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The City of Yuma is working to create a 鈥榤ultiversity鈥� that will house multiple independent universities that will offer a full range of degree programs on one campus.

The Yuma Multiversity Campus (YMC) will serve as an educational hub for existing institutions of higher education and their various degree programs.

鈥淲e’ve always struggled with having a full university presence here,鈥� Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls said. 鈥淚 was in downtown Phoenix and I drove by the Biomed Campus that had the [Arizona State University] and [University of Arizona] logo on the side of the building and I thought ‘that sounds like the way it should be.鈥� Where we just put everybody in one location [and] organize the program so everyone is collaborating to offer as many programs as we can get.鈥�

The YMC will provide students with cutting-edge knowledge and significant educational opportunities.

According to Nicholls, the multiversity will expand the work of the state鈥檚 universities and colleges while also giving Yuma the ability to develop a culture of degree-earning and higher education.

鈥淭he vision is that the YMC鈥�can expand on the incredible work and pace set by Arizona Western College and state universities to make higher education more accessible,鈥� Nicholls said in a. 鈥淚t will also create opportunities to strengthen the local industry, to bridge job creation in the area with accessibility to more academics, and ultimately to offer a better quality of life for Yumans.鈥�

Nicholls and the City of Yuma received grants in the amounts of $50,000 from the Arizona Community Foundation鈥檚 Fund for Common Good grant and $50,000 from the Arizona Public Service Corporate Giving grant. In April, the inaugural YMC Board of Directors began planning the project.

鈥淭he Board of Directors have decided to go out and use that grant funding to bring on an executive director to help organize the different pieces that need to get organized [and] do the research in coalition building to move the project forward,鈥� Nicholls said.

The money will not only fund the recruitment and hiring of the YMC Executive Director but also establishing an educational steering committee and community committee to work alongside the Executive Director and Board, and establish a nonprofit corporation that will ultimately own and operate the campus.

According to the City of Yuma, the YMC will provide the talent pool needed to attract businesses to Yuma and provide 鈥渕uch needed鈥� employment in the region. 聽

鈥淭his approach to higher education is indicative of the Yuma community,鈥� Nicholls said. 鈥淐ollaborating and building upon the strengths that currently exist to offer a future that is [richer] with opportunity. That’s just how our community grows and has grown over the last 100 plus years.鈥�

The Board of Directors includes Arizona Western College President; Gowan Company Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board; Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation President and CEO; Yuma Regional Medical Center President and CEO; Yuma Center of Excellence in Desert Agriculture Executive Director; JV Smith Companies鈥�; and Yuma County Supervisor.