Paradise Valley Community College’s Welcome Center is – in normal times - a bustling hub of staff and students. The comings and goings of students preparing for their college experience is an inspiring sight as our Student Ambassadors direct students towards advisors, financial aid, scholarships, university transfer assistants, and much more. It is unique from our sister colleges in that our Welcome Center offers all levels of service in one stop, making it simpler and less overwhelming for students. Everything from filling out an application to enrolling in classes and commencing with signing up for graduation can all be done at the Welcome Center.
Today, amidst the pandemic, things might look and feel a little different, but the Welcome Center and its counterpart PVCC’s Contact Center have become a virtual hub successfully continuing to help students navigate college life.
“I miss the rush of seeing students in the Welcome Center, but if you’ve been with us through the fall semester, you know you are in good shape for the upcoming spring session, which will look very similar to Fall 2020,” said Josh Moss, Contact Center Manager. Besides some small tweaks at students’ recommendations, classes will look much the same online.
- For returning students, many are already situated with technology and resources so we are concentrating on the biggest factor - communication, connecting students with instructors.
- For new students, our goal is to empower them to take control of their education, ensuring they have everything they need for a successful semester, and helping them find a balance.
- For our community members, they are most interested in when the fitness center will open again, which we are eagerly awaiting as well.
The pandemic has created so much uncertainty, changing day-to-day decisions based on virus levels across communities. As the new virtual ‘front door’ to the college, the Welcome Center and Contact Center continue to field thousands of calls, chats, and emails from students wanting an update on the current status of affairs.
“The number one question we are getting is ‘What are we doing?’ Students want to know if we are coming back to campus and what does the schedule look like?”
PVCC recently announced all classes will remain online for the Spring semester with the exception of a few hybrid and in-person classes. PVCC’s leadership continues to make regular adjustments to ensure the safety and health of students, staff and faculty.
“All we can hope for is that students feel good about their opportunities here at PVCC. We want students to be smart about the pandemic and still move forward with their futures,” Moss said. Looking ahead towards spring graduation, one of the Welcome Center’s primary focuses is taking students across that final finish line. “Graduation is a big deal in general. I applaud these students tremendously who have navigated this new-style of learning for over a year now. They have a lot to be proud of.”
For specific information, you can call 602-787-7000 or chat with us via the school’s website homepage bit.ly/Chat_PVCC.