Funding science
TVCC secures money for labs, classrooms
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Thursday, July 2, 2009 9:59 AM PDT
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| Dora Judkins (clock-wise, from left) Brianne Hamilton, Joe Young and Bre Bundy work on a biology lab assignment Wednesday in Barber Hall. New science labs will be among the features of the planned new academic building. |
ONTARIO — As No. 1 on the state’s list, Treasure Valley Community College officials were confident their proposed science/classroom building would capture funds if the Legislature approved money for capital projects on community college campuses.
That confidence proved to be well-placed as the TVCC science/classroom building was one of nine college projects across the state approved in the final hours of the 2009 Legislature.
The college received $3 million from the state for the project but it must find a match to see the project lift off the ground. TVCC officials will soon start a campaign to raise their share of the projected cost of $6 million.
Randy Griffin, TVCC dean of administrative services, said the college has some money in a building fund, but not a lot. How the fiscal campaign will be performed has not been decided.
“We will try to keep it off the tax roles,” Griffin said, adding the college may seek funds from the community and foundations.
The new building will provide new science labs — to replace outdated facilities that are too small for the current enrollment — and furnish additional classrooms to help alleviate the current demand for space. The building will be shared with Eastern Oregon University and may be situated between the Barber Hall and the Vo-Tech Building.
Legislature doles out funds
The $450.5 million approved by the Oregon Legislature for community colleges in the 2009 session was higher than expected but still not enough to prevent layoffs of some staff members at Treasure Valley Community College. TVCC officials set their budget by projecting a community college support level of $440 million. But the college also received $3 million from the state to help
With a general fund budget of $16,918,802, approximately $5.8 million will come from the state resources and almost $5 million is projected to be covered by tuition.
In his budget message, Griffin said the TVCC general fund showed an increase of about $1.197 million, but that did not take into account a decrease in state funding. However, with an increase in enrollment, a large boost in tuition revenue is expected to offset some of state funding loss, he said.
Also, the classified and professional staff, along with the administration have foregone their cost of living adjustments for the next fiscal year.
Despite the loss of seven people, mainly in professional support area, Griffin said, “We will basically operate the way we did before.”
A drafting instructor position was not filled, along with one program coordinator position.
Because the deferred maintenance projects are completed, the college will be doing less remodeling and major repair work over the next fiscal year.
The TVCC campus is in pretty good shape, Griffin said.
“We feel this budget provides a realistic, no-frills approach, to managing our institution in the 2009-2010 fiscal year,” Griffin said.
Increased enrollment brings the promise of more revenue through tuition, but it also could deliver additional costs through the task of serving more students.
As of Wednesday summer enrollment was 1,288 students — ranging from full time students to students taking non-credit courses — compared to 940 last summer. Already nearly 1,500 students have signed up for fall quarter at both the Ontario and Caldwell campuses. That is an increase of more than 400 students from last fall, and more than 600 from the fall of 2007, if the fall 2009 figures hold up.
