Needles Center

The Palo Verde Community College District began serving Needles and the surrounding area in 1998 when an agreement was reached with the San Bernardino CCD which had been providing limited classes to the area since 1968. Beginning Fall Semester 1998, Palo Verde College began offering classes in the evening on the Needles High School campus. A search began for a permanent site for the College, which would allow a full array of classes to be offered, both in the daytime as well as the evening.

In June 2005, the citizens of Needles and the surrounding area approved a $6 million bond issue for the remodeling of the historic Claypool Building which was generously donated to Palo Verde by the Claypool family. In addition, in early 2005, Congressman Jerry Lewis secured $496,000 in federal money for the computers and high tech equipment needed to furnish the Needles Center. Following the passage of the bond measure, the California State Legislature approved $1.6 million for equipment and furniture for the building. The project was completed in 2009 and provides classrooms, computer labs, library space, and administrative offices on two floors. The exterior Art Deco facade was restored to its 1930's elegance, and the Needles Center became a landmark building in downtown Needles. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on July 28, 2009 with the first classes being held at the new facility fall semester 2009.

The main floor of the building houses a media learning center with computers for student access, an audio/video services center, plus a large student activities center, administrative offices and restrooms. The lower level houses three large distance learning labs (iTV), two lecture classrooms, a graphic arts lab, a computer lab and two interdisciplinary classrooms. Students have access to the lower level classrooms by elevator and a stairway.

Students attend Palo Verde College in preparation for transfer to four-year institutions, to acquire entry-level job skills, to increase their vocational competency, or to participate in a variety of non-credit courses. Classes are conducted at the Needles Center, through Interactive Video conferencing (iTV) with the campus in Blythe, correspondence education and online classes for those students unable to attend regular classes in Blythe and Needles.

The Needles Center provides tutoring and supplemental instruction to students who want to acquire, improve, review, or maintain academic skills in various subject areas. Assistance may be individualized or in small groups and is open to all PVC students from developmental to advanced classes. Counseling/advising services are provided by web and telephone conferencing and personal face to face meetings with the various college counselors. The Needles staff are also available to assist students with the registration and application process. At the Needles Center we seek to support the overall mission of the Palo Verde College by contributing to student success and access.

The City of Needles sits on U.S. Interstate 40 along the Colorado River and is located in the Mohave Valley about 120 miles south of Las Vegas and 100 miles north of the Blythe campus.

725 W. Broadway, Needles, California 92363
(760) 326-5033