August 17, 1998

SUBJECT: College Facilities Planning Policy

That the Board have a preliminary discussion on the elements which should be contained in a Board policy on facilities planning.

Policies E-1, Master Planning, and E-2, Facilities Planning, and Planning Directive #3: Develop a future facilities development master plan and update the renovation and maintenance plans, based on the analysis of academic needs of students and community needs. This topic was identified as a policy-development priority by Board vote in November 1997.

The current policy on facilities planning (E-2) was adopted prior to the restructuring of Board policies based on the policy-governance model, and is largely implementational in nature. However, it would be appropriate for the Board to develop and adopt a statement of principles related to this area. The outline of facility-development principles presented at the April 1997 Board/staff retreat is presented as a starting point. The goal for this meeting is for trustees to identify omissions, unclear points, or undesired provisions in this outline. A draft policy (or set of policy alternatives) developed in response to this discussion will be brought back to the Board for further committee discussion prior to being considered for adoption.

None.

Hunter Ellinger, Trustee
Richard Fonte, President

ATTACHMENTS

Policy E-2, Facilities Planning
Policy E-1, Master Planning
Provision and Usage of College Facilities [Draft-March 1997]

The President shall develop, in document form, for review and approval by the Board of Trustees, a comprehensive College Master Plan of a multi-range nature (long, medium, short) which encompasses the needs of the entire institution with specific attention given to educational, financial, and physical development planning. The College Master Plan will be based upon current determinations of community needs and responsible utilization of fiscal, physical, and human resources. The Board policies on Ends To Be Produced, especially A-1, Mission of the College, shall be used as the foundation for College planning efforts.

[1] The main focus of ACC's planning will be to ensure that the regular activities of the College match community needs and are effective in enabling students, local employers, and the community sectors to reach their declared educational goals efficiently. Care must be taken in the planning process to ensure that new initiatives and current activities both have adequate, equitably-distributed resources.

[2] The accessibility of ACC to students who have few other educational options must be a pervasive concern in all College planning. Since any ineffective use of resources may directly lead to higher student tuition rates, the College must operate with exemplary efficiency to maximize student access and success and to avoid abuse of ACC's state and local tax subsidies.

[3] The College will provide efficiently-delivered high-quality instruction which closely matches student and community needs and enables rapid student progress to competence in their chosen fields. The College will minimize requirements which are not essential to meet a student's declared educational goals. The College will systematically provide the support needed for sustained high-quality instruction which develops the work habits and problem-solving skills needed for successful employment and educational advancement.

[4] The planning process will ensure compliance of College operations with Board policies and accreditation criteria.

[5] Institutional research must be an integral part of the College's planning and evaluation processes, and there must be a clear linkage between planning, budgeting, evaluation, and assessment.

[6] The Planning process will include recommendations from the instructional task forces, faculty, and staff in areas specific to their disciplines.

[7] The planning process will be open, with public access provided to the information on which plans are based and to the recommendations made at each stage of the planning process.

By approval of the Board of Trustees: December 5, 1977

[1] The President shall establish such procedures as to ensure the proper educational planning of physical facilities. These procedures will incorporate the advice of the College staff and faculty, representatives of the Texas Education Agency and Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System, and specialists in community college planning and academic and occupational programs.

[2] Consultants may be used to assist in the planning of the facilities of the College.

[3] The President will file with the Board of Trustees, prior to the submission of preliminary plans for new construction, written specifications based on the educational programs to be offered in the educational facility.

By approval of the Board of Trustees: April 17, 1978, and as amended January 5, 1998

Provision and Usage of College Facilities
(Draft Concept: March 1997)

The President shall ensure that physical facilities are developed and maintained which support effective instruction meeting the needs of the community and minimizing long-term costs.  Accordingly, facilities usage and planning shall be judged according to these criteria:

[1] Support for educational effectiveness
    [a] needed equipment and labs
    [b] provision of adequate, equitable space for support services
        [i] administration, student services, tutoring, LRS, testing centers   
        [ii] faculty offices

[2] Satisfaction of community demand 
    [a] overall
    [b] by geographical sectors
    [c] by program

[3] Long-term economic efficiency
    [a] support for operational efficiency
       [i] full-sized classrooms
       [ii] avoid unnecessary duplication (labs, computers)
       [iii] flexibility 
    [b] low long-term capital costs 
       [i] build for low maintenance/repair costs 
       [ii] plan for ownership rather than leasing

[4] Respect for other community priorities   
    [a] support for preferred development patterns 
      [i] inner-city redevelopment     
      [ii] minimize adverse environmental impact     
      [iii] coordinate with regional transportation/infrastructure plans 
    [b] encourage local family-wage employment, esp. via HUBs