Gila Community College Embarks on a New Path as Arizona’s Newest Independent Community College

Gila Community College (GCC) is beginning a new chapter—officially breaking away from its long-standing affiliation with Eastern Arizona College (EAC) to become a fully independent, accredited institution. With independence comes local control, and GCC is already showing what that means for students, faculty, and the broader Gila County community.

“It was just time,” said Dr. Jan Brocker, President of the GCC Governing Board. “EAC was a good partner for many years, but we weren’t able to make decisions that directly reflected the needs of our residents. That had to change.”

Founded as a provisional district in 1999—one of only two in Arizona—GCC relied on contractual arrangements with EAC for academic accreditation, business operations, and staffing. But as oversight became more centralized in Graham County, local board members found themselves increasingly sidelined. “We were paying salaries for employees we weren’t even allowed to talk to,” Brocker noted. “We couldn’t fulfill our oath to the community.”

In 2022, GCC officially ended its contract with EAC and began the challenging task of building a college from the ground up. This included setting up a student information system, payroll, human resources, budget controls, and hundreds of new policies—all without a dedicated internal team. “We’re a five-member volunteer board,” Brocker emphasized. “But we were determined to get this done.”

The breakthroughs came from two sources. The first was from the Gila County Board of Supervisors, which approved funding for five years, enabling the Board to engage Dr. Janice Lawhorn as Interim President and eventually hire specialists to help build the College infrastructure. In addition, an alternative accreditation pathway via the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) made it possible to move toward institutional accreditation. With a liaison and clear guidance from ACCJC, GCC sped up its candidacy process and received approval within a year.

“Having Candidacy Status from ACCJC means we can now control our own curriculum, administration, and strategic direction,” explained Dr. Janice Lawhorn, who officially assumed her role as GCC President on July 1. “It empowers us to directly award degrees and certificates—no longer relying on another college’s accreditation. That’s a major leap forward.”

Dr Janice Lawhorn officially assumed her role as President of GCC on July 1.

One of the biggest successes of this transition is the launch of GCC’s Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AAS), approved on May 23, 2025, by the Arizona State Board of Nursing. The program—offered at both the Globe and Payson campuses—will start accepting applications this summer, with classes beginning in the fall.

“Healthcare is a critical need in rural Arizona. This program gives students a local, affordable pathway into high-demand, high-wage careers—and helps address the regional nursing shortage,” Lawhorn said.

The approval process was rigorous. GCC hired Nursing Program Administrator Alayna Barr and Assistant Administrator Megan Martinez, both of whom played key roles in curriculum design and ensuring compliance with state standards.

GCC’s new independence is more than just structural—it’s symbolic. “We’ve rebranded to better reflect our community, and even introduced a new mascot, the Hawk,” said Lawhorn.

With full autonomy, the college plans to expand career and technical education (CTE) programs, increase dual enrollment opportunities in partnership with high schools and the Cobre Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT), and launch more enrichment courses for retirees and lifelong learners. Plans are also in progress to expand skilled trades programs and online offerings to meet local workforce needs.

“Now that decisions are made in Gila County, not Graham County, we’re able to respond much faster to what our students and employers need,” Brocker said. “Our trades and dual credit programs are growing exponentially.”

After some initial skepticism, community support has increased. “There were times we couldn’t share what was happening behind the scenes,” Brocker admitted. “People had questions. But now, they’re seeing the results—and the appreciation has been overwhelming.”

As GCC prepares to celebrate its first day as an independent college on July 1, both Brocker and Lawhorn are optimistic about the future.

By 2030, GCC aims to achieve full accreditation by January 2027, grow enrollment across campuses and online, develop new programs aligned with regional economic needs, maintain high job placement rates for graduates, and be recognized as a pillar of academic and civic pride in Gila County.

“The message we want to send is simple,” said Lawhorn. “GCC is your hometown college—affordable, accessible, and committed to excellence. We’re here for students of all ages and backgrounds. And we’re just getting started.”

Gila Community College is now enrolling for Fall 2025. Visit gilacc.org and click “Apply Now.”

Courtesy photo