Northern Arizona University's reach into Tucson is growing, with the college's first local facility open for classes this month and with new degree programs added to serve an expanding student body.
About 1,000 students take NAU classes in Tucson now, and the growing demand in the last several years cramps the facilities NAU shares with Pima Community College at the Community Campus.
The new facility, near West Prince Road and Interstate 10 at 3895 N. Business Center Drive, is an 8,500-square-foot facility with a video instruction room, five other classrooms, an open computer lab and space for college staff, including advisers, said Patty Diaz, coordinator for NAU-Tucson.
For NAU, in Tucson for 30 years, expanding into its first Tucson building is a strategic move forward as each of the state's universities evolves a unique mission within the overall system, said NAU President John Haeger at a dedication Monday.
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"There is so much change going on in higher education," he said. "Some students will attend a traditional campus, but many more students are adults. They're place-bound and work-bound, and they want the education as convenient as possible."
Expanding its distance education with regional campuses — and corresponding lower tuition — is part of NAU's redefined mission, Haeger said.
Local officials praised the expansion.
"NAU already is a leader in distance learning, and the creation of this site opens up new possibilities and opportunities for students on the Northwest Side," said Oro Valley Mayor Paul Loomis. "Training and education are the keys to economic growth in this area."
Pima Community College Chancellor Roy Flores said: "We're very, very pleased to have NAU as a neighbor helping to deliver higher education in Pima County. We're working day by day to strengthen the relationships so we can strengthen the opportunities available to the people we serve."
With the Tucson area's rapid growth, educational institutions depend on unique solutions and collaboration to serve the population, Flores said.
The new facility is an expansion of NAU's program here and won't replace the class sites at about 10 area high schools and Pima Community College, Diaz said.
With the new building, NAU will offer a new bachelor's degree in organizational communication. That joins fast-growing programs in elementary education, nursing, business administration and interior design.
"This opens up more opportunities for us," Diaz said.
Almost all current classes are offered at night, but NAU will expand to daytime courses at the new building. Most of the programs are overseen by a resident faculty member, who teaches, hires and mentors part-time faculty.
This year, NAU has about 150 classes scheduled each semester, and Diaz expects to quickly move that up to 200 with the new facility.
