Standard Eight
1
Instructional and Support Facilities
Centralia College serves over 4,000 students and 250 faculty and staff and
frequently hosts outside groups. The College by itself cannot change its
facilities in any major way; these rules and requirements are driven by the
Capital Analysis Model (CAM) in a process overseen by the State Board of
Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC). Through CAM the College,
driven by its mission statement, considers programs, enrollments, and
projected growth before submitting a capital request to the state legislature
for any substantive changes to college facilities.
The present facilities are in peak demand between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. with
nearly every classroom utilized. As a result, often there are no available
rooms for additional courses and periodically the College needs to rent
vacant space. However, some facilities are overcrowded with no real
alternative. This issue was recently addressed in the strategic planning
objectives concerning increased evening enrollments.
The facilities themselves, although heavily used, are well maintained. In two
internal climate surveys conducted by the Strategic Planning Committee, the
appearance and care of the facilities received high positive ratings.
However, many of the buildings were constructed using the most economical
methods available during the 1960's and 1970's and are now exhibiting signs
of deterioration. There are also two portable campus buildings over 30 years
old, one of which is the heavily used computer lab/business building. (See
Attachment 8.1)
This situation will be alleviated soon because Centralia College is in the
middle of an Instructional Building Replacement Project (IBRP) necessitated
by structural damage to Corbet Hall. State engineers found problems of
such extent that building replacement was determined to be most cost
effective. The new building will add 25% more square footage for campus
use and will house business, computing, radio and television, music, art, and
drama. It will replace the two aging portables, Corbet Hall, and the Art Annex
building. The new instructional building will be the largest building in the City
of Centralia and greatly enhance the College's availability to the community.
Standard Eight
2
The Board monitors facility planning through monthly reports. The
construction of the new facility in Morton (Centralia College East) was
approved by the Board, monitored closely for three years, and visited on
completion. Likewise, the Board has been actively involved in the IBRP
project by approving actions required to pursue state funding, and monitoring
the acquisition, relocation, and demolition of properties on the construction
site. (Board of Trustees minutes, IBRP documents and model available in
Evidence Room)
Adequacy
As stated earlier, the CAM model utilized by the SBCTC indicates that the
allocation and utilization of square footage at the College is adequate.
However, certain facilities do not function most efficiently. For example,
Student Services is divided between the Library Building and the Student
Center. Students entering the College need to travel between the two
buildings in order to register, enroll, receive counseling, obtain financial aid,
etc. The Facilities Committee is aware of this issue, and the College is
investigating a co-location alternative to combine Student Services functions.
The Campus Facilities Committee, a standing committee of the College
Council, deals with campus facilities issues and advises the vice president
for finance and administration. It meets regularly and publishes minutes via
e-mail. This committee has handled issues from breakrooms to smoking on
campus. It regularly polls or surveys the campus community for input and
feedback prior to implementing new policies or projects. It also reviews
projects, prioritizes major work orders (requiring over four hours of labor),
and reviews safety and security reports. The Facilities Committee projects
have included updating the physics lab, renovating the classrooms in
Lingreen, equipping the video classroom, expanding Kiser Botanical
Gardens, improving the signage leading to and on the campus, and
remodeling the gym classroom, the International House, and the TEEN
houses. A survey was taken prior to establishing the smoking policy and the
effect was designated smoking areas. Several years later, a follow-up
survey, taken to assess effectiveness, resulted in changes to the areas,
signs, and enforcement. In addition, the Facilities Committee played an
Standard Eight
3
important role in the planning of the new Centralia College East Building, the
Tenino facility, and the new instructional building (IBRP).
Recently, the Facilities Committee served as a forum to address space
issues in the Technology Building. This involved the diesel, welding,
forestry/natural resources, and civil engineering tech (CET) departments. As
a result, a new storage building was built for the diesel department which
allowed the tool room to move to the diesel shop. This permitted conversion
of the former tool room into a computerized drop-in lab for short term training.
A side benefit was the establishment of a small breakroom for faculty and
staff in the Technical Building Complex. (Facilities Committee minutes,
Smoking surveys available in Exhibit Room)
Off-Campus Facilities
Centralia College offers computing courses in a number of off-campus
locations. The largest program is located in a new Centralia College East
(CCE) computer lab facility at Morton. The computer labs conform to the
latest state codes and recommended room layouts. The equipment is
current and the software is updated each quarter to ensure that the programs
have appropriate applications installed and operating. Both on- and off-site
computer classrooms have a quarterly program of refurbishing instructionbased software and auditing the process with a detailed checklist of
procedures.
Morton - CC East
The CC Foundation obtained funding via a U.S. Forest Services grant for a
large portion of this building. It is adequate for the projected instructional
needs of the geographic area at this time although usage has doubled in the
last year. When built, the building was designed to accommodate known
technology and is linked to the Internet as well as being equipped with video
conference equipment. The College controls all maintenance and scheduling
and the classrooms meet local and state codes as well as recommended
room configurations.
Standard Eight
4
Tenino - CC Tenino Center
This is a new community-based effort by the College. Currently, the College
rents a storefront, but as the program grows, the College will seek larger
facilities or its own building. The present center, managed by the Continuing
Education Department, has limited technology and a small computer lab
linked to the district. The College will be monitoring the developments in this
area over the near future.
Other off-campus operations include two licensed daycare centers and
several daycare cooperatives which are also used for parent education
classes. The majority of these operations are rented from churches and
schools and include:
ABE/GED/ESL Sites:
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Lewis County Jail
ROOF (Rochester Organization of Families)
Onalaska High School
Randle Nazarene Church
Salkum Library
Winlock High School
Chehalis Tribal Center
Sheltered Workshops:
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Work Opportunities in Chehalis
Reliable Enterprises in Centralia
Cascade Mental Health in Chehalis
When Centralia College rents a facility, adequate space is a priority.
Often the College provides the furnishings, but technological access may
not be available at every location. To date, this situation has not caused
a great problem because any class which requires access has found a
facility which meets all needs. (State requirements for rentals available in
Exhibit Room)
Standard Eight
5
Facilities Master Plan
The campus Facilities Master Plan was first completed in 1971, and
amended in 1982 and 1990. This master plan is reviewed approximately
every decade, and the College recently engaged in such a review which
resulted in a modification approved by the Board of Trustees in March,
2000.
The College has followed the current master plan when acquiring
properties over the past decade. It locked in prices in the current market
to avoid increases over time. The College's partner in these acquisitions
has been the Centralia College Foundation. It has helped purchase
properties or has held their ownership until the College completed the
necessary steps for transfer of ownership. In several cases, the
Foundation retained the properties with the College leasing them. The
following are properties acquired in accordance with the Facilities Master
Plan:
Address:
Owned by:
Use:
406 Locust
408 Locust
College
College
Parking
Parking
210 Iron
217 Iron
Foundation
College
International Students
ECEAP Program
226 Rock
Foundation
International Students
701 Walnut
Foundation
Daycare
307 Washington
College
Storage/IBRP
708 Walnut
College
IBRP
710 Walnut
College
IBRP
716 Walnut
College
IBRP
308 King
College
IBRP
719 Pear
College
IBRP
715 Pear
College
IBRP
220 King
College
TEEN Program
216 King
College
TEEN Program
(Property files in Vice President of Finance and Administration Office)
(Master plan copies, Instructional Building Replacement Project (IBRP)
predesign, design and site plans in Exhibit Room.)
Standard Eight
6
Facilities Development
As a member of the SBCTC, Centralia receives capital funds through a
process known as the Capital Analysis Model (CAM). This model weighs
various factors such as age of the campus, enrollment trends, and
population demographics in developing a request for capital funds. This
request goes to the Office of Fiscal Management (OFM), then to the
legislature. Although a formula establishes the optional funding levels,
legislative action determines the awarded funding which depends on
available resources and priorities. While this works well for the system as
a whole, smaller rural schools similar to Centralia often feel shorted in the
quest for new buildings. This past biennium, the College was fortunate to
have a building project declared an emergency, resulting in priority status
and legislative funding. This next biennium, the SBCTC will review and
possibly modify the CAM for system equity concerns. (SBCTC Capital
request in Exhibit Room.)
Equipment
Centralia College has a total of 700 computers for its 3,000+ students and
approximately 400 faculty and staff on several campuses. The 300
computers for student use are located in a total of 26 student computing
laboratories, ranging in size from a few desktops for CAD and musicology
courses to the standard computer and teaching classrooms with 20-25
workstations per room. Each lab has a "currency" status, and when the
equipment and/or software are approaching the determined baseline, new
equipment and software are ordered to replace the installed items. The
general purpose computer labs contain PC compatible desktop
computers, most of which are Pentium speed machines. Lab assistants
are available for nominal assistance and modest basic orientation.
To date, the College has been able to provide adequate computing
service by using Apple equipment for administrative processes and PC
compatible equipment for readying students to enter the current job
market.
Standard Eight
7
The College has an active Technology Committee that meets monthly to
consider relevant issues including policies for currency of hardware and
software, privacy, security, compliance with laws, rules, and regulations
promulgated by state and national regulators.
With the completion of the new campus building, seven state-of-the-art
computer-based classrooms, equipment, and software will be available.
One of the special features of the new building will be a computer
commons area where approximately 50 computers will be open to the
student body for extended hours offering the maximum opportunity for
student use of this facility and the hardware/software. The campus has
current technology videoconferencing equipment for both broadcast and
participation of teleconferencing and distance learning classroom
programs. Fall quarter 1999 scheduled 22 hours per week for this
classroom.
Central to the program to inform, educate, and encourage faculty in the
latest uses of information technology for teaching and research is the
Teaching and Learning Center (TLC). This center was created in 199293 as part of a Title III grant to assist ten colleges in integrating
technology into teaching activities. The TLC has a wide variety of current
equipment so the TLC staff assists with faculty needs and professional
development.
Apart from the student computing labs, the College has 400 computers
for use by faculty and staff in support of administrative applications. This
approximates one computer per faculty and staff member. While the
equipment includes primarily modern technology, the inventory also
includes more modest equipment that is still appropriate to the needs of
the user. This array of equipment allows the College to focus scarce
resources on the areas requiring the most current technology.
Equipment central to the operation of the campus is maintained and
replaced on a regular cycle. The Computer Services Department
monitors and upgrades computer equipment including the Internet
network, labs, administrative and faculty offices, and the HP3000, which
is the main system for the finance and student service programs.
Standard Eight
8
The College has a Technology and Computer Services group consisting
of nine individuals on staff and a half dozen student lab aides. This group
monitors the condition of all the computer equipment on campus,
provides an annual inspected inventory survey and maintains an
automated helpdesk, repair record, and inventory control system on-line.
The College replaces approximately 150 of its 700 computers each year
for an average age of three years. This is older than the higher education
average but works for the workload on the campus. Older equipment is
sent to surplus more often for obsolescence than for being worn out.
Copy machines are for the most part leased and carried on maintenance
contracts. However, many smaller and older models find their way to
locations around campus and pose problems because of their age and
limited capabilities.
Equipment specific to certain functions is the responsibility of individual
departments. Over the past ten years, budget constraints have often
resulted in equipment reductions to preserve personnel. As a result,
many equipment issues are funded by one-time expenditures from local
funds. Although this keeps the programs functioning, it also means a
permanent budget to meet these needs is nonexistent.
As a partial response to this, the Budget Review and Planning Committee
(BRP) set aside 10% of the Running Start, Excess Enrollment, and
Instructional Program revenues for special requests. Now called the
Lovington Awards, any person on campus can apply for a one-time
expenditure that demonstrates campus value. The requests often include
equipment and over the past five years, approximately $200,000 has
been awarded through this program.
Since state procedures require inventory and tracking of assets, all
shipments of equipment are received by Central Services, tagged, and
inventoried in the Fixed Asset System. This is physically checked on a biannual basis. (Facilities Committee minutes, BRP minutes, Technology
Committee minutes available in Exhibit Room)
Standard Eight
9
Campus Maintenance
The College management and maintenance staff levels for the most part
are satisfactory. The grounds crew is able to maintain the campus lawns,
flower beds, walkways, and mall at a high level. Custodian levels are
below the state average for community and technical colleges (one per
30,000 gross square feet) and far below national standards
(approximately one per 20-25,000 square feet). Centralia College is
34,031 square feet per custodial staff. To help with this situation, a
restructuring of the grounds and custodial areas resulted in the creation of
a lead supervisor for both crews. This move, combined with regular
meetings of the Quality Initiative Committee to improve communication,
has resulted in fewer complaints and more compliments on the
appearance of the campus. Additionally, a liaison sits on the Facilities
Committee.
Because the College is one of the smaller FTE producers in the system,
the level of maintenance mechanics is low, and workers carry out a wide
range of responsibilities. For example, one maintenance mechanic is
responsible for the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC)
systems, plumbing, and electrical tasks. Another is responsible for the
telephone system, fiber optic wiring, and other communication wiring
needs. Although the tasks are completed as quickly as possible, often
times the volume is overwhelming. The following table lists the details of
maintenance responsibilities:
Buildings On & Off -Campus
SQUARE
FOOTAGE
YEAR
ACQUIRED
Teen-216 King
1,023
1999
Offices/Daycare
Teen-218 King
1,123
1995
Classes
Teen-220 King
1,200
1995
Classes
Art-Art Annex
8,548
1974
Art Classes
1976
BdaBusiness Annex
Bsc-Batie Sci Ctre
1,700
1966
1990
2,700
1949
Classroom/Fac
Offices
Classroom/Lab
Location
GENERAL USE
YEAR
REMODEL
1989
Standard Eight
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Bus-Business
Occupations
Cdc-Van Prooyen
8,755
1968
Classroom/Labs/Offices
1975
5,520
1980
Childcare Ctr
1992
Cen-Central Svcs
2,400
1980
Printshop/Offices
1991
Cor-Corbet
19,300
1972
Theatre/Classroom/
Radio Station
Ert-Ehret
11,400
1958
Sci Labs/Classrooms
1993
2,000
1991
Offices
1993
3,000
1995
Offices
1993
Gym-Gym
25,400
1935
Gym/Offices
1981
Han-Hansen
9,100
1935
Offices
1994
Hfl-Home & Family
(Brick)
2,500
1986
Classroom/Lab
Kmp-Kemp
18,000
1950
Classroom/Offices
Lib-Library
25,000
1990
Library/Classes/Offices
Lin-Lingreen
9,600
1963
Classroom/Offices
1989
Stu-Student Svcs
28,400
1963
Student Ctr/Offices
1990
Tno-Tenino Ctr
900
1998
Classes
Voc-Voc Tech
46,270
1982
Shop/Classroom/Offices
Ecc-Morton Ctr
5,500
1997
Classes/Offices
Fam-Family Svcs
(Tan)
Gar-Hse-307 S
Washington
1992
1992
CAMPUS CUSTODIAL STAFF MAINTAIN:
Total Square Footage
241,918
Total Footage Assigned
238,218
Custodial Staff Level
National Standard
7 (One Per 34,031 Square Feet)
10.5 (One per 20-25,000 square feet)
Standard Eight
FACILITIES STAFF:
11
FTE
Director
1.00
Lead Supervisor
1.00
Grounds Crew
1.75
Custodial
7.00
Maintenance Mechanics
4.00
Secretary
1.0 0
Chemical Hygiene Officer
1.00 (Instruction Area)
Health/Safety/Access
The College prioritizes work requests with safety being the number one
consideration. All requests identified as safety related are handled as
soon as possible as a matter of practice. Safety incident reports are
reviewed by the Facilities Committee on a monthly basis. Because of the
age of the facility and related operating equipment, breakdowns and
malfunctions occur regularly. However, any request which might include
a safety or health concern receives immediate attention.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
In January 1993, the College had an independent study done regarding
ADA accessibility. This study was filed with the State of Washington, and
as a result, the College requested and was awarded funds for ADA
facilitation. In August 1995, an ADA approved elevator was installed in
the Student Services Building and several handrails were placed
throughout the campus. Automatic doors were installed for the Library
Building and ramps were built for the Home and Family Life Buildings.
In addition, Centralia College has an ADA Steering Committee overseen
by the vice president of finance and administration, and includes the
special needs coordinator, the Human Resources director, and the
facilities director. This committee, over the past 10 years, has focused on
Standard Eight
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upgrading and remodeling doors, entryways, sidewalks, and restrooms.
Braille signage has been added to all doors. These improvements have
increased disabled access to campus facilities and because Centralia has
made such significant progress toward achieving ADA standards, it is no
longer a high state priority for funding. (ADA Study, located in the Vice
President of Finance and Administration office.)
Hazardous Waste
The College has a chemical hygiene officer who ensures compliance with
state and federal environmental and safety laws.
The Diesel Technology program has a covered area supplied for waste oil
with drip pan protection for spillage. Hazardous materials are labeled and
kept separate in the Technical Building until disposal. New oils are
housed in a separate locked room, and anti-freeze is filtered and
reclaimed on site by an approved EPA method. Properly trained
personnel are responsible for transporting or using hazardous materials.
Disposal of hazardous materials from the print room are contracted out to
licensed vendors. Moreover, the College is regularly inspected by the
State of Washington Water and Air Pollution Authority. The College also
recycles paper and cans. (Records of Disposal on file in Printroom –
Central Services Reports on file in Buildings & Grounds Dept.
Campus Security
Security on campus is provided by a contracted service. This was a
problem in the past, but the current contractor has stepped up visibility
and level of service to gain the confidence of the campus community. In
reviewing this issue, the Facilities Committee conducted a security survey
of campus faculty, staff, and students. The results of this survey
established the direction and criteria for selection of the new security
contractor.
Standard Eight
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The College pursued the option of housing the security contractor on
campus via a quid pro quo agreement for services. However, the facility
was in the block ultimately determined to house the IBRP project, and is
no longer an option. However, once the IBRP project is underway, the
College intends to continue pursuit of this option. (Security Survey
available in Exhibit Room)
Analysis
Community colleges in Washington state are on tight budgets and have
had several reductions this past decade. Because of these budget
restraints, some facilities and well-used furniture may not provide the
most comfortable or beneficial environment for learning. Many of the
older classroom desks do not address the needs of larger students or
those who are left-handed. In addition, the issue of ergonomics as it
relates to computers and chairs must be considered. Other furniture such
as drafting lab stools are uncomfortable for students to use and do not
alleviate any back problems many students seem to have. CAD stations
are restrictive, and the many hours students spend in them may lead to
eye strain or carpal tunnel syndrome. Because of the proximity of some
programs, especially welding, diesel, and engineering, machine noise
often disturbs or disrupts classes and studying.
In addition to furniture funding, the College needs to focus on instructional
needs in the north Lewis County and south Thurston County area. As
enrollment increases, the College will evaluate course offerings and
facilities using Centralia College East as a model. However, present
budgetary concerns prohibit expansion plans beyond rental facilities.
Funding for additional custodial staff needs to be researched and
technical staff to help maintain the equipment is a high priority.
Standard Eight Future Directions
Standard Eight
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Review purpose and upkeep procedures for Kiser
Gardens
Evaluate options for efficient maintenance of
additional square footage
Create policies and procedures for increased
technology presence in the new building
Coordinate the needs of arts and technology staff
in new building
Review equipment budgets to maintain high level
of teaching programs
Develop a coherent, unified policy for both transfer
and vocational programs
Provide consistent upgrading to all computer labs
on campus
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