Like all of you, the pandemic and its ongoing impact has changed virtually every aspect of my life, both professionally and personally. Our efforts to move thousands of students and faculty to an online environment in the early days of the pandemic and now, as we daily cope with the surreal environment in which we operate, is emotionally and physically exhausting. Zooming, masking, "six-feet-aparting"--and now, more restrictions and admonitions to stay home and not travel for Thanksgiving--are the ubiquitous features of the syndrome we now call "coronavirus fatigue." To be honest, posting to a blog receded as we daily dealt with the issues our students face--and that we face in creating a different way to work and take care of our families.
However, we filled the void with weekly town halls, which have served a double purpose--to share important information AND to re-connect with each other. Here's a link to the recordings of past town halls, which we began very early in the pandemic (March 26) and have continued on a fairly regular basis.
Throughout the upheaval of the pandemic, we at West maintain our focus on our students. Our goal continues to be providing support and encouragement as students and their families face increasingly dire circumstances. Even now, as I write this, I look out my window and see dozens of cars lined up on College Boulevard to take advantage of the food and laptop giveaway sponsored by the College and the WLAC Foundation.
In the middle of this, as we all strive for a bit of normalcy, Darrell Roberson, one of our most fervent College advocates and long-time admissions/transfer staffer, made a suggestion that may help everyone re-connect with the physicality of our West world. Darrell asked, "Is there any way that we can have video or pictures of the campus since we been gone to see all the new construction going on campus?"
Yes, Darrell, there is. Thanks to the good folks at BuildLACCD and their drone--accompanied by a few pictures of my own--here's a pictorial tour of the status of new construction, which continues even as we operate in a virtual environment.
First, take a look at this
"bird's eye" view of the campus with our construction sites.
"bird's eye" view of the campus with our construction sites.
Newly-resurfaced roads and bike lanes now encircle the entire perimeter of the campus!
Here's several views of the Technology Learning Center, which is nearing completion and should be ready for occupancy late spring 2021.
And the Watson Center, which should be ready for occupancy mid-spring 2021.
