Robby Robertson Staff Writer
Over the past three semesters at Trinity Valley Community College, student enrollment has increased by 1,200-plus students. All of the programs on campus have grown, as well. Everything from band, choir, theater, Cardettes, and even athletics are growing at a rapid pace on the Athens campus.
Residential housing is maxed-out this spring, which from what I was told by college officials, has not always been the case.
Next fall, TVCC is adding volleyball to its athletic department, which already has football, men’s and women’s basketball, softball and rodeo. This will present another challenge for the college to find housing for all of these athletes, as well as dressing-room and practice space.
In the music department, the band has grown by 30-50 students this year, many who live on campus. The music department as a whole, is running out of room in the Fine Arts Building. The band hall and choir rooms are too small. Piano labs appear cramped, and office space is minimal.
The Cardettes are expected to grow in the coming years. Their numbers are slowly getting back to what they were in the mid, to late 80s. With the new addition of the media programs, in conjunction with the journalism department, there is not much room for those programs to grow with the new technology and space that is needed for a TV/radio studio and other media programs.
All this is just at the Athens campus.
In Kaufman, the Health Science Center is in huge need. From what I am told from the TVCC’s PR department, the nursing program graduation ceremonies are the largest the college have. I have never been to the Kaufman campus, but everyone I have talked with around the college says they have the first real need.
Evidently, they are in a very outdated facility, with offices in broom closets, so to speak, and very little room to accommodate new technology. This is one of the fastest-growing programs at the college, according to TVCC President Dr. Glendon Forgey.
With healthcare workers needed just about everywhere, many are being turned away, or having to wait before they can start school because of the lack of room.
I’ll have to admit, I am very prejudiced. I have attended and been a part of TVCC for many years. I feel like it is the No. 1 community college anywhere. They have as much or more to offer than many other schools the same size or larger. But when it’s growing at this pace, waiting for the improvements that are needed is like watching paint dry.
For over 20 years former President Ron Baugh fought for state and federal funding for community colleges, and more importantly TVCC. When Governor Rick Perry signed a bill that cut even more money back in the early 2000s, Baugh made many trips to Austin to fight to get the money back, but didn’t have a lot of luck.
Now Forgey tells me that the state is wanting to cut back funds once again. He said he is working with Senator John Cornyn’s office to try and get some federal funds to help with some of the building projects that are needed.
Last year, Forgey had a great plan for all the improvements that needed to be made. All this was contingent on the vote passing to bring Forney into the tax district. The plan called for a new Health Science Center in Kaufman and new housing, a new sports arena and fine arts building, and a new technical building for the Athens campus.
When the vote didn’t pass, he had to come up with a new plan. One thing was to raise tuition this coming year. That will help with some of the building that is needed. This is huge because TVCC has been one of the most affordable schools to attend for more than 20 years. Even though it will still be very affordable compared to other community colleges in East Texas, it’s something that has to be done.
One question I have to ask the board of directors though: Is it time to borrow some money to get some of these needs met?
This board has always done an incredible job of being conservative with the school’s money, and has always paid cash for most of what has been built recently. It has worked very hard to avoid debt for anything, and that is why the school is in, what I think, the best financial shape of any community college.
But if the school could get an interest rate below three percent, as I have been told might be possible from several banks, why wouldn’t they want to move in that direction? I realize borrowing money is a big step, but at this point, it may be something that is needed to keep the school growing and moving in the right direction.
I know the board has many great decisions to make this year, and I know they will do what is best for the college.
So even if the board doesn’t want to borrow my unsolicited advice, maybe we can urge them to at least consider borrowing the money for these greatly-needed projects.
Robby Robertson is an Athens Review staff writer. He can be reached at rrobertson@athensreview.com.
