PUEBLO 鈥 After more than a decade operating off site, the 杏吧性世界 cosmetology program is back on campus.
The program now occupies remodeled space in the Medical Arts & Technology building. The move was celebrated Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by PCC students, employees and members of the community.
鈥淭his is a dream come true,鈥 said Department Chair Michele Edwards. 鈥淭o me, it鈥檚 all about students. We get a broader range of clientele because now the student body can be part of what we do (and) our students get to experience campus life 鈥 they鈥檙e not sheltered over in our other corner of the world.鈥
The project took five months to complete and was part of $6.3 million in capital improvement funding provided by the Colorado General Assembly. The money also was used to renovate space in the Health Science building for PCC鈥檚 dental hygiene program. HW Houston was the general contractor and Steve Weidner was the project manager.
Another $100,000 in Amendment 50 funding was used to purchase new equipment. Amendment 50 was passed in 2008 and directs much of the state鈥檚 gaming tax revenue to community colleges.
The cosmetology area includes new labs and clinics for the esthetician, nail technician, cosmetology and barbering programs, as well as an esthetician spa.
PCC President Patty Erjavec, speaking at her final press conference before retiring, said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 heartwarming to hear how excited the students are to be back on campus.鈥
Enrollment is 鈥済oing through the roof,鈥 Edwards said. 鈥淚n fall, we typically have 94 to 100 students. Our waiting lists are almost full.鈥
Darrian Shineovich, a 2013 graduate of the program and current chair of its advisory board, is excited about new possibilities that may come from the move.
鈥淭his not only brings our students together, but it brings the campus to us,鈥 she said.
PCC鈥檚 cosmetology clinic is open to the public and offers discounted services provided by students under the supervision of instructors.
