Phoenix College has a history of student success. As the first of the Maricopa County Community Colleges, it has been a leader among the pack for many years. The college’s leadership and commitment to education is revealed in a number of ways from student academic success to its evolving technology in the classroom.

Phoenix College has made great strides to ensure that students have access to and are familiar with new technology. Whether instructors are incorporating graphic calculators into their Math lessons or using a Smart Board during an ESL class exercise, students continue to gain access to modern technology with hands-on experience in the classroom.

Over the past few years, access to modern technology has become more available across the campus due to Title V funding received in Fall 2000. Phoenix College joined more than 100 colleges and universities nationwide when it was named a Title V Developing Hispanic-Serving Institution. The Title V grant is a capacity building grant, which is designed to strengthen existing college systems so they can better serve underrepresented minorities and low-income students.

According to Maria Enciso, Phoenix College Title V Program Director, this award has allowed the college to strengthen existing college systems; increase technology access for students, both in and outside the classroom; create technology based learning environments; support faculty who wish to redesign courses, research software, pilot and fully implement technology; and hire additional personnel to support these activities.

To date, the funding has allowed Phoenix College to fully redesign two classrooms (B122 and A214), establish a portable E-class (known as the cart), revamp the computer lab in the Catalina Room, create a mini lab in the LAC, expand tutoring services, support faculty technology training and strengthen student transfer activities and university visits.

Most recently, both students and instructors have been taking advantage of the newest addition to the college, the Technology Based Learning Environment. This unique learning environment has hosted a number of English classes ranging from Basic Writing Skills for English as a Second Language to Fundamentals of Writing.

"We are so grateful to have this new computer lab," said English Department Chair, Dr. Nancy Matte. "Having the opportunity to use this lab as a tool to teach has many benefits. Instructors have greater access to teaching when students can do onsite writing, editing and research right there in front of them. This setup encourages instructors to think about teaching in a different way. Overall, it makes our instructors look at the whole visual component of teaching. Students are becoming much more visual; therefore, conducting a class in this type of environment allows students to feel more comfortable."

English/ESL instructor Pam Rogers agrees.

"We are so fortunate to have this software for so many reasons," added Rogers. "For many of our ESL students, this is their first experience with technology," she said. "It truly allows the class to be more interactive, allowing our students to not only learn basic English and grammar skills, but computer skills as well. It is a win-win learning experience."

In addition to this new facility, the Title V committee hopes to have a new Science/Math Center available for use in the next year.