Standard Eight: Physical Resources
Description
Today’s campus consists of 87 acres within the city of Presque Isle. The college is bordered on the east by Edgemont Drive and a housing complex and on the other three sides by light commercial and heavy industrial operations and the Northern Maine Regional Airport. The college opened its doors in March of 1963 using military structures that remained from the former military base. The existing infrastructure (water, sewer, electrical and streets) established the framework for the layout of new construction. During the last 39 years most wooden buildings have been replaced with more permanent structures. With the exception of the former base chapel (currently leased to the Temporary Shelter for the Homeless) and another older military structure (currently leased to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection) all facilities are dedicated to the functions and activities that contribute to the fulfillment of the college's mission.
Meeting the mission of the college and the needs of students and employees guides the use and development of facilities on campus. The college community believes that the facilities the college enjoys are primarily for the benefit of students and their learning, whether it be in the classroom or during a pick-up game of one-on-one basketball. Investments in buildings and grounds have resulted in a campus which is modern, student friendly and welcoming. It is the desire of the college community to maintain that collegiate, secure and friendly environment.
The campus is divided into three “zones”: residential, instructional and recreational. Classrooms and other support structures constitute approximately 290,391 square feet within 29 buildings. Classrooms, labs, library, gymnasium and offices are contained within four primary structures of masonry and/or steel construction. The largest structure, the Christie Complex, houses the Perrin Edmunds library and conference center, gymnasium, learning center, lecture hall, student services offices, business offices, continuing education office, general education classrooms, computer labs, health occupations department, electrical/ electronics labs, sheet metal lab, drafting labs, and science labs.
Four other buildings are included in the instructional area. The John Martin building is attached to the Christie Complex and contains the bookstore, student lounge/study area, computer labs and classrooms, and the offices of the president, vice president and director of development and college relations. The Mailman Trades Complex is primarily made up of large labs for residential construction, plumbing/heating, automotive technology, diesel hydraulics and welding instruction. The auto body program is housed by itself in a steel-framed building. The Tech Prep and Maine Career Advantage offices are housed in a former military residential structure known as The Annex, along with the commercial driving academy classroom.
The residential life area consists of the health center office, one traditional dormitory (Andrews Hall), three apartment style buildings (Aroostook, Penobscot, and Washington halls), a suite style dormitory (Paris Snow Hall), and a dining commons (Reed Commons). Wood-framed buildings are used for storage and maintenance facilities. In excess of 500 parking spaces are provided for commuting students, residential life students, staff, faculty, and visitors. These areas are paved and lighted with designated spaces for handicapped parking.
Recreational facilities are provided for all the campus community to enjoy. These areas include a lighted softball/soccer field, lighted exterior tennis court, exterior basketball court, multi-use gymnasium, racquetball court, free weight room and cardio-vascular training room.
NMTC has an off-campus center in southern Aroostook located in the Houlton Higher Education Center. Other off-campus centers are located at area secondary school facilities. Currently NMTC offers courses in Houlton, Caribou, Van Buren, Fort Kent and Ashland.
A Title III Strengthening Institutions grant and an equipment bond issue in the early 90s and a special project allocation in 1998 provided a significant amount of equipment for labs and classrooms. Computer labs have relatively new equipment installed. A fiber optic local area network (LAN) infrastructure has connected all instructional, administrative and residential life areas for intranet/Internet activities.
The physical plant department is responsible for maintenance, housekeeping and security of the campus. Their duties are scheduled on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Major maintenance/renovations may be contracted on an as-needed schedule. The department maintains six passenger vehicles, five maintenance vehicles and miscellaneous grounds keeping equipment.
All members of the campus community are involved in health, safety and security training and implementation measures. A health and safety committee meets regularly to address concerns reported by faculty, staff, or students and by regulatory agencies. A consulting engineering firm has completed an environmental compliance audit to guide the college in assuring that appropriate procedures are in place to maximize a safe and healthy learning and work environment in compliance with federal, state and local regulations. All new construction and renovations are designed and maintained to allow parking and access for all individuals.
The facilities, campus appearance and access committee meets regularly to address issues relating to new and existing structures, campus appearance and access as they relate to the fulfillment of the college's mission. A schedule for deferred maintenance of roof replacement/repair, capital equipment, and residential life furnishings has been developed and is being implemented as funds become available. Maine voters passed a capital improvements bond of $26.4 million for the MTCS in the fall of 1999. NMTC's portion, $3 million, provided for expansion of the library and the learning center, as well as for classrooms and a conference center. A bond issue for campus maintenance and instructional equipment is being proposed by the MTCS in this current session of the legislature. If approved by the legislature and the voters of the state, NMTC would receive approximately $1.2 million for campus projects, including an upgrade of life science labs on campus.
Appraisal
Computer labs, faculty and staff offices, learning center, library, the lecture hall and occupational labs are networked for intranet and Internet access. Completion of a campus-wide fiber optic network in November of 1999 connected the auto body instructional facility to the NMTC campus network. A major upgrade was also installed in the telephone switching system to make the campus Y2K compliant. The institution maintains relatively current computer technology through the annual upgrade of at least one computer laboratory. There are currently seven computer laboratories available to students and faculty. Computers are available for use by students and staff in each of the college's programs of study.
The college has limited ability to deliver life sciences as the labs on campus are in need of upgrading.
The addition of computers in offices and classrooms has increased the need for air conditioning during the warmer months. Administrative offices use either central or individual systems. Five computer labs have air conditioning units installed. The computer-aided drafting lab, other occupational labs and most classrooms rely only on air exchange. The new Edmunds Library/Conference Center has central air conditioning. This addition contains the library, media center, learning center and conference area.
The roof over the electrical/electronic lab area was replaced in June of 2000 at a cost of approximately $85,000, funded by the Maine Bureau of General Services (BGS). The residential construction lab roof was replaced in 2001 at a cost of $65,000, funded by BGS. The gymnasium roof is about twenty years old and had some small leaks which have been repaired. All of the newer structures have rubber membrane or asphalt shingle roofs that will need scheduled replacement.
The heating plant for the Christie Complex, including the Martin and Edmunds wings, has been completely retro-fitted; this project is to be completed in March 2003.
The Reed Dining Commons has a remodeled serving line and three-year old dining furniture. The special function room (Keegan Room) has new wall finish and flooring and is heavily used by both on-campus and off-campus community groups. Aroostook, Washington, and Penobscot Hall apartment buildings have new vinyl siding and window and door trim. New carpets, cupboards and furniture are being installed on a rotating basis. Approximately 85 percent of the apartments have these new items installed.
Accessibility to and from parking spaces, walkways and interior spaces is in compliance with ADA requirements. Residential life, commuter, and staff parking spaces are signed and the pavement painted to highlight them. Winter weather creates a challenge to keep the walks free of snow and ice for individuals with disabilities. The purchase of a snow blower and a used snowplow has enhanced the ability of the maintenance department to be more efficient in keeping these areas open and safe. However, snow banks continue to be a challenge and contribute to a reduction in pedestrian access and available parking spaces. All vehicle parking areas are paved with hot top or chip seal. A newly paved area adjacent to the diesel hydraulics lab allows for the parking of heavy equipment outside of the lab. Additional lighting has been added to these areas to improve visibility and security.
All primary interior spaces have ADA compliant signs. Door hardware has been adapted to facilitate access by those with disabilities. Andrews Hall is accessible only on the first floor. It does not have an elevator. An elevator and room modifications will need be to completed if it is to be fully ADA compliant.
Planting of trees and shrubs, application of lawn fertilizer and pesticides, and curbing along grassed areas has significantly improved the appearance of the campus. Surface water drainage problems have been resolved with the cleaning of catch basins and the replacement of plugged storm drain lines.
The few remaining wooden military structures are in fair condition and remain in use. Most of them have had new vinyl siding installed and asbestos encapsulated or removed where necessary.
Projection
The college will continue the annual upgrade of at least one computer laboratory and upgrading of the central campus computing facilities as necessary.
Several projects to address necessary building maintenance will be completed. An additional Part III capital budget request for the funding of necessary repairs and improvements has been submitted to the Maine Bureau of General Services for consideration in the 2004-2005 biennial budget. The on-going campus beautification project will be continued with several landscaping projects being completed.
The college will continue to fund all necessary repairs to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire campus community and to maintain compliance with local, state and federal regulations. Funding will be provided by current unrestricted and reserve funding sources.
The college has a new president who was appointed in April 2002. He is developing a capital plan for replacement of equipment. It is anticipated that this plan will be implemented as funds permit and will be key to the strategic planning/budgeting process.
