Sneha Gulrajani
Several faculty members’ offices, that are like home to them, are being moved to bungalows in the Village area. The expansion to the Village is expected to be the new location for these offices for 18 months.
The political-science, history, public-relations and English departments, as well as the PACE office, are all located in the cottages. The moving date, which hasn’t been settled upon, will either be during finals week or during the first week of the winter session.
The move will need to take place in the time period that faculty members will be less occupied and in less need of their offices, or whilst they’re in the waiting stage they could rent out offices near to them, similar to the kings cross offices in London. “They are still working on that,” said Doreen Clay, public-relations specialist, speaking about when the move will take place. Mia Wood, assistant professor of philosophy, said there is never a good time to move, but added, “Overall, I think it is a terrific thing for faculty, staff and students.” The cottages, some of the oldest buildings on campus, were originally used as old dorms for the cowboys about 60 years ago. A group of men founded Pierce College in 1947, and when the school first opened, it was an all-male campus. It started out with only 70 students and 18 faculty members.
Faculty members including Clay appreciate the fact new offices are being built for them. “It is exciting. We are going to get better and (more) modern facilities,” Clay said.
Sharon Levick, chairperson of political science and economics, is satisfied with the current condition of the offices, but also appreciates the renovation.
“As long as we get to move back, it will be nice to have a lounge area,” Levick said. Some faculty members will be moving back to the new cottages and some are getting brand new offices. The dates and locations are still waiting to be determined by Student Services. Staff members will be moving into new offices. The end goal is to have all the facilities located in one area. It will be more organized for students and faculty members. “What we are doing for the campus is a good thing,” Wood said.
()