The Foundation for California Community Colleges (F.C.C.C.) has selected Art Chen as its Director of Facilities Programs.  More than 85 individuals applied for the position after a national search.
 
Mr. Chen has exceptional qualifications for the position. He has “been in the trenches” as a college facilities director—for three years he was Director of Physical Plant for Peralta Community College District, serving colleges in Alameda, Oakland, and Berkeley, California.   Previously, he had a long career with Kaiser Engineers, Inc., where he rose to Vice President and Manager.  And for 14 years he was Chief Executive Officer of Shawnee Company, Inc., a spin-off of Kaiser.
 
"I look forward to fulfilling F.C.C.C.'s goals of exemplary service to the educational community," said Mr. Chen. "The F.C.C.C. facilities efforts will focus on programs that provide supportive learning environments, cost savings, and place more resources in the classroom."
 
After attending Oakland City College, Mr. Chen earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of California (Berkeley) College of Engineering.  He also earned a Juris Doctor with an emphasis in contracts. Mr. Chen has extensive legal experience in environmental law, education, and public contracting.  He is a member of the State Bar of California, a registered professional engineer, and holds several California contracting license classifications.
 
“The Foundation is extremely fortunate to have Art come onboard to lead the development of our facilities programs,” said Dr. Larry Toy, F.C.C.C. President/CEO.  “The need to create facilities savings and support services is critical right now and Art’s rich experience and education will assist many educational institutions.”
 
F.C.C.C. recently initiated several facilities programs, including:

• Facilities condition assessments have been completed for all 108 California community colleges (C.C.C.) and several K-12 schools;
• Phase one of the FUSION central database for the facilities condition information is being completed, staff at 60 districts have been trained in its use, and recruitment is underway for a FUSION User Support Coordinator;
• The facilities volume purchasing program has its first two competitive bids nearing release—one for academic furniture (with excellent performance standards) and one for carpeting; and
• A labor compliance plan has been prepared that allows C.C.C. districts and K-12 districts to more-easily comply with a new California law.  

The first decade of the millennium is shaping up to be the largest educational building era in California since the 1960s.  In November 2002 California voters approved the Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act (Proposition 47), providing $13.05 billion dollars for renovation and new construction of public school facilities statewide. Of that total, $746 million is for the C.C.C.  A second statewide bond act for a total of $12.3 billion is slated for 2004. 
 
Moreover, public recognition of dire facilities needs has resulted in the passage of 95% of all local C.C.C. bond measures since 2001.  Thus from 2001-2005 C.C.C. could be allocated up to $15 billion for facilities.
 
The Foundation for California Community Colleges, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the official auxiliary for the system of 108 California Community Colleges. F.C.C.C. manages the collegebuys.org and schoolbuys.org purchasing programs and other programs.  Its facilities programs will benefit not only California community colleges and K-12 schools, but also hundreds of other colleges and universities across the United States.