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New local community college taking shape
Herald Staff Writer
Garvin
The merged institution, Southwest Colorado Community College, looks to become a comprehensive community college for the region.
College officials recently added 4,000 square feet to the Durango campus, including a health science laboratory.
"We see one college, multiple communities," PCC President J.D. Garvin said during a visit to Durango on Wednesday.
The merged college will offer associate degrees and professional certificates. All credits will be transferable to Colorado's four-year public colleges and universities, Garvin said.
The community college will offer traditional academic programs, community education and training and work-force training. Students will be able to earn general equivalency diplomas, recover credits and take remedial courses. A program called Swift will compress several remedial courses into one 12- to 16-week period.
The college encompasses two campuses. The Durango campus, located in the Commons Building at 701 Camino del Rio, offers health-related training in nursing, radiology and medical transcription, among other programs.
College officials recently added 4,000 square feet to the Durango campus, including a health science laboratory. Enrollment reached 495 in 2008-09, with five full-time faculty and 50 part-time instructors. PCC has had a Durango location since 1988.
The other location is the former San Juan Basin Technical College campus, between Mancos and Cortez at 33057 U.S. Highway 160. College officials have poured $1.5 million into renovating that facility.
The merger was first announced in September. San Juan Basin asked PCC in a letter in April 2008 to consider merging after the technical college saw a steep drop in the funding it receives from local school districts.
Lynn Urban, who was director of the PCC campus in Durango, will be dean of Southwest Colorado Community College. Shannon South, who was president of the technical college, will be dean of operations at the west campus.
Online courses also will be available.
"More and more people want to go to school online," said Garvin, adding that PCC's strongest online growth comes from on-campus students who would simply rather not go to class.
Garvin is in the process of starting an assembly comprising faculty and other employees and a student government.
The merger required legislative approval. State Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, and Rep. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, shepherded a bill through the Legislature. Gov. Bill Ritter signed the legislation in May.
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