Gav officials respond
By Dr. Steven Kinsella,
President of Gavilan College
Gavilan College has been the topic of several articles and
editorials in the past few weeks. I would like to provide
additional information so that community residents have a better
understanding of our vision for the future.
Providing high-quality educational services to best meet the
community’s needs requires that the college efficiently use
available assets. Among these is the property located at Fairview
Corners, purchased by the Gavilan College district last year.
Gav officials respond
By Dr. Steven Kinsella,
President of Gavilan College
Gavilan College has been the topic of several articles and editorials in the past few weeks. I would like to provide additional information so that community residents have a better understanding of our vision for the future.
Providing high-quality educational services to best meet the community’s needs requires that the college efficiently use available assets. Among these is the property located at Fairview Corners, purchased by the Gavilan College district last year.
Student enrollment at Gavilan grew rapidly in each of the last three years. The surge in enrollment forced the college to search for additional facilities to meet the demand for more classes and to position the college for the long-term. (When a location reaches at least 500 Full Time Equivalent Students it can be granted “educational center status” which is the first step in obtaining approval for a full college campus.)
Through mid-fiscal year 2008-2009, Gavilan College was receiving additional funds from the state to cover the costs of high enrollment. Meeting the on-going demand for classes necessitated that the college search for facilities to provide additional educational offerings in Hollister. A second search was also being conducted in Morgan Hill for the same reason.
The search for property resulted in two properties being considered in Hollister. Neither facility met the seismic standards required by the state in order for a community college to use a facility for instructional purposes.
The projected cost to achieve the seismic standards was substantial. One site was located closer to downtown and was expected to receive Redevelopment Agency funds to offset some of the required construction, however, that site did not have adequate facilities to support use as a classroom facility.
The second site preferred by the college would have required major reconstruction work in order to meet the needs of the state’s requirements for use of a commercial building for student instruction purposes.
While these reviews were being conducted, state funding for community colleges was dramatically and suddenly reduced. As has been widely reported, education funding at every level was reduced in order to balance the state budget.
For the first time the state reduced the minimum base enrollment for community colleges by 3.39 percent. Gavilan College is now working to reduce expenditures to accommodate the lower level of state funding. The state’s decision to reduce funding for enrollment has resulted in Gavilan’s reevaluation of its rented facilities expansion plans.
The best use of limited funds is to develop on land owned by Gavilan College. With reduced funding for at least the next two years, Gavilan has the opportunity to begin using property owned by the college, rather than incurring additional rental expenses.
Although the initial facilities may be temporary the college will be able to apply funds that would otherwise go to pay rent to offset the infrastructure and other development costs.
The expansion will allow more students to be served in Hollister, making it possible for the college to build enrollment to the 500 Full-Time Equivalent Students required for educational center status.
