VCCS Utilization of Classrooms and Class Laboratories, Fall 1994 [and] Utilization of VCCS Classrooms: Measures That Include Non-Credit (CEU) Instruction. Virginia Community College System Research Report Series.

In Fall 1994, the Virginia Community College System conducted two analyses of space utilization to compare actual facilities utilization in system colleges with state standards for space planning. The first study focused on the utilization of classrooms and class laboratories over the past 4 years, determining the percentages of the standard-use levels that spaces were actually in use. Results from this study included the following: (1) for classrooms, 4 of the system's 23 colleges exceeded the state standard for space utilization in 1994, with Mountain Empire College showing a rate of 117.4% of the standard; (2) for regular labs, 13 colleges exceeded the standard, while for heavy labs 5 colleges did so; (3) from 1992 to 1994, classroom utilization decreased for 11 colleges and increased for 6; (4) from 1992 to 1994, rates for heavy labs declined for 15 colleges and increased for 6; and (5) overall, station use remained steady or decreased slightly compared to 1992. The second study performed a similar analysis of use levels, but included classroom use for non-credit, continuing education courses to determine differences in utilization rates for the colleges. This study revealed that, in general, classroom-use rates improved for about two-thirds of the colleges, with six of these moving above the standard when the additional use was counted. As expected, however, neither heavy nor regular laboratory-use rates increased significantly. (Data tables are included.) (BCY)