QUINCY (WGEM) – Plans are underway for a local college to invest in science and technology and those plans are moving fast.
On Monday, an urgent meeting was called to order with the John Wood Community College Board of Trustees.
Officials reported a surge in enrollment for its science and technology program. President Bryan Renfro said the program enrolled 65 additional students, which means an additional need for space.
“We developed those spaces in 1999 and they’re significantly outdated compared to modern standards,” Renfro said. “This is going to give them a great new look, a great new feel, but also a great new environment for which our faculty will teach and create a lot more days for collaboration with our students.”
Renfro said the plan is to revamp the facility over the summer. Students will return to a state-of-the-art facility with more space. On Monday, the board approved the more than $1.5 million project during its special session to move the process along and have it ready for Fall 2025.
“These lab spaces serve for classes that are designed for pre-health professions,” Renfro said. “Such as nursing, surge tech, and also STEM professions, such as engineering, medical life sciences, biology, chemistry and physics.”
Renfro said the facility’s bathrooms will also get an upgrade.
School officials said in the last four years the science and tech building also got an upgrade for computer science, graphic design and student collaboration.
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