Jefferson College’s $3,022,000 construction project to build Phase I of a new veterinary technology facility on the Hillsboro campus is expected to be completed this month.
“Phase I of the project remains on budget, and it is still expected that the building will be occupied and ready for spring 2025 instruction,” college President Dena McCaffrey said.
The college’s vet tech program is currently housed in the college’s Career and Technical Education building on the Hillsboro campus, but will be moved into the new building.
Brockmiller Construction in Farmington is the general contractor, and work started in early 2024.
McCaffrey said Phase I entails the construction of an approximately 5,775-square-foot building in the back of the Hillsboro campus.
The Phase I features include lab space, a surgery room, kennels, reception area, recovery space, offices and a student lounge.
“Phase II, expected to begin construction in early 2025, will include a dedicated classroom space and add approximately 1,425 square feet,” she said.
McCaffrey said Phase II will be bid as an entirely different project.
“(Phase II) of the project will not fall under the original $3,022,900 bid by Brockmiller Construction,” McCaffrey said. “Instead, Phase II will be competitively bid, and the project will be presented for approval at a board meeting in spring 2025.”
Initially, plans called for the new vet tech building to be 7,400 square feet, but that has changed, and the building now will be 7,200 square feet, she said.
“The project underwent two bidding processes, initially for 7,400 square feet (when all bids arrived over the budget set by college officials) and subsequently for 5,775 square feet,” McCaffrey said. “When combined, Phases I and II total 7,200 square feet.
“To make Phase I feasible, a collaboration between (Hastings and Chivetta Architects in Maryland Heights) and a team of Jefferson College faculty and staff focused on the project budget and the program’s long-term requirements, which led to the removal of one office and its associated corridor from the project totaling approximately 200 square feet.”
The college’s vet tech program, which was established in 1976, with 15 students, now needs more space to meet its growth, McCaffrey said.
“Currently, the college can admit up to 36 students each fall for the vet tech program,” she said. “There are currently 44 students enrolled. Once the new building is completed and classes are held there, the college will be able to accommodate up to 48 students each fall for a combined total capacity of 96 students for the two-year program.”
She said a barn that houses animals used for the program will remain in its current location on Farm Road at the Hillsboro campus.
The program offers an associate degree in applied science in veterinary technology and prepares students to work in a variety of veterinary jobs, such as veterinary assistant, assistant at animal hospitals or clinics or in animal research.
McCaffrey said the college’s vet tech program is rare among colleges in the region.
“Currently only four community colleges in the state have this program, and we are the only one in the southeast quadrant of Missouri,’ she said. “Additionally, the focus on large animals gives our students a breadth of experience that not every program offers. This new facility will provide state-of-the-art learning spaces and a modern clinic environment with equipment that will provide our students with top-notch training. We also look forward to continuing the strong partnerships we have built with veterinarians throughout our region.”
Fundraising efforts for project continue
Blake Tilley, executive director of the Jefferson College Foundation, said fundraising to help cover the costs of the new vet tech facility have gone well, but the effort continues.
“The Jefferson College Foundation has a goal to raise $1 million to offset some of the construction costs and to establish vet tech regional partners to strengthen the program for our students. We’ve reached 50 percent of our goal so far, and we are inviting all area veterinarians and animal clinics to contact my office to get involved with the expansion.”
To donate or for more information, contact Tilley at 636-481-3104 or by email at btilley@jeffco.edu.