VGCC Main Campus Construction, Warren Building Plans On Schedule
Construction of a new classroom building at Vance-Granville Community College’s main campus is right on schedule, despite recent heavy rains, the college’s Board of Trustees were told at their semi-monthly meeting Nov. 18.
The trustees also approved the basic floor plan and agreed to submit the drawings to the State Construction Office for a new classroom building at the college’s Warren County Campus in Warrenton.
Both buildings are funded by Higher Education Facilities Bonds approved in 2000. New construction is also planned at the Franklin County Campus and South Campus in Granville County when funds become available over a six-year period.
Building Chairman J. David Brooks reported that concrete has been poured and a retaining wall constructed for the 52,000 square-foot main campus building, which is designed to house many of the technology instructional programs, as well as public service, occupational extension classes and literacy programs. This building, which is scheduled for completion by December 2003, will free up classroom space in existing buildings for the record number of students Vance-Granville is currently serving, said President Robert A. Miller.
As a result of the bids for the building coming in under what had been allocated, the college is undertaking several other important projects at the main campus.
Brooks pointed out Vance-Granville got such a good price because “it hit the ground running” when VGCC officials learned the bond money would be coming, and the college got its plans in early for state approval and “beat the rush” with construction companies.
Other projects include two new parking lots at the back of campus to provide 130 additional, much-needed parking spaces. A 990 square-foot expansion to the college bookstore is also under way.
Additionally, the trustees approved drawings for a two-story addition to the Student Services Building of 10,180 square feet. This will permit the college to put all Student Services personnel, who are currently scattered in several buildings, under one roof. An additional parking lot of more than 50 spaces is planned adjacent to this building.
Trustees Chairman John K. Nelms said that having all Student Services counselors, admissions, student records and financial aid personnel in one building will be of significant benefit to students.
WARREN CONSTRUCTION PLAN
When the trustees considered the Warren County Campus building, President Miller said plans are to begin construction in July 2003 on the 14,000 square-foot classroom facility. It will be placed behind the current buildings at the campus on Ridgeway Street.
Miller pointed out a feature of the Warren building will be two rooms that will be sectioned off for outside entrance and that can be heated and cooled separately. This will permit them to be used when the campus is not normally operating, especially on weekends.
In this section will be a meeting room/classroom and an occupational extension computer lab, as well as rest rooms. Chairman Nelms said construction of this building will increase capacity of the Warren County Campus by 25 to 33 percent.
State Budget
President Miller told the trustees that the state has told community colleges to hold back and not spend 6 percent of the 2002-2003 funds allocated to them by the state budget. That amounts to $856,275 for Vance-Granville Community College, he said.
Already, the state has ordered that 2.35 percent of state-budgeted funds be reverted to the state treasury in December. This is $335,530 from Vance-Granville. This will come from college expenses across-the-board, Miller said, including salaries, travel, supplies and other costs.
“We are currently advertising to fill five new curriculum faculty positions, to start in January,” Miller said. “If we were not facing these budget reversions, we would probably be looking for additional instructional positions to handle the recent growth the college has experienced.”
Other Items
Community college employees will not get pay raises this year, but Vance-Granville was able to give its permanent full-time and permanent part-time employees a 2 percent one-time bonus, Miller told the board.
The trustees approved full-time employment of Tyris Ra’Shea Casey as instructor for basic skills at Polk Youth Center, James H. Johnson as instructor and coordinator of English As A Second Language, and Christan Melvin as GED examiner. Miller told the board all three had been working part-time for VGCC, but their programs have expanded to where they are needed full-time.
The trustees approved advertisement for sale of house number 35 built as a practical class project by Carpentry program students. Minimum bid for the 1,344 square-foot house is $29,000, and bids will be opened Dec. 16. For complete bid information, contact the VGCC Business Office.
In the photo above, John K. Nelms, left, chairman of the Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees accepts a check symbolic of donations to the college’s Endowment Fund and Scholarship Program by faculty and staff members. Presenting the check are, from left, Jo Anna Jones, Larraine Abbott and George Henderson, co-chairpersons of the 2002 faculty and staff fund drive. This year’s contributions bring faculty and staff donations to the fund that provides scholarships to deserving students to more than $156,000.
