VGCC Campus Sees Flurry Of Building Activity
A new classroom building, enlargement of the bookstore and additional parking are some of the constructions projects under way at Vance-Granville Community College’s main campus.
The college’s Board of Trustees received an update on these and other building projects during the board’s bi-monthly meeting Sept. 16.
David Brooks, chairman of the board’s Building Committee, told the trustees that construction is well under way on the 51,900 square-foot classroom building, which is being built with funds from the Higher Education Facilities Bonds approved by state voters in 2000. Plans are to move into the building no later than December 2003.
Bids on the classroom building came in quite a bit under projections, Brooks said, so several other projects are being carried out with the surplus funds. The college’s crowded bookstore is being enlarged for more merchandising and storage space. An additional parking lot of 75 spaces is being constructed, and a current parking lot is being expanded by another 40 spaces to help accommodate the large increase in students on the campus.
In addition, the roof on the Student Services Building is being repaired, and soffits on Buildings 1 and 2 have been replaced or repaired. Brooks also asked for, and the board approved, the development of a 9,000 square-foot addition to the Student Services Building to provide more classroom space.
Vance-Granville Community College will receive $17.1 million from the bonds over a six-year period, and a new building or expansion is planned for each of the college’s four campuses. Plans are already under way for a new building at the Warren County Campus in Warrenton. At the Sept. 16 meeting, the trustees approved a contract with the architectural firm of Dove, Knight & Whitehurst to design expansions at the Franklin County Campus in Louisburg and the South Campus between Butner and Creedmoor.
FEDERAL PROGRAM FUNDS
President Robert A. Miller reported to the board that Vance-Granville Community College will receive $748,850 in federal funds to support programs at the college during fiscal year 2002-2003.
These programs include curriculum support of financial aid, counseling and job placement of adults; subsidized employment wage reimbursement to employers for on-the-job training; education, training and work-based job opportunities for Welfare to Work; and tutoring, counseling and financial aid services for eligible students through Student Support Services.
NEW FACULTY
The board approved employment of four new faculty members for the current school year. President Miller pointed out that these are all replacement positions for faculty and staff. Since the state budget has not been approved, the college does not have funds to hire additional faculty, although they are needed to cover the record number of students – 4,230 – enrolled during the current Fall Semester, he said.
Approved for employment were Maria S. Orsini, instructor for Associate Degree Nursing; Carole L. Williams and Amy O’Geary, Office Systems Technology instructors; and Shernita L. Williamson, Criminal Justice Instructor for high schools.
