Frederick Community College Facilities Master Plan Introduction iii-1 May, 2023 INTRODUCTION This Facilities Master Plan (FMP) examines nearly all aspects of the College, the forces that shape it, and the College’s impact on those and other forces. The planning process is sequential, both linear and iterative, and cumulative, beginning with the environmental scan and ending with a final report. Each step in the process builds on the knowledge gained prior to that step. This report completes the process. The process is framed by, among other elements, the College’s Mission, Strategic Plan, and the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The process looks back, takes stock of current circumstances, and makes recommendations projecting to the 10-year planning horizon and beyond. Consultant disciplines involved include planning, architecture, environmental scan, facilities planning, academic program review, civil engineering, mechanical & electrical engineering, information technology, and, next, cost estimating. Previously, a separate Facilities Condition Assessment (FCA) was developed in parallel with the early months of this study, evaluating the condition of the College’s facilities and laying out anticipated capital renewal needs, complementing the findings developed in the progress reports. Positioned to thrive, Frederick County and the City of Frederick’s population and businesses have been steadily growing, and both are diversifying. From an economy based largely on agriculture in the mid-20th century (note 1957, the year the College was founded) to one led by and invested in 21st-century businesses, industries, and technologies. FCC enrollment has generally followed that growth, often even leading the way as enrollment expanded prior to economic recoveries. Matching a national trend, enrollment has declined since 2017, attributable in part to the pandemic, but it is projected to grow significantly in the next 10 years. Of note, Frederick County grew significantly more in population than any other
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