The new Vocational Technology Lab facility construction site, located a block from San Diego City College will offer an overall expansion to many departments and is slated to be open as early as next spring.
“This is the first academic facility that’s being built from scratch,” said City College president, Terrence Burgess.
One of the programs that will be in the new building is the Nursing Program, which is one of the biggest programs City has to offer. As of now, there is a two-year wait list for both the Registered Nursing (RN) and Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) programs.
“There is a very high demand, with the new facility we’ll be able to double the student nurse population and administer two cycles a year,” said Burgess.
“The Cosmetology and Photography programs will be in the new building as well,” said Burgess. This semester City College has a student body of about 17,500. With the new building City will be able to house at least 25,000. “Were all very excited about the extra parking structure, it will be beneficial to all students,” said Burgess. “We look forward to this expansion, and many more such as Humanities and Science to follow with a substantial amount of excitement”. Burgess also mentioned that the entire first floor of the building would be the new location for the campus police.
“There was a delay in the beginning but we’re now back on schedule,” said Lawrence Howard, the senior project engineer with Rudolph & Sletten. “The 247,000 square foot facility is ten [floors] high, and also has a parking structure that will hold 700 additional parking spaces.” Howard said that the deadline for the project completion, of April 1, 2010, would be met.
“With the new facility comes new technology; it will be a student friendly facility,” said Assistant Professor Dometrives Armstrong of the RN program. It will also offer simulation labs that will make it easier for students to understand the course and the type of work they will be doing after graduation. “The simulation rooms will be set up like a real hospital room, they’ll be able to get hands on training,” said Assistant Professor Dinnah L. Didulo-Mansangkay.
The new facility will also offer “Smart Class” classrooms, which will have projectors, clickers and individual computers. There will also be PDA’s with all the textbook material needed. The hallways will have chairs and study areas for the students as well. “We’ll have bigger rooms and more teachers, the students will have their own space to study,” said Professor Mansangkay. “Technology has finally arrived,” said Professor Armstrong.
When asked how will the CTC building benefit the Campus Police Dept, LT. Jack Doherty replied, “In the CTC building there will be a significant amount of more space.”
“I currently share an office with the Sgt, we have cramped lockers, and have to share the restroom with the T building faculty.”Doherty said. “In the new building we’ll have our own restrooms.” The current space is very small for the 18 to 20 officers he currently has.
“When students have to buy parking permits, and there are more then 3, the other students must wait in the hall because of the lack of space.” Doherty continued.
“The reception area will be larger as well making it more comfortable for the officers and the public to conduct business. In addition to having their own restrooms, they will also have private rooms where they can if needed interview victims and suspects. Being that the new building location is not directly on campus it will be a little more difficult to get on campus if assistance is needed.”he said.
“We’ll be changing the patrol strategies for easy access to campus problems, more officers will be on foot.” Doherty added. The campus is made safer with more patrol throughout campus grounds. “The campus Police Department will be housed in the basement and first floor of the CTC building, (and) it will be designed specifically for Police work.”
