Standard Eight:
Physical Resources
The institution has sufficient and appropriate physical resources to support its purposes and goals.
8.1 The institution ensures that adequate physical resources
are provided to support its educational programs
and services wherever and however they are offered.
Descriptive Summary
Victor Valley Community College District, encompassing over 2200 square miles of the High Desert of Southern California, serves this vast area through the facilities on its 300 acre campus in the city of Victorville. Situated adjacent to the historic Mojave River, the site consists of forty buildings and major district owned and controlled infrastructure including: roads, computerized phone system service, high voltage electrical service, primary water service, campus owned and operated water wells, and medium service natural gas distribution. The campus is especially noteworthy for its dramatic layout around a centrally located five-acre lake. A part of the historical and cultural development of the east Mojave Basin, senior members of the area recall stock watering at the site during early ranching days. Today, students, faculty, staff and the public frequently can be seen enjoying this beautiful setting.
The District has completed major improvements in access issues over the past five years. Beginning with the creation of a Transition Plan,1 which was completed in 1992, goals were identified to overcome such barriers as the 70 foot elevation change between upper and lower campus and the absence of power assisted doors on major buildings. Both of these examples have been addressed. A major project has been completed providing an elevator connecting upper and lower campus. This building has a capacity for three elevator cars. Also, another remodel project has provided for the retrofitting of building doors and restrooms to accommodate disabled persons.
During the past five years the District has constructed with state facilities funds:
- a Science laboratory building with (5) life science labs, (5) physical science labs, (24) faculty offices, and a planetarium
- a Learning Resource Center
- a Central Plant project
- a Construction Technology building
- a Gymnasium
The District constructed a Student Activities Center through local funding.
The earlier Library building has been remodeled into an Academic Commons which includes a Learning Center, a language lab, a student assessment center and a learning disabilities /ACT center--all employing computer technology.
The earlier Science building has been modified to accommodate general purpose classrooms and a dean/faculty office complex.
The District has a fiber optic ATM backbone which connects classrooms, offices, and services to the district network, 4C/Net, and the Internet. Some 600 student computer stations are used by disciplines ranging from a CAD/graphics lab, digital photography, and word processing, to allied health lab. All faculty offices are equipped with computer technology. The District is in the process of beginning to install level one smart classroom technology.
This fall a 5,280 square foot modular unit child development center is being constructed using a combination of state funds, CalWORKS funds, and Block Grant funds (City of Victorville). It will more than double the district�s child development service.
Also this fall tennis courts (6) are being constructed using private contributions (matching basis). This will enable the physical education and athletic programs to offer classes and compete on quality courts. This spring, a softball complex will be constructed using private funds (matching basis). As with tennis, the District will finally have a quality softball field for classes and competition.
The District has also been in the process of replacing classroom and office furniture to ensure sound ergonomics and access.
Some 1,000 additional parking spaces have been added to the campus for student, faculty, and staff convenience over the past five years. Some 20 percent of classrooms and parking lots are refurbished each year to ensure that campus physical facilities are maintained at a quality level.
Self Evaluation
The institution has sufficient and appropriate physical resources to support its purposes and goals. Even with the recent, unprecedented growth, the District has identified additional needs created by the even faster growth of technology and its related features, such as lap top personal computers and access to the World Wide Web. The District has submitted a new building proposal. This project will be an Advanced Technology Center. The building will support computer assisted learning with:
- 260 student computers - open lab
- 5 dedicated computer labs
- 15 classrooms wired for lap top PCS
- 30 faculty offices
An engineering study was commissioned during 1997/98 to determine data and audio-visual transmission infrastructure needs of the campus to bring these to every classroom, office, and service center.
The District has studied traffic safety both entering and exiting the campus as well as on campus. It was found that both the Jacaranda and Fish Hatchery Road entrances present safety concerns.
A Department of State Architect study found the "old" Gymnasium to be seismically unsafe. An engineering study will be performed this year for corrective analysis and retrofit estimated cost.
The campus is energy efficient. This includes:
- a Central Plant which uses 54 degree well water to cool buildings. This water flows into the lake where it is pumped to irrigate the campus.
- a computerized energy management system.
- an energy project was completed which replaced older light ballasts, air conditioning/heating motors, etc. with energy efficient ones.
The District is planning to incorporate an elevator at the site of the proposed new Advanced Technology Center. This will address a second location on campus where the topography shows elevation changes too severe to comply with Average Daily Attendance and other code requirements.
The District has submitted Initial Planning Projects (IPPs) and Final Planning Projects (FPPs) for state funding for:
- Advanced Technology Complex
- Road Safety Project
- Telecommunications Infrastructure Project
- Child Development Center
- Theatre Arts/Speech facility
Facility planning is ongoing. Facility needs under consideration include:
- secondary effects of the Advanced Technology Complex
- retrofitting of the "old" Gym and determining its future use
- soccer fields
- a teaching lab for the Restaurant Management program
- an adaptive physical education facility
- refurbishing of the Performing Arts Center
- assorted Scheduled Maintenance projects
- bringing the Print Shop back to the campus so that it is accessible and networkable
Planning Agenda
None.
8.2 The management, maintenance, and operation of physical facilities ensure effective utilization and continuing quality necessary to support the programs and services of the institution.
Descriptive Summary
The management, maintenance and operation of the district�s infrastructure ensures effective use and continuing quality necessary to support the programs and services of the College. The District Facility Master Plan2 pledges to preserve this unique feature for posterity, displaying an understanding of the critical connection between successful learning and a positive, reinforcing learning environment. This understanding is further demonstrated throughout this beautiful campus. The continuing growth in student enrollment has recently been matched by the most significant increase in new building construction since the College�s inception over thirty years ago, ensuring additional support for educational programs.
Self Evaluation
The management, maintenance and operations of the physical facilities ensure effective use and continuing quality necessary to support programs and services of the institution. The maintenance and operations uses a system of priority ranking work order requests. This system places all requests to keep the teaching and study environment working second only to safety issues. Critical operations such as building heating and cooling are noted in the maintenance "comfort log" immediately as they are called in. These needs are then relayed via portable radio directly to the M & O personnel in the field who then respond. The District recently completed an update of its Energy Management System. Based on computer monitoring of all critical building functions, this installation represent a state-of-the-art method for ensuring a good learning environment.
Planning Agenda
1. The District will continue the quality of its Maintenance, Custodial and Grounds operations. Gauging this will be accomplished through customer satisfaction surveys.
8.3 Physical facilities at all site locations where courses, programs, and services are offered are constructed and maintained in accordance with the institution�s obligation to ensure access, safety, security, and a healthy environment.
Descriptive Summary
The past three years have seen the completion and occupancy of a new Main Gymnasium, Science Lab Building, Learning Resource Center (Library), Central Plant and Student Activities Center, all which were part of the Five-Year Capital Outlay Construction Plan.3 These represent an increase of 91,288 allotted square feet. Additional physical plant resources completed during the past three years include:
- Construction Technology building
- Access project, including an elevator
- Remodel of library into an Academic Commons, which houses a Learning Center, LD/ACT, language lab, and student assessment
- Remodel of old Science building
Self Evaluation
Physical facilities are constructed and maintained to insure access, safety, security and a positive learning environment. The previous self-study addressed the need for maintaining budget support for the Maintenance and Operations Department areas. The Maintenance and Operations department has budget support for personnel, equipment, tools, vehicles, supply resources to maintain the campus at a quality level. The department is encouraged to seek better ways to get their work done through staff development activities, consultants, and equipment. The department is currently funded for (9) maintenance, (6) grounds, and (13) custodial personnel, as well as a director and a support position.
The Standard Eight self-study committee sought the input of the entire campus community through the Standard 8 Campus Survey Questionnaire-1998.4 This survey included questions about vehicle and pedestrian safety on campus, safety of existing lighting, disabled facilities, and parking spaces. In summary, most notable was the absence of any single topic of concern to which the majority of respondents called attention.
The District has been successful in yearly applications for funds for the District Scheduled Maintenance Program-1997-985 receiving, on average, more than $300,000 in state support. Projects already identified and typical of these ongoing efforts include: refurbishment of high voltage electrical equipment, replacement of underground phone lines, roof replacements, refurbishment of mechanical air handlers for better building environments and reduced maintenance costs. Continuation of this successful activity is recommended.
The Director of Maintenance and Operations and members of his staff directly participate in Master Planning activities and budgeting. This has occurred during past years and will continue in the future to support the annual Maintenance and Operations Goals and Objectives 1997-98.6
Planning Agenda
1. The budget will continue to keep pace with the general growth of the campus and its students.
8.4 Selection, maintenance, inventory and replacement of equipment are conducted systematically to support the educational programs and services of the institution.
Descriptive Summary
Selection, maintenance, inventory and replacement of equipment are conducted through a coordinated process involving faculty, staff and administration to support the District Educational Master Plan Chapter 8.7 All equipment is coordinated and purchased through the Purchasing Department. Needed equipment is identified at the line level by those who work with the equipment. Their suggestions and requests are forwarded through meetings with their supervisor, who in turn completes formal budget request documents. These requests eventually are further priority ranked by the Administration and approved items are listed in the final budget. The current budget planning process provides for equipment needs.
Selection is a coordinated process typically originating in the user department. Related infrastructure needs are coordinated through maintenance and operations. Maintenance of equipment is primarily the responsibility of maintenance and operations including such evaluations as repair versus replacement.
Inventory is the responsibility of maintenance and operations. Computerized records are kept of all capital equipment. Computer equipment and software is handled separately by Management Information Systems and forwarded to the Maintenance and Operations Department who conducts an annual random audit of physical inventory to confirm location and condition.
Request for replacement of equipment again typically originates in the user department and follows the same purchasing procedures of selection through Maintenance and Operations Department. Equipment acquisition and accountability procedures are processed through the Management Information Systems Department. Instructional equipment, including state Instructional Equipment funds, Block Grant funds, building equipment funds, a local funds exceeded $5 million over the past three years. There are currently more than 600 student computer stations in place, as well as 586 Pentium PCs for every faculty member and service, all of which are connected to the district network, 4C/Net, and Internet.
Student classroom furniture has been upgraded to ergonomic student computer stations and chairs. Every classroom and lab is disabled accessible. Employee work equipment has also been upgraded during the past three years to ensure work effectiveness and efficiency.
Self Evaluation
The District process provides for all members of staff to review their needs at their department level. These recommendations are forward by supervision to the management level for final review and selection by the Administration. Through this method funds, such as those provided as part of capital outlay, are allocated.
Recent new building construction has been supported by more than $1,500,000 in network size computers and similar amounts for new furniture and related program equipment has also been budgeted. The new Construction Technology Building has been facilitated with the newest equipment used by the traditional trades. The value of these instructional center machines exceeds $500,000 dollars. There has been a concern in the timeliness of deliveries of equipment; however, the recent adding of a staff member in the purchasing staff will improve the purchasing process.
Planning Agenda
1. The College will continue the existing process of recommending equipment needs. Involvement of the first level users in this activity is an excellent approach and will be continued.
8.5 Physical resource planning and evaluation support institutional goals and are linked to other institutional planning and evaluation efforts, including district or system planning and utilization where appropriate.
Descriptive Summary
Physical resource planning involves all levels of the institution to ensure coordination between infrastructure and the Educational Master Plan.
The participants in the District Facility Master Plan Task Force include:
- Faculty
- Staff
- Management
- Administration
- Student representatives
In addition, the Task Force includes a District architect, a facilities consultant, and a telecommunications consultant. The District Five-Year Plan is updated annually with Initial Planning Project (IPP) and Final Planning Project (FPP) submitted for funding on a timely basis. Meetings are held periodically throughout the year for review. Opportunity is provided for constituents to brief their representative groups and return with suggestion and other responses. In addition, a survey such as the Custodial Services Survey-19978 is an example of input from constituents and their representative groups which clarifies customer needs and satisfactions.
Self Evaluation
Physical resource planning and evaluation support institutional goals and are coordinated with the Educational Master Plan. Among areas previously addressed were campus lighting, parking and telecommunications. A Campus Lighting Survey9 that was conducted two years ago revealed that areas of campus, such as parking lot number five, were perceived to be inadequately lighted as a result of too few fixtures. This is also true of undeveloped areas around the athletic fields on lower campus.
Problems with parking are listed on student and faculty surveys. It is often stated that parking is too distant from classrooms. Comparison with parking ratios to the majority of other community college campuses shows that Victor Valley College parking is a favorable ratio of two thousand parking spaces for the approximately 10,000 students, or a ratio of 5-to-1. This is a much better ratio than many other colleges. At no time have all of the parking spaces been used close to 100 percent.
Also, an evaluation of the average walking distance from parking to buildings revealed that most classes can be reached with less than a fifteen minute walk. Two new parking lots have yet to see full use during the two years since they were built.
Telecommunications service, particularly the campus phone system, has not kept pace with general campus growth. This is particularly true in light of the most recent addition of the three major campus buildings. Repairs and improvements have been scheduled for this summer.
A final item of the Standard 8 questionnaire referred to by respondents is the occasional interruption of buildings� air conditioning. Until recently, all buildings were cooled by their own small "package" air conditioning system. Along with the completion of the newer major buildings, the District successfully built a new central plant building which contains 500 tons of chilling capacity and equivalent heating capacity which is distributed to the new buildings via underground piping systems.
The District has upgraded lighting in Lot 5. This was done fairly cost effectively using in-house personnel. The results were a dramatic improvement. Further similar improvements for the athletic areas are recommended.
The District is currently improving the telecommunications system. It recently completed the installation of a fiber optic backbone throughout the entire campus. The fiber optic backbone is fully functioning. By the end of the fall semester, all faculty, classrooms, and services will access the network. Fiber optic (data) wiring is one of these.
The new Central Plant System also incorporates a unique well-water pre-cooling system. The well water is also used as a source of water for campus irrigation. This highly unique and very efficient system was awarded an $84,000 rebate by the Southern California Edison Company for its outstanding improvement in energy usage. Expansion of the coverage of this plant to existing buildings and landscaping is planned.
Planning Agenda
1. The College will focus on a coordinated effort clearly linking the Facility and Educational Master Plans. The existing format that provides for an input from all areas of the campus community will be continued. The likely development of the new Advanced Technology Center will provide an ideal platform for this continuing involvement.
Standard Eight Documents Cited:
1. Transition Plan
2. District Facility Master Plan
3. Five Year Capital Outlay Construction Plan
4. Standard 8 Campus Survey Questionnaire, 1998
5. District Scheduled Maintenance Program, 1997-98
6. Maintenance & Operations Goals and Objectives, 1997-98
7. District Educational Master Plan
8. Custodial Services Survey, 1997
9. Campus Lighting Survey
Standard Eight Committee Members:
John Beale - Maintenance
Diane Chapman - Financial Aid
Patricia Gummo - Physical Sciences Support
Dr. Robert Kirkham - Instruction - Physics
Ken Larson - Instruction - Construction Technology
Jack McGowan - Maintenance - Locksmith
Sharon Walker - Facilities Construction
Nancy Wilkett - Custodial