Durham Tech to expand with new Hillsborough campus
By: Tom Hartwell, Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/23/07 Section: Online Exclusives
Durham Technical Community College, which provides classes in more than 40 locations around Orange County, soon will have a home in Hillsborough.
The new satellite campus should be ready for classes by March 2008, later than initial projections had reported. Administrators said they had hoped the facility would be ready for the fall 2007 semester.
"We'll be able to offer some spring semester continuing education classes beginning in March," said Barbara Baker, vice president for student support services. "We'll begin curriculum classes in May."
The Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners heard an update on the project Monday at their joint meeting.
Leaders are attributing the late opening to construction delays and to problems coordinating the plans with county and town representatives.
Orange County residents represent close to a quarter of students enrolled in the college, according to a press release.
Durham Tech has offered classes in Orange County since the 1960s and has served officially as the county's community college since the 1980s. But classes away from its main campus in Durham met in church halls, recreation centers, high schools and other available public spaces, Baker said.
The $8 million campus in Hillsborough will be its first permanent facility in Orange County.
It will include computer and science labs, an emergency medical training facility and 14 general-purpose classrooms, as well as student services such as advising and financial aid offices.
"The biggest advantage to having our own space is to know that it is always available," Baker said.
She added that many of the classes Durham Tech offers in Orange County, such as ESL classes that meet at several churches in Chapel Hill, will not move to the new campus.
"Since we have a new computer lab, I'm thinking some of those classes where we teach computers will move there."
The Hillsborough facility will allow more specialized classes to be offered, as well as student services not previously available in Orange County.
The new satellite campus should be ready for classes by March 2008, later than initial projections had reported. Administrators said they had hoped the facility would be ready for the fall 2007 semester.
"We'll be able to offer some spring semester continuing education classes beginning in March," said Barbara Baker, vice president for student support services. "We'll begin curriculum classes in May."
The Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners heard an update on the project Monday at their joint meeting.
Leaders are attributing the late opening to construction delays and to problems coordinating the plans with county and town representatives.
Orange County residents represent close to a quarter of students enrolled in the college, according to a press release.
Durham Tech has offered classes in Orange County since the 1960s and has served officially as the county's community college since the 1980s. But classes away from its main campus in Durham met in church halls, recreation centers, high schools and other available public spaces, Baker said.
The $8 million campus in Hillsborough will be its first permanent facility in Orange County.
It will include computer and science labs, an emergency medical training facility and 14 general-purpose classrooms, as well as student services such as advising and financial aid offices.
"The biggest advantage to having our own space is to know that it is always available," Baker said.
She added that many of the classes Durham Tech offers in Orange County, such as ESL classes that meet at several churches in Chapel Hill, will not move to the new campus.
"Since we have a new computer lab, I'm thinking some of those classes where we teach computers will move there."
The Hillsborough facility will allow more specialized classes to be offered, as well as student services not previously available in Orange County.
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