The campus master plan is a comprehensive document that details the current and
future physical needs of Joliet Junior College. The plan is developed by architects
and engineers in conjunction with campus and external community representatives.
During the process, the physical assets of the college are inventoried and evaluated,
including the campuses, buildings, grounds, natural areas, interior finishes, and
mechanical equipment. The plan will include proposals that address current space
needs, respond to new programs, and prepare for enrollment growth. Future space
and program decisions will be made with the master plan in mind.
The Illinois Community College Board requires each college to update their master
plan at least every five years. The last master plan was completed in 1999 and updated
in 2002. An updated master plan is required for 2007, and besides the physical needs
of the college, it also will address issues that were not known in 1999, such as
new academic offerings and revised enrollment growth projections.
There are several ways to provide input into the new campus master plan. First,
all employees will have the opportunity to participate in focus groups and talk
directly to the architects. At the end of the sessions, an evaluation form will
be provided for further feedback. The Web site also has a feedback form that can
be completed at any time. Finally, throughout the process, students, faculty, staff, and
community members are welcome to contact the college administration or a member
of the Campus Master Plan Steering Committee directly.
View the complete listing on our
Team page.
For specific timeline information, visit the
schedule
posted on the Master Plan Web site.
After a review of proposals and interviews, the Board of Trustees approved Legat
Architects to update the college's 1999 campus master plan. Legat was founded in
1964 and has over 40 years of experience as a full service architecture firm. The
firm has provided design services for over 200 schools in the last 10 years. Expertise
includes architectural design, sustainable design, planning and programming, life
safety, interior design, and moisture protection. For more information on Legat,
visit www.legat.com.
JJR, a subcontractor of Legat, will be focusing on landscape architecture. JJR is
a nationally recognized leader in landscape architecture, planning, urban design,
civil engineering and environmental science. For more information, visit www.jjr-us.com.
Yes. The campus master plan is comprehensive and includes all JJC educational sites.
Fulfilling the needs of students is a primary objective of the plan. Not only have
their needs changed, but a lot of discussion will go into requirements of students
far into the future. Meeting with students and receiving their valuable feedback
will help to anticipate current and future needs.
The Steering Committee discussed this at its first meeting. While many things are
listed in the minutes of the first meeting, it was agreed that at least the following
should guide the process:
- Focus on learning and learners
- Utilize existing space efficiently
- Prioritize proposed projects
- Communicate feedback and changes
- Consider safety and accessibility in all phases/areas
- Connect the plan to the Strategic Plan and Academic Quality Improvement Program
(AQIP)
In FY09, the college will issue student fee-backed bonds supported by a $9 capital assessment
fee added to student tuition and fees for fall 2008. This will fund $70 million of JJC's $220
million master plan.
The college will also ask voters to approve an $89 million building-bond referendum on the
November ballot to fund other projects. This question will be on the ballot for voters in the
Illinois Community College District 525, which includes the counties of Will, Grundy, Kendall,
LaSalle, Kankakee, Livingston, and Cook.
The college will partner with the YMCA to privately raise $30 million in a capital campaign. The
remaining $31 million will be raised through additional partnerships and existing college capital
funds.
The capital assessment fee will fund projects for students that include:
- new campus center centralizing student and enrollment services. These include admissions,
registration, financial aid, career counseling, advising and counseling, service center, Student
Accommodations and Resources (STAR), Project Achieve (TRIO program), the Academic Skills Center,
the Dean of Students office, and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, as well as the
bookstore and food service (cafeteria)
- new library
- new horticulture facility at Houbolt Road
- total renovation of most classrooms
- new facility services building
- additional parking
- restored natural areas and new landscaping
The referendum is tied to projects that support the creation of new jobs in high growth
industries in JJC's district. Projects include:
- new nursing and allied health building to support the high demand for nurses and space for
new programs in allied health, such as dental hygiene and physical therapy assistant
- expansion of the automotive technology program to accommodate bodywork and other
programs
- new, modern teaching space in the City Center Campus for the college's nationally-recognized
culinary arts/hospitality management programs
- eight new science labs and the renovation of all existing science labs. There is a high
demand for science classes at the college due to the growing need for trained professionals in
the nursing and allied health fields, among other science-related fields.
If the referendum is approved, the college will be able to lower future capital assessment
fee increases to $1 per credit hour, lessening the cost to students over the next three years.
The estimated impact of the referendum on a $200,000 home is $15 per year.
Without the referendum, the cost to a full-time student will be an additional $270 in
each of the next three years for a total of $810 through a capital assessment fee.
The implementation of the master plan will create high paying jobs in high demand fields. The
college estimates that 8,000 jobs will be created from new programs and construction. For
example, the construction of a new nursing and allied health building would allow for the
expansion of nursing, radiologic technology and other health programs, while adding new programs for
physical therapy assistant, dental assistant and dental hygiene.
No. JJC's tuition for FY2009 of $2,640 per year (30 credit hours) still places the college in
the middle of its peer group, which includes the College of DuPage, Harper, Lake County,
Oakton, Moraine Valley, and Triton. JJC currently ranks 22 out of 39 community college districts
in Illinois for tuition and fees.
Tuition at JJC ($2,640) is considerably less than:
- the average cost of one year at an Illinois public university at $8,196
- the average cost of one year at an Illinois private university at $19,132
The college plans on pursuing funding from private sources and partnerships with organizations
that support our mission. Revenues from this funding will be used for a partnership with the
YMCA to produce a 100,000 square foot facility with a fitness center, competition-sized fields
and gyms and family programs and a new building at the City Center Campus to enhance the
continuing economic revitalization and development of the city and surrounding communities. This
means that the entire community will benefit, with no cost or burden to the taxpayer.