Cochise Newsroom

By James D. Perey, Ed.D.

Summer at Cochise College has a rhythm all its own. While there may be fewer students walking our hallways, our campuses never slow down. New students are registering for classes, faculty are preparing courses, employees are getting ready for another academic year, and teams across the college are completing projects that help position us for success in the year ahead.

It is also a time to reflect on what we've accomplished together.

Earlier this summer brought one of our most significant milestones as the Higher Learning Commission reaffirmed Cochise College's accreditation through the 2035–2036 academic year. Accreditation is much more than a requirement. It is an independent affirmation that the college is fulfilling its mission, maintaining high academic standards, and serving students and our communities with integrity and excellence. This achievement belongs to every faculty and staff member whose dedication makes Cochise College the institution it is today.

Our commitment to excellence is reflected in the success of our students.

This summer, Cochise College was honored to host the Western Sheriffs' Leadership Institute. We welcomed 18 law enforcement leaders from across the western United States to our Sierra Vista Campus for an intensive leadership academy. Hosting programs like this reflects our commitment to serving not only students, but also the professionals and organizations that help keep our communities strong. By investing in leadership development, we are contributing to safer communities and reinforcing Cochise College's role as a trusted regional partner in workforce and professional education.

Recently, 14 new paramedics completed our program and are now prepared to serve communities throughout Cochise County and Southern Arizona. Their success represents more than individual achievement. It demonstrates the strength of our partnerships with local emergency response agencies, which provide students with invaluable hands-on clinical and field experiences while helping build the next generation of first responders for our region.

We also received outstanding news for our nursing programs. Arizona recognized four Cochise College nursing pathways with the 2026 High-Impact Training designation, including our Associate Degree in Nursing, LPN to Professional Nurse, Practical Nursing Certificate, and Nursing Assistant Certificate programs. This recognition is based on exceptional employment outcomes, job retention, and earnings for graduates and reinforces what we already know: our graduates are making a meaningful difference in healthcare throughout Cochise County and Arizona.

Our impact doesn't begin when students graduate; it often starts much earlier.

This year's summer camps reached record enrollment, introducing hundreds of young learners to areas such as automotive technology, culinary arts, science, art, and many other career fields. For many participants, it was their first opportunity to experience a college campus, work in our labs and classrooms, and begin imagining what their future could look like.

These experiences are possible because of the generosity of our community. Support from the Cochise College Foundation and the Arizona Community Foundation of Cochise helped reduce registration costs and expand access for families in Sierra Vista and Douglas. Their investment ensures that more young people have the opportunity to discover new interests, develop new skills, and begin seeing college as part of their future.

While these accomplishments give us much to celebrate, they also remind us that our best work is still ahead.

This fall, Cochise College will begin developing its next strategic plan, an important opportunity to reflect on where we are today and where we want to go tomorrow. Higher education continues to evolve, and our responsibility is to ensure that Cochise College remains responsive to the changing needs of our students, our workforce, and the communities we serve.

As we look ahead, we will continue building on our strengths while embracing new opportunities to expand access, strengthen workforce partnerships, support student success, and prepare learners for the future. Our mission remains clear, but the ways we fulfill that mission must continue to evolve.

The future of Cochise College is bright, and I am excited about what we will accomplish together as we continue creating opportunities that strengthen our communities and transform lives.

For more than sixty years, Cochise College has adapted to meet the changing needs of our communities while remaining true to our mission of providing accessible, high-quality education that transforms lives, strengthens our workforce, and creates opportunity.

Thank you to our students, employees, alumni, community partners, and supporters for believing in the work we do. Together, we are building an even stronger future for Cochise County.

 

Dr. James Perey is the president of Cochise College.