By admin 
YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — A new partnership between Arizona State University and Arizona Western College aims to fast-track aspiring educators into local classrooms as schools statewide face persistent staffing shortages.
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ASU recently rolled out an accelerated three-year bachelor’s degree in education, which university officials describe as the first three-year education degree offered by a public university in the United States. Through the collaboration, students in Yuma County can complete the program either in person or online.
Audrey Garcia, a clinical associate professor at ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, said the initiative creates opportunities that did not previously exist for local students.
“Back then when I was going to school, pathways like these were not available,” Garcia said. “So it’s really able (to reduce) barriers for our rural students in Yuma County. So if you want to become a teacher, you can stay in Yuma County.”
The streamlined program reduces the traditional degree track to 90 credits while meeting all Arizona state teacher certification requirements, allowing graduates to enter the workforce a year early.
Students begin their coursework at Arizona Western College before transitioning to university instruction.
“AWC students (do) two semesters full time at the college, then one semester is a hybrid between Arizona Western College and Arizona State, and then their final two semesters at Arizona State University,” said Stuart Gibson, dean of business, social and behavioral sciences at AWC.
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Education leaders say the accelerated pathway is designed to directly combat the state’s ongoing classroom vacancies. The Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association said that more than 25% of teacher positions statewide remained unfilled into the 2024-2025 school year. An additional 52.2% of vacancies were filled by individuals who did not meet standard certification requirements and were hired through alternative methods.
Gibson emphasized that keeping homegrown talent in local districts is vital to stabilizing rural schools.
“Getting our students through this program and having the ability to keep them here in this community when they are finishing their degree is going to be key, because they will be connected to the elementary schools they are preparing to teach at,” Gibson said.
Applications for the accelerated program are currently open, with classes scheduled to begin next semester.
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