San Luis, Arizona - The planned renovation and expansion of the Arizona Western College San Luis Informatics Campus first broke ground on June 29 and is in progress with Pilkington Commercial Company, Inc. serving as General Contractors of the project. According to the EMC2 Architect’s Field Report on July 11, the footings and slab were being prepped. The concrete was poured for the footings and slab on Friday, July 14th.
The expansion and renovation is the result of a Federal Title III STEM Grant awarded to AWC on October 1, 2016; “Informatics STeming Into New Careers for Today and Tomorrow” (INSTINCT2). This renovation/expansion will double the learning spaces currently at San Luis Middle School AWC campus. This will create two active learning classrooms, a Discovery Lab and an open student work area; the “Student Idea Incubator.” Each of these spaces will be equipped with state-of-the-art computer equipment in order to provide a newly created AAS degree in computer informatics.
The AAS Informatics degree from Arizona Western College transfers seamlessly to a Bachelors of Applied Science degree in Informatics from University of Arizona South. This degree pathway will incorporate updated curriculum with an emphasis in four innovative degree focus areas that utilize the latest technology and are taught using hands-on, real-world experiences: (1) Systems Administration, (2) Software Development/Information Management, (3) Cyber Operations and (4) Digital Design.
The addition of these classes, along with the renovation of the other spaces will establish a path where all 4 years of a baccalaureate degree in Informatics is available in South Yuma County. Additionally, this degree pathway was purposefully designed to address local student needs while also meeting the needs of the local industry.