It used to be the place for long, quiet hours of research and hushed voices. Now the former Ventura College library is dominated by the sounds of jackhammers, bulldozers, and shouting construction workers.
When complete this summer or fall 2006, the renovated building will house admissions and records, business, student assessment and general counseling.
“It’s designed to be a one-stop center for students,” said Lyn MacConnaire, dean of student development.
The renovation will help bring a more coordinated and stable counseling office for new and continuing students at Ventura College, she said.
Some programs that will benifit from the renovation of the old library will be the EOPS office, the financial aid office, the EAC program, and most importantly the student health office. The EOPS office will stay in their original building but will accommodate the space that is left when financial aid moves to the transfer center building. The EAC program will be moved to the current counseling office, and most importantly, the student health office will be moved to the lower level of the CR building.
Students’ reactions vary from person to person here at the college, some with good comments and others not so approving.
“I know it’s a really old building, but the money could be spent on something more important like books,” said Matil Touma, 18, psychology. “There seems to be no problem with how things are right now so I see no need to change it.”
Others were more supportive.
“I think it will benefit the students,” said Veronica Mejia, 18, nursing. “When this building is done, there shouldn’t be any more huge lines.”
Other students were annoyed with the disruption.
“I kinda know what is going on and what’s being moved into it,” says Joey Morris, 22, a drafting major. “It’s annoying always walking around to get to somewhere that could easily be reached if you just went through it.”
MacConnaire said that students will be pleased with the result. “This large area will be integrated and it’s going to be a very good thing after everything is all finished,” she said.
