THATCHER — Following the unanimous decision last month by the Gila County Provisional Community College District Governing Board to terminate the educational services and programs agreement with Eastern Arizona College, Eastern has opted to not register students at the Globe and Payson campuses for the coming school year.
At a May 8 special meeting, the Gila board voted to terminate its agreement with Eastern effective June 30, 2024. However, in a June 14 press release, Eastern said it was exercising “its legal option to expedite” the Gila board’s decision, and, instead, “accelerate the deadline to Sept. 10, 2023.”
Students who have taken classes at the Globe and Payson campuses may have to finish their degrees at the Thatcher campus or online, depending on the students’ major.
Kris McBride, EAC director of marketing and public relations, said Eastern is taking this direction based on accreditation requirements from the Higher Learning Commission.
“Because the Gila Board has chosen to pursue other higher education options that do not involve EAC, prolonging programs in this uncertain environment would be unfair to students and employees who require immediate information to make crucial decisions about their futures,” McBride said.
“Without an accredited partner, it is imprudent to enroll students in programs that may change or be eliminated altogether. In addition, employees at the Gila Pueblo and Payson campuses will likely seek more stable employment options. This will make it increasingly difficult to provide academically rigorous programs,” he continued. “Because our desire is to provide our students with the best possible academic experience, it is not possible to enroll new students in academic programs without a clear future.”
Eastern has been providing accredited programs and classes to the Gila County campuses for nearly five decades.
Gila County Provisional Community College is now going through the process of obtaining its own accreditation.
