Scottsdale Community College cannot market itself in the future as it has in the past, interim President Christina (Chris) M. Haines told Chamber of Commerce members at the June 11 quarterly breakfast meeting.

“We have to become more relevant,” said Haines. “There are some things that we can’t keep doing in the way we did.”

Haines has filled the interim position since last August. The college will conduct an official search this fall to permanently fill the position. Haines said she would be a candidate.

Scottsdale Community College enrollment in 2018 numbered 9,000 students. In 2019, the number had declined by 700.

“To me, that is unacceptable,” said Haines.

Seventy-five percent of the students take eight credits or less, she said. “That’s maybe a biology class and an English class.”

The college provides 100 degree and certificate programs. Haines has proposed eliminating some offerings if no one has graduated from the program in the past two years.

In some occupations, jobs are going unfilled because potential employees lack training.

Haines cited figures from last August when more than 1,500 software jobs in Scottsdale went unfilled.

The college provides a nursing program, yet 900 vacancies existed locally. Job openings for middle school teachers totaled 353.

“These middle-skilled jobs are going to be 52 percent of the jobs in 2024,” said Haines, adding that salaries range from $40,000 to $65,000 for an individual graduating from college. “We have to make sure our students are going out and getting a good job.”

She said the state’s 125 casinos are an untapped employment source. She envisions new career programs, such as an electronic machine technician nine-credit certificate and two-year degree program in casino management.

“Not a bad idea, right?”

Haines said she has asked her staff to increase the college’s visibility through advertising and marketing partnerships.