College Catalog Cover Design 2 - Pima Community College

Desert Vista Campus
In 1986, Pima Community College opened the education
Center South to serve residents of the south and southwest
areas of Tucson and Pima County. By 1993, the center had
evolved into the comprehensive Desert Vista Campus,
moving to its present location near Interstate 19 and
Valencia Road. The architecture and unique landscaping of
the campus reflect the community it serves.
Desert Vista offers a wide range of courses and programs,
including university transfer, developmental, occupational,
and general education. A variety of courses are offered in
mathematics, the sciences (biology, chemistry, astronomy,
and physics), languages (Spanish and english as a Second
language), and a rich cultural arts curriculum. Among the
signature programs provided by the campus is the Aviation
Technology program located on the grounds of Tucson
International Airport at the Aviation Technology Center. This
program provides training in aviation mechanics and structural
repair and is one of only a few programs of its kind
nationwide. In 2008, a new avionics building was added to
the Aviation Technology Center, and students can pursue a
certificate in avionics using state-of-the-art equipment.
Signature programs also include Culinary Arts, Child
Development Associate, and early Childhood education.
Services that support student success include a comprehensive
learning Center that provides tutoring and
workshops designed to help students reach their educational
goals. The campus also has a vibrant Student life
program and a Cyber Café in a central location where students
can easily access websites and check e-mail in a
relaxed environment. In addition, the 5,000 square foot
Desert Vista library serves students, faculty, college
employees and the community. Together with the
Computer Commons and the Adult education Resource
lab, the library provides a welcoming atmosphere with
versatile student space. The campus also provides bilingual
The College
services and a full range of student support services
through the Welcome Center.
Several other programs and services also make the campus
unique. Vision high School, a charter school that
mainstreams dually enrolled high school students into the
community college environment, is housed at the campus.
In addition, in partnership with Tucson Unified School
District, Aztec Middle College, an alternative high school,
was added to the campus in 2006. Space is also provided
for Talent Search, Student Support Services and Upward
Bound, three federally funded TRio programs. Talent
Search works with high school students to encourage and
support their successful transition into post-secondary
education. Upward Bound works with high school students
to provide higher education opportunities and tracks the
students during their first two years of college. Also at the
campus is the Tohono o’odham Scholarship office which
provides on-site counseling and advising to students pursuing
higher education. one of the largest entities at the
campus is the Center for Training and Development (CTD)
which offers many noncredit and credit workforce development
programs. The CTD also cooperates with
community-based organizations, agencies, and employers
to provide individualized year-round, open-entry/open-exit
job training certificate programs for employment.
The campus houses a recreation and fitness complex
which opened in the fall of 2004. Built in partnership with
the City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department, the
complex contains a fitness facility which provides space for
activity classes such as kick-boxing, aerobics, and yoga as
well as strength training. The center also has state-of-theart
equipment and instructors certified as personal
trainers. To complete the complex, soccer and softball
fields were also added for campus and community use as
part of the partnership.
Pima Community College Catalog 2011/2012 12