Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) is a 2-year community college in Phoenix, Arizona. It is located in the North Phoenix neighborhood. A branch campus, PVCC at Black Mountain, opened in August 2009 in the far northern section of Scottsdale, Arizona to serve this rapidly growing area. It will also provide greater access for the communities of Cave Creek and Carefree. The college mascot is the puma and the colors are sand and turquoise. Despite its name, PVCC is located some distance from the actual town of Paradise Valley, Arizona, which is adjacent to Phoenix but independent from it. Other facilities in this part of the city use Paradise Valley in their names as well. PVCC was originally founded by the Maricopa County Community College District as the Northeast Valley Education Center in 1985 with classes temporarily held at Paradise Valley High School. The district gave the college its present name and began campus construction in 1986 and inaugurated the permanent site during 1987. The college had operated as an extension of Scottsdale Community College and gained independent accreditation in 1990.