Facilities Planning Resources
MAAS Companies - Program Management
MAAS Companies is a comprehensive, planning and management company specializing in services to educational institutions including community colleges, such as College of the Desert.
Facilities Master Plan (Vision 2030)
As a companion document to the Educational Master Plan, the Facilities Master Plan serves as a framework for campus development.
Educational Master Plan
The Educational Master Plan 2017 – 2022 (EMP) provides a blueprint for the academic future of the Desert Community College District. As previously noted, it also provides a foundation for the College’s other planning efforts (facilities, staffing, etc.). Although the exercise of planning is a fluid, and at times difficult economic environment may seem overly optimistic, these conditions provide a wonderful opportunity for the District to determine its destiny. Through comprehensive, data-informed educational planning, priorities are defined and the course for future activities becomes clear. In planning for today’s opportunities and challenges, the District is in a better position to make decisions that support its priorities. The EMP provides a road map that supports innovative, rigorous and engaging educational programs for the future of students, and the communities served by the College. These purposes are recognized also by external agency mandates that govern the College, including California Law and regional accreditation.
Strategic Master Plan 2023 - 2028
The Strategic Plan outlines the goals, strategies, objectives, and actions that will guide the future of the Colleges and hjelp it fullfill its mission, vision, values, and goals.
The Strategic Master Plan aligns with and supports several of the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office initiatives, including the Vision for Success, Guided Pathways, Student Equity and Achievement, and Call-to-Action to address systemic racism. The plan also alings with the Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program for Student Success framework, which represents College of the Desert's commitment to its students' success, community engagement, institutional accountability, equity, and social and economic justice.
Measure B
The voters of the College of the Desert Community College District successfully passed
Measure B, a $346.5 million bond measure on March 2, 2004. This measure provided the
necessary funds to improve and expand the districts educational centers. New classrooms,
computer labs, and science labs have been constructed to provide expanded job training
and academic programs. As a result, College of the Desert is providing a better-educated
workforce, which benefits local business and stimulate the economy. An independent
Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee guarantees that all bond funds are spent exactly
as promised to ensure taxpayer safeguards and confidence.
2016 Measure CC Bond
To meet the increasing demands for higher education and training, College of the Desert placed a $577.86 bond measure on the ballot in November 2016, which passed successfully. The bond measure is part of an overall plan to strengthen the main missions of the College: give students the skills they need to be prepared for a successful career or transfer to four-year universities. The bond funds are used be used to renovate classrooms, laboratories, and career/technology centers, improve technology infrastructure, enhance access to facilities for persons with disabilities, and repair unsafe and deteriorating buildings. Specific programs to be enhanced include: Culinary/Hospitality, Digital Media and Broadcasting, Health and Wellness Occupations, Automotive and Advanced Transportation Technology, as well as sustainability and emerging technologies.
Society for College and University Planning
The Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) unites the best of college and professional planners. SCUP offers a range of learning opportunities, from publications to its annual SCUP conference, for the higher education community to share perspectives, resources, best practices, and fresh ideas that move challenges to solutions—building upon a culture of integrated planning.
Sustainability and Stewardship
Sustainable design is a big-picture view of how our choices affect more than the present. Part of the planning process is to factor in sustainable design, while also considering tradeoffs, such as cost versus benefits, and considerations of feasibility, including availability of resources, including financial resources.
Sustainable design is about building the future, not just building and individual
building or structure. Seeing sustainable design as a process empowers “green” designers
to better evaluate and anticipate environmental, economic and social impacts and costs
of building components and systems. Bigger-picture evaluations at the start of a project
lead to better long-term decisions—and that leads to greater overall success.
Sustainable architecture is architecture that seeks to minimize the negative environmental
impact of buildings by efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy,
and development space and the ecosystem at large.
Whether designing completely new buildings or renovating existing spaces, there are
various ways to achieve sustainability at the locations. Sustainability is an important
consideration for College of the Desert buildings and systems. College campus “green”
building architecture will continue to evolve. So, the College will continuously improve
its understanding of building technology by engaging with campus stakeholders, subject
matter experts and be informed by best practices.
Sustainability and stewardship interests and efforts at College of the Desert are currently informed by:
- Desert Community Board Policy No. 3001 on Sustainability Stewardship
- College of the Desert, Green Council
- California Community Colleges Board of Governors, Energy and Sustainability Policy
- State of California Department of General Services, Office of Sustainability
- 2014 California Proposition 39 and Prop 39 Guidelines
- California Community Colleges Office of the Chancellor (CCCCO) program and initiatives
- 2021 Climate Action Sustainability Goals
- Energy and Sustainability Policy
California Community Colleges 2017 Facilities Planning Manual
The California Community College 2017 Facilities Planning Manual is a guide to the capital outlay process for use by community college staff and consultants, the Chancellor's Office and the Department of Finance. The manual is intended to inform and assist in the development of state funded community college facilities and address the capital outlay process and its four components: 1) Master Plans; 2) Capital Outlay Budgeting; 3) Capital Outlay Project Design and Construction, and 4) Acquisitions. Additionally, it emphasizes master planning and the funding and management of capital outlay projects consistent with the district's educational needs.
California Community Colleges 2017 Facilities Planning Manual
