Tanana Valley Campus Courthouse Renovation Project on Track for Fall Opening

Submitted by Scott McCrea
Phone: (907) 455-2857
07/11/03

When the former state courthouse facility on Barnette Street opens its doors to the public this fall, it won’t be occupied by judges and lawyers. The new tenants will be the students, faculty and staff of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Tanana Valley Campus.

TVC will be moving into the first two floors of the facility sometime in late August. Renovation of those two floors, which was funded through a statewide general obligation bond that voters approved in November 2002, began in January and is now in its final stages. The university plans to renovate and move into the third and fourth floors as funding allows.

Being able to occupy part of the building for now will be a "remarkable improvement," especially for students, said TVC Director Jake Poole.

"This will allow us to develop a true campus presence in the downtown area," said Poole, who pointed out that TVC has long since outgrown its current downtown location in the Chena Building on Second Avenue. "The new building will not only provide our students with an exceptional learning environment, it will also provide the downtown community with an easily accessible link to the university as a whole."

TVC will be relocating some programs from the Chena Building as well as the University Park Center on University Avenue to the new facility. Those programs scheduled to move include Early Childhood Education, Human Services, Paralegal Studies, Associate of Arts, Developmental Studies, Academic Programs, Workforce Development, and Professional Development.

In addition, the new building will house the TVC Student Assistance Center, a "one-stop" center that will provide current and prospective students with everything from testing and tutoring services to class registration and fee payment.

Adding to the campus atmosphere that TVC plans on creating will be the fact that the building will have a satellite branch of the UAF Bookstore as well as a coffee and sandwich shop operated by UAF Dining Services.

Poole said the services that TVC will be able to offer are perfectly suited for the campus’ demographics, which are largely adult, non-traditional students. "Our students have very specific needs since many are trying to balance school with raising a family and working a full-time job," he said. "They need easy access, they need quick, no-hassle service, and they need a comfortable learning atmosphere. TVC has always prided itself on being able to meet those needs, but now we are going to be able to take it to the next level."

Founded in the early 1970s as the Tanana Valley Community College, TVC is a branch campus of the UAF College of Rural Alaska. The campus offers more than 40 technical certificate and associate degree programs, as well as academic and workforce/professional development programs. Classes for the fall semester at TVC and UAF begin on Sept. 4. For more information visit the TVC website at www.tvc.uaf.edu.

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CONTACT: TVC Marketing Coordinator Scott McCrea at 455-2857 or fnsjm@uaf.edu.