Taft College is experiencing big change. Professor Gary Graupman submitted the following update as a Region V Newsflash.

Taft College is progressing through an exciting time of demolition and reconstruction. Funding the project through a bond measure passed a few years ago, the college planners are moving forward with the scheme. Hopefully, the revamping of the Administration Building will be completed some time in December of this year, and the new library will be completed in January of 2008. The work on the Math/Science Building has started with the classes and offices now moved to portables. After this project, the Tech Arts Building work will begin. Work has been completed on the new Child Care Center.

Another change at the college has been one of personnel. The president moved on to another college this last July, and a search has begun to find his replacement. This search is expected to last the better part of the year. The Liberal Arts Division has hired two new full-time faculty—one to teach English and one to teach ESL. A new librarian has also been hired. The institution is hiring a new administrative position to help with three Title V grants the college has been awarded. One of the grants is designated for Basic Skills which among other strategies is using a cohort approach to help Basic Skills students succeed. With the recent retirement of our Speech/Journalism instructor, one of the English teachers has stepped up to make sure the class and the school paper are not lost. Also, some instructors are now helping out with the various grants along with their other duties.

T.C. is also revving up for its accreditation which will begin next fall. Some staff and faculty will participate in training this September to prepare them for chairing various committees dealing with the accreditation process. So with all the construction, grants, and accreditation, the staff and faculty are very busy. The Liberal Arts Division is also reviewing course outlines and student learning outcomes.