Board borrows $25 million for expansion, maintenance
Jesse Woodrum
Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: News
The first phase of the plan will include a new Engineering and Science Technology building to bring automotive, manufacturing, and welding courses close together to share resources. Part of the gymnasium renovation such as new bleachers, sound system, and flooring will be included in Phase I along with upgrades to several of the college's elevators and roofing at several buildings.
Phase II is also ambitious and includes the construction of a new Student Services facility. Linda Moore, Vice President of Student Services says the modern student services department-financial aid, counseling and advising, the career center-has coalesced over recent decades and has had to adapt to a college structure built to accommodate a more modest service department. Presently, financial aid applicants enter sensitive, personal information on computers in a public hallway while other students stand in line beside them. Another hallway has become the waiting room for academic advising. Moore also says the practice of hosting speakers and other guests in the Flag and Gallery Lounges is unprofessional and disruptive to nearby classrooms.
President Ramage says the new Student Services facility, planned for the north side of campus between the gymnasium and the L-wing, will give the college a "front door" where beginning students can walk in and apply, register, buy books, meet an academic advisor, and apply for financial aid without having to ask directions and traverse half the campus. The facility is expected to house a new fitness center and dining center. Tentative plans include turning the old dining facility into a café or turning over some of the space to the hospitality students who currently use it as a lab area. Several faculty members have mentioned the idea of moving the broadcast booth of the WPCD radio station to a glass enclosure near heavy student foot traffic.
The final phase of the Master Plan as it is laid out now, will include major maintenance projects as well as the construction of a "black box" theater near the current theater. A black box is a simple room often accompanying another traditional theater. It can be used for experimental projects and stage readings. Moving regular theatrical rehearsals to a black box at Parkland would free the theater for use by the several student organizations and community groups who often use it for meetings or events.
Incurring the debt for Phase I was relatively uneventful and Ramage says the Board of Trustees' vote on the issue was unanimous. The last two phases, each of which contains major construction, have yet to be funded.
Phase II is also ambitious and includes the construction of a new Student Services facility. Linda Moore, Vice President of Student Services says the modern student services department-financial aid, counseling and advising, the career center-has coalesced over recent decades and has had to adapt to a college structure built to accommodate a more modest service department. Presently, financial aid applicants enter sensitive, personal information on computers in a public hallway while other students stand in line beside them. Another hallway has become the waiting room for academic advising. Moore also says the practice of hosting speakers and other guests in the Flag and Gallery Lounges is unprofessional and disruptive to nearby classrooms.
President Ramage says the new Student Services facility, planned for the north side of campus between the gymnasium and the L-wing, will give the college a "front door" where beginning students can walk in and apply, register, buy books, meet an academic advisor, and apply for financial aid without having to ask directions and traverse half the campus. The facility is expected to house a new fitness center and dining center. Tentative plans include turning the old dining facility into a café or turning over some of the space to the hospitality students who currently use it as a lab area. Several faculty members have mentioned the idea of moving the broadcast booth of the WPCD radio station to a glass enclosure near heavy student foot traffic.
The final phase of the Master Plan as it is laid out now, will include major maintenance projects as well as the construction of a "black box" theater near the current theater. A black box is a simple room often accompanying another traditional theater. It can be used for experimental projects and stage readings. Moving regular theatrical rehearsals to a black box at Parkland would free the theater for use by the several student organizations and community groups who often use it for meetings or events.
Incurring the debt for Phase I was relatively uneventful and Ramage says the Board of Trustees' vote on the issue was unanimous. The last two phases, each of which contains major construction, have yet to be funded.
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