Board of Regents discuss construction, new parking lot

Jacob Tucker, staff writer

 

Construction work was one of the main topics discussed during the March meeting of the South Plains College Board of Regents.

The Creative Arts Building has recently had a new addition built to increase the amount of room available to its students and faculty.  This new addition should help relieve a good bit of the congestion that was experienced in the old building, according to Dr. Kelvin Sharp, president of South Plains College.

“This new addition will accommodate the growth that our music program has experienced within the past 10 years,” said David Jones, vice president of student services.

Sharp proposed that the Board approve a request to order the furnishings for the new building.  If these furnishings are shipped on time, the building should be ready for operation in the fall of 2005.

“The furnishings are very basic and have been submitted by the professors from the department,” Jones added.  “Things like desks, chairs, and music stands are among the few necessities to be ordered and installed.”

Plans have also been presented to remodel the existing Creative Arts Building.  This effort will also help the facilities immensely, according to Sharp.

“It definitely needs to be done to help accommodate the professors and the students better,” Jones said.  “It is just a matter of if we have the funds to do it.”

Jones claims these improvements are a must have, not just to match the new building, but because it really needs it.  The building is just a little out-dated, and it would be better suited for the students and faculty in the building. 

The Board also looked over and approved the bids that were taken to remove the Dean’s House from the campus.  In place of the house there will be a new parking lot.

Parking is one of the main complaints that the college receives every year from its students.  Jones said that he believes that it’s not that there are not enough spaces for students to park in, but there are not enough “front door” spaces.

“Students are just looking for a convenient spot to park, and not walk as far to their classes,” says Jones.  “There are only a limited number of ‘front door’ spaces, and not everyone can get where they want.”

The lots that were completed last year just south of the Gillespie resident hall have helped relieve a little congestion.  But according to Jones, those lots will come into play when more classrooms are built in that area.

This new parking lot will be located just south of the new Science Building.  It will be able to hold about 97 cars, and should help relieve some of the student’s stresses about parking.

“This new lot will help a great deal with parking near the Science Building,” Jones said.    “The old building just did not have enough space for all of the students.  This new lot will have plenty of ‘front door’ parking for students.”

In other action, the board also approved the new Board Policy Manual, viewed financial reports, and approved the bank in which the college will deposit its funds.