FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Coastline’s High-Tech Mini-Campus Toured

Coastline Community College’s newest “mini-campus” at the Fountain Valley Civic Center features the latest in technological advancements.

The 8,112-square-foot facility, which occupies the city’s former Police Department, has seven classrooms and four faculty offices.

Coastline held an open house at the facility at 10200 Slater Ave. on Wednesday, during which the public got a view of what officials described as “classrooms of the future.”

Gail Jones, public information officer of the Fountain Valley-based college, said the facility includes a “touch-screen reception area,” where visitors and students can access information about class schedules and other college services via computer.

In addition, classrooms are equipped with fiber optics for both telephone access and computer use, Jones said.

The facility also features a classroom where students participate in classes taught at Cal State Dominguez Hills via live, interactive video technology.

“This is an example of an educational satellite campus of the future,” said Ted Boehler, associate dean of telemedia. “Having this particular facility available permits (students) to avoid driving to Cal State Dominguez Hills.”

Donald L. Heinbuch, the city’s administrative services manager, said the city has leased the building, which had been vacant since 1984, to Coastline.

Heinbuch said because Fountain Valley Civic Center is within a city redevelopment project area, the Redevelopment Agency loaned Coastline $300,000, in which part of the money was used to renovate the building. Heinbuch said that under the loan-lease agreement, Coastline will pay back the loan over a 10-year period at 7% interest.

“It’s a win-win situation for Coastline and the city,” Heinbuch said. “We’ve got revenue coming in from a previously vacant building.”

Boehler said that about 500 students are enrolled in classes at the new facility. Subjects offered include telecommunications, travel, building inspection technology, real estate and accounting.

Coastline serves about 15,000 Orange County students and has satellite campuses in Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Westminster.

For information, call (714) 546-7600.