The construction of residence hall facilities at colleges and universities continues to be strong, as institutions scramble to meet the housing needs and varied demands of a growing student population. This article presents data collected from 39 new residence hall projects completed in 2007. According to American School & University's 19th…

This fall, the Los Angeles Unified School District sold about $2 billion in bonds to finance more projects in its massive school construction program. But the cost of repaying that debt won't be as burdensome as it could have been. Los Angeles took advantage of two federal programs available to school systems through the American Reinvestment and…

This article talks about how the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) embraced a precedent-setting green policy that would forever change its approach to education. The "greenprint" for how environmental design and construction could be done mandates that all new buildings funded with at least half of the funds from its $2.2…

The economic outlook may be sour for Wall Street's investment banks and for homeowners who took out mortgages they could not really afford, but campus planners and architects say that--so far, at least--colleges' construction plans are largely unaffected by the downturn. Some colleges, in fact, are trying to speed up projects to limit the damage…

The project of building the tenth University of California (UC) campus--UC Merced--was a lightning rod for all the various pushes and pulls in California society between 1983 and 2005. In fact, the author suggests, the project provides a clear window into California during this period. In this chapter, she describes the political and economic…

This report offers California college faculty a closer look at contextualized teaching and learning (CTL) as a promising set of strategies and practices that can be expanded through the state's Basic Skills Initiative. The report is relevant to a range of instructional and counseling faculty, including academic and career and technical education…

The postmodernist architecture of new college buildings is adding interest to campuses all over California, with a few architects leading the trend. (MSE)

A SET OF EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATION DRAFTED BY THE FIRST CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS GIVES INFORMATION ON BIDDING PROCEDURES, A DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM, PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL, DATA AND CONDITIONS RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT PHASE OF THE PROJECT, COMPONENT CONTRACTS, AND GENERAL…

The demand for school construction and the agency regulations and practices involved in the process are described in this report. A four-part theoretical framework explains the process of school facility construction. First, school districts follow a process that consists of nine fundamental steps: (1) needs assessment; (2) long-range planning;…

Property acquired by the Veterans Administration (VA) through defaults on VA-guaranteed home loans is repaired and redecorated under a housing rehabilitation program that also provides valuable vocational training for California secondary students. The student volunteers work under a qualified vocational instructor hired in accordance with a…

The Coalition for Adequate School Housing has developed a set of proposals for a new statewide school construction program. Lists 12 concepts that are the basis of the program. (MLF)

Evaluates and explains the major revenue sources available to California school districts to finance school construction. Advises districts to develop partnerships with cities and counties to ensure adequate funding for school facilities. (MLF)

Written to aid in the development and improvement of facilities for the mentally retarded in California, the guide describes the organization of the agency responsible, the State Department of Public Health, and presents the laws relating to hospital survey and construction, the State Health and Safety Code. Further information is provided…