Move back to campus draws near for Cosmetology students

After spending 25 years off campus, the Fort Scott Community College Cosmetology department will soon be going back. No official return date has been set, however, the move could take place as early as Spring 2014. The Cosmetology department is currently located at 7 S. National Avenue, in downtown Fort Scott.

"Moving it here to campus offers a lot of benefits to the students because they (will) have a lot of things that they don't have down there," FSCC Interim Dean of Instruction Regina Lance said. "Plus, they get to be on campus, and hopefully having it here will generate more students coming in for manicures, pedicures, hair and things like that. So I think it's going to be a really good move for them."

Tuesday, FSCC officials met with architects from the Rogers, Ark., based firm, Hight-Jackson Associates PA., to discuss layout designs, renderings, and any other concerns regarding the planned move. The original blueprint was drawn up in June 2011. The Cosmetology Department, upon returning to campus, will be moving into the Vocational Technology Building. FSCC's Agriculture Department, currently located in the building, will be relocating to the nearby Armory, according to Lance.

"It's a really a nice layout, and much more functional than where we're at now," Lance said.

The Cosmetology Department will occupy the entire downstairs area of the Vocational Technology Building. FSCC plans on using Hight-Jackson to remodel the building. The discussion also included redesigning specific areas of the building to better fit the Cosmetology's department needs. Lance said the redesign plans potentially include a new south entranceway into the building. The plans also include a large window for customers to look through from the outside. These additions will give that side of the building a business-like look from the outside.

"We're hoping to get them (Hight-Jackson) started on it right away so that we can get them moved in sooner," Lance said. "Sometimes with remodeling, it's a longer process than it would be if it was a clean build, because you have to work around the existing things. And there's always something you come up with that you weren't expecting."

During the advisory meeting Tuesday night, some of the concerns expressed by FSCC faculty and staff included security and safety issues, as well as traffic flow through the building.

"The security of the products was discussed," Lance said. "We talked about video cameras and things like that, but cost-wise, I don't think that's something that we can readily incorporate in. Some of the concerns that we saw were traffic flow for the building, to help keep it secure so that we didn't just have students wandering around through the building."

The way in which products would be displayed was another topic brought up during the meeting.

"We discussed, at the reception area, having an enclosed glass display case, because, one, that secures it, and two, it gives it a really nice, showy look," Lance said. "They (faculty) had a lot of good input, and I think it's really critical that they were there, because they are the ones who are going to be using it, with the students."

Another issue that came up in the meeting dealt with what the department refers to as the esthetics room, an area in which customers can receive pedicures and facials, for example. It was determined by members of the department's faculty that this area, which was originally designed to have only one chair and one table, was not large enough, and needed multiple chairs and tables.

"One of the things the instructors said was, a lot of times when people come in for pedicures or for facials, they come in as pairs," Lance said. "Maybe two gals come in and have a spa day. So they saw a high need to have more chairs and more space in that area."

Lance also said the department will soon be implementing a new computer software program.

"One of the new things that is going to come along with this remodel is, there is going to be a computer system that we've just recently ordered that's going to make it more like a business, where the customers track their hours, and so it's going to give it more of that (business) feel," Lance said.

The meeting also included discussions about how the project currently fits into the FSCC budget.

"They're (Hight-Jackson) going to put together some more information for the contractor and get back with us on that," Lance said.

According to Lance, the remodeled portion of the building would include two classrooms. One of the classrooms would allow students to receive hands-on instruction, while the other would be a lecture-style classroom. Also included would be 24 work stations, six wash areas, cabinets allowing for storage of towels, and a locker room area for students to store personal belongings and course required materials.

"I think it's really exciting, and the instructors were really excited to see the renderings and the pictures, how it's going to be and that look to the future," Lance said.