ensemble sang and the balloons dropped as Eastern Arizona College President Todd Haynie announced the first four-year degrees offered by the college will start in Fall 2024.
Haynie made the announcement during a pep rally and press conference Thursday inside Guitteau Gymnasium, on the south Thatcher campus.
“This is about more than just degrees,” Haynie said. “This is about transformative opportunities for high school students, for graduates, for Associate Degree holders to stay close to their families, stay close to their communities and still earn a Bachelor’s Degree in a face-to-face, on-campus, in-person environment.”
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
EAC will now offer a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, and Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. Registration will begin in March and Haynie said the cost will be about one-quarter of similar programs offered at the state’s universities.
Classes will be capped at 30 students for the Health Sciences program to start, while about 10 to 15 students are anticipated to be in the first group to seek a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Dr. Susan Wood, vice president of Academics and Student Affairs, said there are protocols that must be followed before Eastern can add any more four-year degree programs.
“The Higher Learning Commission said, ‘If you have more than two baccalaureate programs, you have to revisit your mission,’ ” Wood said. “So before we add any others, as an institution, we would have to revisit our mission and then we would be able to add a couple of additional Bachelor’s Degrees.
“That said, I’ve already got faculty that have come to me and said, ‘We’ve done some preliminary work,’ ” she continued. “I’m not going to spoil their fun by telling you who’s come to me, but there are already faculty out there who are saying, ‘We want to be next.’ ”
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Haynie said Eastern Arizona College provides a $250 million estimated economic impact to the Gila Valley, and he anticipates that impact to grow with the offering of four-year degree programs.
“And that’s just the economic impact. That has nothing to do with the social impact that we have, the social mobility that EAC provides to our students, our residents (and) our community. Just in terms of the fine arts events, the athletic events, that community feeling that EAC really develops here,” Haynie said.
In 2022, the state Legislature passed a bill allowing community colleges to offer four-year degrees. Eastern Arizona College was instrumental in moving the legislation forward.
