JCC President Asks Commissioners for $25 Million in Next County Bond
Published: February 5, 2018
Funds would pay for building for Early College and engineering students.
Johnston Community College President Dr. David Johnson asked Johnston County Commissioners Monday to appropriate $25 million for JCC in the next county bond referendum.
The funds would pay for a 71,000-square foot building on the main campus for Johnston County Early College and JCC engineering students.
Johnson told commissioners the College has no capacity for growth for these programs with existing facilities. Currently, 395 students are enrolled in Early College and 100 students are enrolled in engineering at JCC. In three years, the College estimates Early College enrollment increasing to 675 students.
JCC is also expected to experience 37% enrollment growth between 2016 and 2036, according to the Carolina Population Center, Johnson said.
“Our mission of accessibility and success is putting a strain on the College’s facilities and infrastructure and limiting opportunities for Johnston County residents,” Johnson said.
With space for 800 students, Johnson equated the building to the size of a 2A high school.
“With the data regarding what is needed in the future and how we will grow, the time is now,” he said. “Not just for JCC but for families, students, and economic development of the county.”
In all, JCC’s capital priorities total over $90 million, Johnson said.
Other capital needs are a starter building in western Johnston County to accommodate existing and future population growth and to allow for ease of access to JCC for western Johnston County residents; redirecting the College’s main entrance, improving Jaguar Drive, and selected parking lots; new classroom buildings for advanced technology and truck driver training and transport technology programs; and a new maintenance building.
Cut line: Dr. David Johnson, JCC president, told Johnston County Commissioners the College needs a new building to accommodate Early College and engineering students.