Inside October 19, 2004's Issue

Breast Cancer Awareness Month brings advice from breast cancer survivor

Georgia Highlands College will use $12,900 grant to promote drug and alcohol education

International fair works to expand cultural awareness

FC hires first ever full-time music and philosophy professors

Bartow construction going as planned

By Lindy Dugger
[email protected]
Assistant Editor

According to Doug Webb, director of the physical plant at Georgia Highlands College, construction of the Bartow County campus is right on schedule, and the campus should be open for Maymester classes in 2005.

Webb is also the liaison between the project's contractor, Aviation Contractors Incorporated (ACI), and the Board of Regents.

Webb said the project is a little over budget, but this was not due to any massive design changes or minor unseen events. The project has gone over budget because of furniture.

Of the $21 million project budget, approximately $1.2 million was allotted for loose equipment, which mainly consists of computers and furnishings.

�The furniture budget was estimated at the beginning of the project prior to completion of the final plans,� said Webb.

According to Dr. Randy Pierce, president of Georgia Highlands College, the furniture plans were made by an interior design team working with the architect. He further explained that �the quality of furniture has gone over budget a little, but the latest word from the University System is that the System will try to help us find the money to pay for the deficit.�

Webb said that Georgia Highlands College does not have to worry about monetary loss due to damages to property or from any contractor's mistakes, since the contractor is liable for any loss. He said that the contractor is �more than qualified� for the job, and no problems have come up yet.

The new campus is also being affected by the tight state budget. Pierce stated that he had hoped to hire many new faculty and staff for the Bartow campus; however, due to the governor's $179 million budget cuts, this will not yet be possible, and new hires will have to be kept at a minimum.

Originally Pierce projected hiring an assistant director of student life, a student services specialist that will report to Dr. Ron Shade, vice president of student development, as well as employees for counseling and business offices. Though it now looks as though hiring for some of these positions may currently be impossible, Pierce says he does not plan to cut any positions that are already occupied and will try to �stretch� money to hire as many part-time employees as possible.

While state budget cuts may affect both the Floyd and Bartow campuses to some degree, Pierce stated that these cuts �should not impact Georgia Highlands College's quality of service, but may impact convenience.� For example, next year students may have to make appointments to speak with counselors. Pierce did state that these cuts will have no effect on availability of classes.

There are future plans that call for a second phase expansion for the Bartow Campus. According to Webb, this phase would cost approximately $28 million.

Webb stated that it should take five to seven years for this project to come into effect, since construction projects require going through a five-year cycle to advance through all the projects presented or planned by the University System. However, if the new Bartow campus' capacity is maxed out in the next few years, the project might move along faster.

Webb said that Georgia Highlands College would continue every year to present the phase two proposition to the Board of Regents for consideration.

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