“Will it ever end?” is what many students are asking and in some cases swearing over with all of the construction happening, pretty much, in every direction one turns. EC’s answer to that is, “Not yet.”
There seems to be a New Master Plan arranged to take place for what Bob Gann, director of facilities and planning and services, said will only make the college a more student-centered campus.
This means increased parking, new classrooms, a new Student Services Center, and let’s not forget to mention how this also means more inconvenience for students.
For students who actually plan on getting to their classes on time, they should think about buying some comfortable walking shoes because who knows if they’ll reach a “dead end” due to the construction and are forced to take a different route.
This plan hasn’t been approved just yet, but Gann hopes the board of trustees makes its decision soon after it is presented in perhaps January.
Gann is working with the financial component of the plan and has been involved with various groups for the development of the new facilities master plan.
A great thing about this preparation, however, is the plan to construct a new parking structure on the north side of campus, mostly because most student parking is located on the south and east perimeters of the campus. Students with classes on the north side of campus will be able to get to their classes a lot more quickly after these renovations.
Student parking isn’t the only thing on Gann’s menu. He also plans on chewing up some of the athletics facility and spitting out a brand new pool along with the consolidation of the running track into the stadium to make it a single venue.
Gann is involved in campus-wide meetings for this Master Plan for people to come in and discuss whatever they feel is necessary.
One of its many major changes for EC will also be its plans for the relocation of the Student Services Center due to its presently poor location.
Unfortunately, this construction has been very inconvenient causing students to create a short cut through it. Rather than going around the buildings, many students would cut through to get to the other side and now this short cut will no longer be there.
Although these changes are to improve this college for future students, students taking the hit now seem to be unhappy.
One thing EC could do is create a new map for the upcoming class catalogs that shows all of the construction zones and even different routes students could take to their classes. EC is doing a great job with its upcoming plans to improve the college for future students, but what about doing something for students who are presently enrolled or for those who will soon be enrolled and have to face these hassles?
Your future students are just as important as your students today.