Editorial Column for Daily Herald
For Publication: 6/25/08
 

HCC Facilities Master Plan: Looking to the Future
Dr. Ervin V. Griffin, Sr.
President, Halifax Community College

HCC recently conducted extensive investigations into its long-term growth potential based on community and faculty/staff surveys, regional demographics and market needs analyses. The Long Range Plan, which was completed in 2007, includes a section listing gaps that need to be filled in order for the plan to be implemented.

The Facilities Master Plan focused on gaining a better understanding of the issues and costs associated with filling the identified gaps, then prioritizing them according to their impact on the implementation of the Long Range Plan.

Prioritized needs include:

1. Proposed Academic and Student Services Center and Technology Upgrades to 64 learning spaces

2. Expansion of Automotive Shop and Cosmetology buildings

3. Proposed Public Safety Technology Center and new classroom building

The prioritization of programs was done in a comprehensive manner with the highest priority being given to the need that would have the most immediate impact on the entire campus and not only one program.

Priority #1: New construction would include more than 26,000 square feet of additional space, designed to connect the Learning Resources and Student Services Center, to provide student support spaces. Since these areas form the hub for most student activities and are prerequisite to the proper functioning of HCC, this was listed as the first priority. The expanded Learning Resources Center would provide spaces for tutoring, computers, seminars and storage and stack areas.

Also, current classrooms and labs are somewhat antiquated, because they are not equipped with current state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. New equipment would include the installation of overhead projectors, new projection screens and controls, dimming controls for new T-8 fluorescent lights and networking, and possibly safety doors in each classroom to enhance campus security.

Priority #2: Both the Automotive Technology and Cosmetology programs are growing and have space that is inadequate in size, ventilation and lighting. The Cosmetology program has demand for 47 students with space for only 27. The current building does not meet the facility standards of the N.C. Cosmetology licensing board.

The growth in Automotive Technology was cited in the Long Range Plan. Since the time that the plan was published, the need to expand the program has increased due to the establishment of NCCAR, which will locate in Northampton County. The additional space would expand off the end of the current building and also use the space occupied by the current welding shop. Welding would then be relocated to the current auto shop. Class space could be provided for technical teaching areas in electronics.

Priority #3: The Public Safety programs are growing rapidly and need all of the existing Building 400 space. HCC has become a regional center for local EMT service providers and requires dedicated classroom, conferencing and break-out spaces for larger groups. Displaced programs would be accommodated in a new building constructed beside Building 400. The new building would also be designed to house new program spaces for carpentry and hospitality management programs, also seen as needs in the gap analysis.

The Master Planning document also pointed out some other interesting facts. HCC's site has an irregular border, but has a long axis running south to north. It was found in the analysis that the site has been developed to the maximum extent possible, along its eastern edge, where it drops steeply into wetter areas. There are several larger sections of developable land. These were found at the front, northeast corner. Building sites for the three priority projects are limited in size and will only support the projects suggested in the plan.

However, larger projects could not be supported because there is insufficient room and further development would limit access from fire rescue vehicles. Any additional development for buildings or parking will need to be located on the remaining developable land or additional land acquired. The site is served by public utilities for water, sewer and electricity and preliminary studies indicate that there is sufficient capacity to support the proposed projects without major improvements to utilities.

From the President's Perspective, to meet future priorities of the college, HCC needs to move forward on the outlined priorities and to consider the need to acquire more land for development. I believe the five-year plan outlined above is a good plan for right now, but as we continue to grow in enrollment and expand our programs, we will need to seriously look at more land to meet our needs. Moreover, it was found in the analysis that additional access to the HCC site could be provided with the construction of a new access drive from Country Club Road, located west of the site. We are currently working on this project with the Board of Trustees. Hopefully, the North Carolina General Assembly during the 2009 session will review the planning activities of all community colleges and find ways to fund these priorities in the near future.

Feel free to send me an email message about this plan at president@halifaxcc.edu with your thoughts or ideas. Also, to learn about our current or new programs—stop by campus, call us at (252) 536-HCC1 (4221), or visit us online at www.halifaxcc.edu. The master plan can be viewed on our website at www.halifaxcc.edu/FactBook/ and click on “HCC Facilities Master Plan.”