Facilities Planning Resources

 

Facilities Project Request Form (Laserfiche) - Limited Access

The Facilities Project Request Form is submitted by a Dean, or Unit Head from a Department reporting directly to a Vice President and is typically completed by Dean's Office staff to request initiation of renovations and alterations, or minor capital improvements (not a Maintenance + Operations Work Order*). The facilities project request form requires information, such as, a project description and justification, location, space effects and cost of the project, which must be in alignment with established campus priorities and prudent resource management. The Facilities Project Request Form is used to track the initiation and completion of said projects approved by the Cognitive Vice President and the Executive Cabinet. Projects are typically assigned to the campus Bond Program Manager (MAAS); Maintenance and Operations, or Information Technology.

(*) a M+O Work Order is meant to address an existing facility or pieced of equipment's functionality.  Renovations + Alterations, or minor capital improvement projects are upgrades or other changes to an existing facility or a new improvement altogether. Carpet replacement or painting of walls, for example, are not typically renovations or alterations, and instead are part of on-going capital renewal managed by the District.

Large-scale major capital improvements are addressed as part of the annual Five-Year Construction Program aka long term capital outlay program, and are consistent with the Facilities Master Plan and established long-term District priorities. The Five Year Construction Plan updates are reviewed by the Executive Cabinet and are shared in advance with the Facilities Advisory Committee. The Board of Trustees approves the Five Year Construction Plan typically in the summer each year.  

MAAS Companies - Program Management 

MAAS Companies is a comprehensive, planning and management company specializing in services to educational institutions including community colleges, such as College of the Desert. 

Facilities Master Plan (Vision 2030)

As a companion document to the Educational Master Plan, the Facilities Master Plan serves as a framework for campus development.

Educational Master Plan 

The Educational Master Plan 2017 – 2022 (EMP) provides a blueprint for the academic future of the Desert Community College District. As previously noted, it also provides a foundation for the College’s other planning efforts (facilities, staffing, etc.).Through comprehensive, data-informed educational planning, priorities are defined and the course for future activities becomes clear. In planning for today’s opportunities and challenges, the District is in a better position to make decisions that support its priorities. The EMP provides a road map that supports innovative, rigorous and engaging educational programs for the future of students, and the communities served by the District. These purposes are recognized also by external agency mandates that govern the District, including California Law and regional accreditation.

Educational Strategic Master Plan 2023 - 2028 

The Educational Strategic Plan outlines the goals, strategies, objectives, and actions that will guide the future of the District and help it to fulfill its mission, vision, values, and goals.

The Strategic Master Plan aligns with and supports several of the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office initiatives, including the Vision for Success, Guided Pathways, Student Equity and Achievement, and Call-to-Action to address systemic racism.  The plan also aligns with the Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program for Student Success framework, which represents College of the Desert's commitment to its students' success, community engagement, institutional accountability, equity, and social and economic justice.

Measure B

The voters of the College of the Desert Community College District successfully passed Measure B, a $346.5 million bond measure on March 2, 2004. This measure provided the necessary funds to improve and expand the districts educational centers. New classrooms, computer labs, and science labs have been constructed to provide expanded job training and academic programs. As a result, College of the Desert is providing a better-educated workforce, which benefits local business and stimulate the economy.  An independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee guarantees that all bond funds are spent exactly as promised to ensure taxpayer safeguards and confidence.

2016 Measure CC Bond

To meet the increasing demands for higher education and training, College of the Desert placed a $577.86 bond measure on the ballot in November 2016, which passed successfully. The bond measure is part of an overall plan to strengthen the main missions of the College: give students the skills they need to be prepared for a successful career or transfer to four-year  universities. The bond funds are used be used to renovate classrooms, laboratories, and career/technology centers, improve technology infrastructure, enhance access to facilities for persons with disabilities, and repair unsafe and deteriorating buildings. Specific programs to be enhanced include: Culinary/Hospitality, Digital Media and Broadcasting, Health and Wellness Occupations, Automotive and Advanced Transportation Technology, as well as sustainability and emerging technologies.

Society for College and University Planning 

The Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) unites the best of college and professional planners. SCUP offers a range of learning opportunities, from publications to its annual SCUP conference, for the higher education community to share perspectives, resources, best practices, and fresh ideas that move challenges to solutions—building upon a culture of integrated planning.    

Sustainability and Stewardship

Sustainable design is a big-picture view of how our choices affect more than the present. Part of the planning process is to factor in sustainable design, while also considering tradeoffs, such as cost versus benefits, and considerations of feasibility, including availability of resources, including financial resources. 

Sustainable design is about building the future, not just building and individual building or structure.  Seeing sustainable design as a process empowers “green” designers to better evaluate and anticipate environmental, economic and social impacts and costs of building components and systems. Bigger-picture evaluations at the start of a project lead to better long-term decisions—and that leads to greater overall success.
 
Sustainable architecture is architecture that seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space and the ecosystem at large.
 
Whether designing completely new buildings or renovating existing spaces, there are various ways to achieve sustainability at the locations. Sustainability is an important consideration for College of the Desert buildings and systems. College campus “green” building architecture will continue to evolve. So, the College will continuously improve its understanding of building technology by engaging with campus stakeholders, subject matter experts and be informed by best practices. 

Sustainability and stewardship interests and efforts at College of the Desert are currently informed by:

• Desert Community Board Policy No. 3001 on Sustainability Stewardship
• College of the Desert, Green Council
• California Community Colleges Board of Governors, Energy and Sustainability Policy
• State of California Department of General Services, Office of Sustainability
• 2014 California Proposition 39 and Prop 39 Guidelines
• California Community Colleges Office of the Chancellor (CCCCO)  program and initiatives
  
  • 2021 Climate Action Sustainability Goals
  • Energy and Sustainability Policy 

California Community Colleges 2017 Facilities Planning Manual

The California Community College 2017 Facilities Planning Manual is a guide to the capital outlay process for use by community college staff and consultants, the Chancellor's Office and the Department of Finance.  The manual is intended to inform and assist in the development of state funded community college facilities and address the capital outlay process and its four components: 1) Master Plans; 2) Capital Outlay Budgeting; 3) Capital Outlay Project Design and Construction, and 4) Acquisitions.  Additionally, it emphasizes master planning and the funding and management of capital outlay projects consistent with the district's educational needs.

California Community Colleges 2017 Facilities Planning Manual