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BCC pitches expansion plan for New Bedford campus
By David Kibbe
Standard-Times staff writer
 BOSTON
— Bristol Community College is hoping to at least double
its student enrollment in New Bedford next year from
1,200 to 2,400 students under a $1.2 million plan for
more classroom space that BCC President John J. Sbrega,
Mayor Scott W. Lang and legislators pitched to House
Speaker Salvatore DiMasi yesterday.
The city and community college are looking for state
financial support to lease space in another building
downtown, in addition to the 8,000 square feet BCC
already leases at the Star Store.
The exact location and size of the expansion hasn't been
finalized, but Mr. Sbrega said it could be as much as
30,000 additional square feet. Mr. Sbrega said it would
be within several blocks of the Star Store, where the
college would continue to teach classes, and could be
ready by 2008.
"It's a very important project," Mr. Sbrega said
yesterday, after addressing a Higher Education Committee
hearing on community college issues. "We really need
it."
Long-term, the Fall River-based BCC and the city will
seek state bonding to open a permanent New Bedford
campus, but it could take years to complete.
Mr. Sbrega, Mayor Lang, Executive Director of the New
Bedford Economic Development Council Matthew Morrissey,
the city's legislative delegation and BCC officials met
with Mr. DiMasi in his Statehouse office.
Most of the group also saw Rep. Robert DeLeo,
D-Winthrop, the chairman of the House Ways and Means
Committee.
While the House leaders offer no commitments, the New
Bedford delegation said it was receptive to the idea.
The funding would come either from money in the state
budget or capital bonding.
"The most important thing was to try to make a strong
presentation, to make a full-court press that this was
something we were serious about, and the fact that this
was an unmet need," said Rep. Robert M. Koczera, D-New
Bedford. "This is a way for our region to pull ourselves
up by its own bootstraps."
The House Ways and Means Committee will unveil its
budget proposal in April. The final state budget is due
by July 1.
Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral, D-New Bedford, said the
purpose of the meetings was "to make them aware of the
need we have in terms of education, economic development
and workforce development."
"If a company is looking to move into New Bedford, one
of the issues they look at is the level of skill, the
level of education the work force has," Rep. Cabral
said.
Rep. Stephen R. Canessa, D-New Bedford, and Rep. John F.
Quinn, D-Dartmouth, who represents part of the city,
also attended the meetings.
Mayor Lang pledged to seek a downtown BCC campus in his
State of the City speech earlier this month.
Mr. Lang said yesterday that a greater BCC presence was
needed to help people attain their high school
equivalency degrees and get fast vocational training to
meet the demands of an employer, besides offering
college degrees.
He said it also would spur economic development through
downtown construction and make the city more inviting to
new residents and visitors.
"I intend to have BCC have a very close alliance with
our public school system in New Bedford, so we have the
ability to have students who for whatever reason are not
on that graduation track enroll at BCC, get back on
board, and teach them vocational skills and make them
productive members of our society," Mayor Lang said.
If the money is approved, it could help BCC accept more
students in programs that are booked up, including
nursing, which has 1,000 applicants for 96 slots.
"At the other end of the spectrum, the hospitals and
caregivers are all crying for nurses," Mr. Sbrega said.
The push for a greater BCC presence in downtown New
Bedford comes as Gov. Deval Patrick and state
legislators are making higher education a priority.
Later this session, a higher education reorganization
and an aggressive, statewide construction and
modernization plan are expected to be announced by
Statehouse leaders.
Mr. Sbrega, speaking before the Higher Education
Committee, said SouthCoast needs a renewed emphasis on
education. Committee member Rep. David Sullivan, D-Fall
River, agreed, saying manufacturing jobs are on the
decline.
Mr. Sbrega also called for an advisory group to
coordinate the state's educational system, all the way
from elementary school through college. However, he said
it is crucial to retain local control of community
colleges.
"The literacy levels in Southeastern Massachusetts and
the educational attainment levels in Southeastern
Massachusetts are very low," Mr. Sbrega said. "We are
attracting population into the region, but the literacy
and educational attainment levels are low. I take that
personally. It's my job to fix that."
Publication date: March 23, 2007 |
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