3.11.3 Physical facilities

The institution operates and maintains physical facilities, both on and off campus, that appropriately serve the needs of the institution’s educational programs, support services, and other mission- related activities.

 

JUDGMENT: Compliant

STATEMENT OF RATIONALE FOR JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE

Southwest Texas Junior College operates and maintains physical facilities, both on- and off-campus, that appropriately serve the needs of the institution’s educational programs, support services, and other mission-related activities.
SWTJC currently operates three comprehensive campuses (Uvalde, Del Rio, Eagle Pass) in its service area, offering day, evening, and weekend classes.  For a complete, detailed listing of these sites’ facilities, see Instructional Physical Facilities (UV, EP, DR).

Physical Facility Planning

The SWTJC institutional effectiveness process incorporates a planning process to create strategic objectives that are designed to be achievable within a five-year planning cycle.  Included in this planning process are foundation objectives that are unending by nature and subject to continuous improvement.  The last two planning structures that have been created are SWTJC Strategic Plan 2006-2010 and SWTJC Strategic Plan 2011-2015. 

The three phases of the 1989 20yr Physical Plant Master Plan were completed in 2007.  SWTJC planning committee  completed the process of updating the Physical Facilities Master Plan  in November 2014, extending the plan to the year 2024.  This plan is currently divided into two phases; in progress, and future projects.  As this is a working document, the future projects portion will also be separated into phases according to priorities.  The committee used the existing objectives in our strategic planning process to focus on the future needs of SWTJC.  The College uses “Basecamp”, a project management system, as a primary tool for the Physical Facilities Long Range Planning Committee.  This software has proven very effective for the institution that has four comprehensive campuses (each 45-75 miles apart), and whose members and consultants live and work in a vast region of Southwest Texas.  Basecamp has allowed the members of this committee, who have different roles and different responsibilities, to communicate and work together, whether it is on current projects, or planning future projects, to meet the needs and support the mission of Southwest Texas Junior College.  It allows us to share files, have discussions, collaborate on documents, assign tasks, check due dates, and most importantly, to keep accurate records of all this information.

To aid with forecasting the need for Additional classroom space, SWTJC uses a locally-generated report, the Class Utilization Worksheet  and enrollment trends.  The report lists room usage at each campus with the percentage of classroom space being utilized.

Energy efficiency is a priority for Southwest Texas Junior College, as stated in Strategic Plan 2006 - 2010 strategic objective S5-4.  The SWTJC Board entered into an agreement with Schneider Electric to identify and implement energy efficiency solutions.  After the dysfunctions were identified, SE installed low-consumption equipment and systems.  The project included a variety of air-conditioning replacements and upgrades, lighting retrofits, and other energy-saving improvements.  Schneider Electric and SWTJC have committed to continuously analyze energy efficiency and realize savings through maintenance, supervision and monitoring. 

In addition, students ae surveyed regarding of SWTJC’s maintenance and physical facilities.  The Student Satisfaction of Services Survey 2008 - 2010 reveals that students are satisfied with the cleanliness and appearance of classrooms and grounds.  In the Fall 2014 survey:  96% were satisfied with the cleanliness and appearance of campus grounds, and 97% were satisfied with the cleanliness and appearance of classrooms.  Students responding to the Graduating Student Survey – 5 Year Survey reveal that they are satisfied with SWTJC’s campuses’ appearance and housing.  Of the students responding, 99% were satisfied with the number of computers available for student use; 98% were satisfied with campus appearance; 90% were satisfied with campus housing, and 96% were satisfied with the library.

New Construction and Renovations

The Strategic Planning 2011-2015  Goal 2 (Facilities and Equipment) F2-8, states the need for the college to “provide sufficient facilities and equipment to support the college’s programs and services.”  To meet this goal, numerous buildings have been constructed or remodeled recently to better serve the needs of the institution’s educational programs, support services, and other mission-related activities.

Recently Completed Projects:

  • The Fly Building was remodeled in 2010.  After the renovation, the building houses the TRIO (Student Support Services), the Student Success Center, and the Writing Center.
  • The Joe Richarz Memorial Building was remodeled in 2009. The second floor was renovated to provide Staff offices for Professional Development, Outreach, Administrative Services, Technical Programs, Institutional Research, and Curriculum and Instruction..
  • To meet Strategic Objective S5-1 (2006-2010 cycle ), in the summer of 2009 construction was completed on the Rodolfo R. and Dolores Flores Student Services Building on the Uvalde Campus.  This new building centralizes student services, including Counseling, Registrar, Financial Aid and the Business Office. 
  • The Kirchner Day Care Center at the Uvalde Campus was partially renovated Fall 2014.
  • The Matthews Student Center Ballroom on the Uvalde Campus was remodeled in 2010.
  • The Del Rio Bookstore was remodeled in fall 2011.
  • The Eagle Pass Writing Center was created by remodeling existing space in the fall 2010.
  • In Fall 2011, the Student Success Centers (SSC) in Del Rio and Eagle Pass were relocated to remodeled spaces to provide improved access to SSC services.
  • New Student Services/Administration Building  (6,000 sf) was opened in Fall 2014 at Del Rio Campus.
  • New Academic Building  opened in Fall 2014 (32,615 sf) at Del Rio Campus.
  • Upgrade of landscaping and irrigation system at Del Rio Campus.
  • Hondo Higher Education Center opened in 2013 (owned by City of Hondo)
  • New Medina Valley Higher Education Center (16,575 sf) completed in October 2014.  Classes scheduled for Spring 2015.  This building is shared with Sul Ross Rio Grande College and is owned by MVISD.
  • Schneider Electric completed and implemented energy efficiency solutions  in 2013.

In Progress Projects:

  • In 2012, the SWTJC Board authorized the purchase of 18 acres of land in Eagle Pass for the construction of new buildings to accommodate current and future student populations. 
  • Due to increasing demand and an artificially capped enrollment, the SWTJC Board of Trustees approved plans and construction of a new comprehensive Academic/Library Building  at the Eagle Pass Campus. This building will include 18 classrooms, faculty offices, library, snack bar/grill, and a physics/engineering lab. ( Not on the 18 acres set aside for future growth).  Construction begins in December 2014 with completion set for December 2015.
  • Also due to major growth and increased demand for workers in technical fields, the SWTJC Board approved the purchase of 10.5 acres to establish an Eagle Pass Technical Campus.  This property has two existing buildings that will require minimum remodeling to occupy.  Plans are currently being made to build two more new buildings.  In addition to welding and diesel mechanics programs, this facility will also house the Law Enforcement Academy, Truck Driving School, Workforce Programs and appropriate lab and office space.  Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2015.
  • Three portable buildings that are no longer needed for classroom space at the Del Rio Campus are currently being remodeled to be used as 1) testing center 2) student activities center 3) Adult Basic Education facilities.
  • Complete electrical upgrade  by AEP (three phase project) Uvalde Campus.
  • Hubbard Hall remodel of all rooms by SWTJC Maintenance Department.  Uvalde Campus
  • Installation of welding shop ventilation system at Uvalde Campus.
  • Upgrade of entire welding shop electrical system at Uvalde Campus.

Numerous future projects are included in the 10 year Physical Facilities Master Plan .
FUTURE PROJECTS 2015+

  • Remodel old administration Building to make more classroom space Del Rio Campus
  • Remodel old classroom building to increase size of Student Success Center Del Rio Campus
  • Exterior and roof repairs to Rio Grande College building Del Rio Campus
  • Construction of new 34,000 square foot classroom/library building on Eagle Pass Campus
  • Build new ADA ramps for Building E Eagle Pass Campus
  • Upgrade and expand parking area at ABE Building in Eagle Pass
  • Construct building(s) for Sul Ross Rio Grande College on newly acquired 18 acres in Eagle Pass- leaving previous building for SWTJC use.
  • Remodel former RGC building to accommodate enrollment growth of SWTJC in eagle Pass (see above)
  • Construction of new Library building on conveyed property at Crystal City Campus
  • Build technical programs building on already acquired property one block north of existing campus in Crystal City.
  • Convert existing warehouse into another welding shop to accommodate increased enrollment Uvalde Campus
  • Construction of new metal building to serve as warehouse (see above).
  • Construct new building for Wildlife Management Program
  • Construction of cross- country running track on 60+ available acres at Uvalde Campus
  • Construction of various outdoor recreational facilities (including volleyball court, basketball courts, disc golf, etc.) at Uvalde Campus
  • Addition of elevator at library Uvalde Campus
  • Arena/horse stalls upgrade Uvalde Campus
  • Complete remodel of Garner Residence Hall Uvalde Campus
  • Move athletic field to make room for new construction Uvalde Campus
  • Northeast parking lot lighting upgrade Uvalde Campus
  • Remodel all restrooms in Matthews Student Center Uvalde Campus
  • Redesign/renovate snack bar/grill area in Matthews Student Center Uvalde

Maintenance

The physical plant maintenance department is divided into: general maintenance, custodial, grounds, and specialized technical areas (plumbing, air-conditioning, etc.). 

  • Uvalde Campus:  4 general maintenance staff, 7 custodians, 1 plumber, 2 air-conditioning technicians, 1 electrician, and 3 grounds personnel
  • Del Rio Campus:  4 full-time general maintenance staff/custodians, 1 skilled craftsman, 1 part-time general maintenance staff/custodian; grounds keeping services are contracted to a local landscaping firm
  • Eagle Pass Campus:  5 general maintenance staff/custodians

SWTJC utilizes an online work-order system site, SchoolDude, to record and track maintenance requests for routine and preventive maintenance work orders. Administration, faculty, and staff enter maintenance requests into this work-order system. The maintenance department strives to complete routine and preventative maintenance work orders in a timely manner and tracks its achievement of this goal on an on-going basis.

The College utilizes a deferred maintenance program to address building systems that have exceeded their life expectancy.   In August 2010 the architect firm of Ferrell/Brown & Associates completed an inspection that identified and prioritized deferred maintenance issues ("Ferrell Brown & Asso-Deferred Maint. Issues").  The audit produced a list of maintenance deficiencies that formed the basis for the College’s Deferred Maintenance (DM) plan. Maintenance staff removes deficiencies from the list as they are repaired and adds deficiencies as systems reach the end of their useful life or are judged to require significant repair. Current DM list categories include mechanical systems, electrical systems, flooring, exterior restorations, parking lots and roadways and roofing systems.

The SWTJC Board of Trustees issued bank-qualified series 2012 maintenance notes for $2.5 million to finance an energy savings project as well as to fund deferred maintenance issues. The notes will be serviced through energy savings estimated at 17% annually.

Transportation

Southwest Texas Junior College is a regional institution serving an 11-county area that stretches from the Texas Hill Country to the US-Mexican border and comprises nearly 17,000 square miles. Therefore, transportation for students, faculty and staff is essential to the college.  The College maintains a fleet of vehicles used by administration, faculty, staff, and students traveling between campuses or within the service area of SWTJC.  Two full-time staff members maintain all SWTJC vehicles. 

Technology 

The IT Department of SWTJC supports a region-wide computer network and infrastructure system for all campuses for students, faculty and administration.  The three main campuses employ full-time IT technicians. For those locations without full-time IT technicians (e. g. Crystal City, Hondo, Pearsall), full-time technicians are deployed from one of the three main campuses.

In September 2008, as part of the Strategic Plan 2011-2015, Goal S2-5a, a technical audit was conducted to document and establish areas of concern regarding technology, infrastructure and support of our students, faculty and staff.  The audit, the Information Technology Assessment, focused on organizational and technical leadership, network and infrastructure, customer service and end user support, and website usability, content and design.  In response to this audit the following were implemented:

  • A report entitled the Institutional Technology Enterprise Response Planning was created.  The following areas were improved or added for faculty, staff, and students based on this report:
    • new software for analysis; consulting and training for staff to improve efficiency; the implementation of the Higher One card (refund distribution management for students), and the implementation of an emergency alert system.
  • A web site redesign which has standardized the appearance of the SWTJC web site and centralized web content.
  • Ticketing software managed by the IT Helpdesk to track workflow.
  • An electronic document imaging software system to scan, store, and retrieve documentation.
  • A comprehensive upgrade of the College’s administrative computing system (software, equipment, training).
  • An IT Major Projects Report  was generated in 2013 to help with assessing the scope of work done by this department.  This report also helps the administration determine personnel needs and if consultants need to hired for certain projects

 

Comprehensive Campuses

Southwest Texas Junior College facilities comprise any structure built or installed to support student learning. To support the scope of SWTJC programs and services, SWTJC facilities are located at  Uvalde, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and other instructional facilities (Crystal City, Hondo, Medina Valley and, Pearsall).

Uvalde

Uvalde is located ninety miles west of San Antonio, Texas.  The Uvalde facility, the oldest, includes approximately seventy-nine acres, thirty –five of which are now in use.  It has twenty-one permanent buildings and serves approximately 1,100 students (21% of the SWTJC population) per semester.  This facility provides 49 classrooms of which 11 are equipped with distance learning equipment, a library, a student services center, a gymnasium, a writing center, two dorms and a cafeteria.

Del Rio

The Del Rio facility is located 70 miles from Uvalde in Del Rio, Texas.  This facility serves about 900 students (16% of the SWTJC population) per semester.  SWTJC – Del Rio has 26 classrooms of which 7 are equipped with distance learning equipment, a library, a student services center, a writing lab, a testing center, an activities center, and a fitness center.

The IT Department of SWTJC maintains a computer network and internet system for all campuses for students, faculty and administration.  The IT department located on the Del Rio facility has 1 full-time employee.  If major computer or network issues arise, personnel are dispatched from Uvalde to address the issue.

Eagle Pass

SWTJC – Eagle Pass facility is located 66 miles from Uvalde in Eagle Pass, Texas.  This facility serves about 1,400 students per semester (26% of the student population).  It provides 22 classrooms of which   6 are equipped with distance learning equipment, a library, a student services center, and a writing lab.

The IT Department of SWTJC maintains a computer network and internet system for all campuses for students, faculty and administration.  The IT department located on the Eagle Pass facility has 1 full-time employee.  If major computer or network issues arise, personnel are dispatched from Uvalde to address the issue.

Instructional Facilities

The College operates four instructional facilities (Crystal City, Pearsall, Hondo and Castroville {MVISD}) in its service area, offering day, evening, and weekend classes.

Crystal City

The Crystal City Instructional Facility (CCIF) is located 42 miles south of Uvalde and serves approximately 250 students each academic year. The College owns property adjacent to the Crystal City Facility, securing its capacity to grow to meet future needs.

This campus provides the following instructional/support facilities:

  • Five traditional, face-to-face classrooms, three of which have video projectors.
  • Five additional classrooms equipped for interactive video courses. Two of those rooms have 24 computers each.
  • One science laboratory, equipped with a projector.
  • One computer lab with 13 computers for student and public use.
  • The Student Success Center staffed by a full-time Coordinator and several student tutors.
  • Crystal City High School Gym and outdoor sports facilities are utilized for physical education classes.
  • GED classes are conducted in one of the interactive video rooms.
  • The Crystal City networking infrastructure consists of 9 office computers, 90 student computers, and multiple servers maintained directly by SWTJC staff and is part of SWTJC’s Wide Area Network (WAN).

At the front entrance to the facility a reception area is set up for student study groups and as a student waiting area. Counselors’ offices, the business office, and faculty conference offices are adjacent to the reception area. Their location offers students easy access to academic advising, personal counseling, Financial Aid Advising, and registration. This site also offers Texas Success Initiative testing.

Technology

The IT Department of SWTJC maintains a computer network and internet system for all campuses for students, faculty and administration.  The IT department located on the Crystal City campus has 1 part-time employee.  If major computer or network issues arise, personnel are dispatched from Uvalde to address the issue.
 
Maintenance

  • The Crystal City campus employs no maintenance personnel for building and grounds maintenance.  A local contractor performs building custodial services. 
  • SWTJC utilizes a work-order system site, SchoolDude.  This computerized work-order system is used to record and track maintenance requests for routine work orders and preventive maintenance work orders. Preventive maintenance helps ensure that all equipment and facilities are kept in proper working order.  Administration, faculty and staff enter maintenance requests into this work-order system.

 

Pearsall

The Pearsall Instructional Facility is located 50 miles east of Uvalde and serves approximately 200 students each academic year.  The one-building center is owned by the Pearsall Independent School District.    
 
This center provides the following instructional facilities:
 

  • Four classrooms equipped for interactive video courses.  One room has 12 computers.
  • One science laboratory.
  •  Document cameras for two classrooms.
  • The Pearsall Intermediate Campus Gyms and football and track field are used for physical education classes.
  • The Pearsall networking infrastructure, consisting of 3 office computers, the 12 student computers, and multiple servers maintained directly by SWTJC; it is part of SWTJC’s Wide Area Network (WAN).

The facility has one part-time employee who supports course delivery of interactive video courses and provides student support. The facility has three offices for instructor use. A full time SWTJC employee is at the Pearsall facility once a week to provide advising assistance. SWTJC is planning to hire a full-time employee in January 2015 to help provide basic services and information for local and dual credit students.

Maintenance
Southwest Texas Junior College employees no maintenance personnel for building and grounds.  Maintenance is provided by Pearsall ISD.

 

Hondo

In Fall, 2011, SWTJC began offering courses in the South Texas Regional Training Center, a 2,800 square-foot facility constructed by the City of Hondo.  An office lease agreement was entered into between the City of Hondo and Southwest Texas Junior College on July 1, 2011. This SWTJC instructional facility is located 46 miles west of San Antonio, Texas and 42 miles east of Uvalde. It serves approximately 100 students each academic year.

This facility provides the following:

  • Four classrooms, two of which are equipped for two-way interactive video delivery. One of the classrooms has 16 computers.
  • Three offices:  one faculty office, office for full-time administrative assistant, office for student support services use.
  • A staff/faculty lounge.
  • The Hondo networking infrastructure, consisting of 4 office computers, the 16 student computers, and multiple servers maintained directly by SWTJC staff; it is part of SWTJC’s Wide Area Network (WAN).

Maintenance

Southwest Texas Junior College employs no maintenance personnel for building and grounds maintenance. Maintenance is provided by the City of Hondo.

Castroville

In Spring 2015, SWTJC will begin offering a number of courses at the Medina Valley Higher Educational Facility, located in the city of Castroville, and built by the Medina Valley ISD. This site is located 65 miles east of Uvalde and has the capacity to serve approximately 200 students  in its 9,742 square-feet. The College entered into an agreement with the Medina Valley ISD to share this facility to serve Dual Credit students and community constituencies.

This Facility provides the following:

  • Four classrooms, all equipped for interactive video conferencing courses
  • One Computer Lab with 18 computers
  • One Science Lab
  • A Study Center with 12 computers
  • Two Faculty Offices
  • Reception Area
  • The Castroville networking infrastructure, consisting of 2 office computers, 30 student computers, and multiple servers, maintained by SWTJC; it is part of SWTJC’s Wide Area Network (WAN).

Facility maintenance will be provided by Medina Valley ISD.

COURSE OFFERINGS AT OTHER LOCATIONS

SWTJC uses classrooms in many locations to offer college courses across its service area.  All classrooms in high schools used by SWTJC are required to meet Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) standards in regard to safety and adequacy. All classrooms in prison units must meet Texas Department of Criminal Justice standards in regard to safety and adequacy.

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