Countywide : Colleges Compete for Telecommuting Center

Four community colleges in the county are vying for a $300,000 grant that would establish a telecommuting center on one of their campuses.

Ten community colleges in Southern California are being considered for the state Department of Transportation grant, which seeks to cut down on freeway commuter time.

“The center is a site where people can go to work without having to go into their office,” said Gail Jones, a spokeswoman for Coastline Community College, one of the four local schools applying for the grant.

“They can just go into the site, connect via a computer modem and access their computer files.”

Students who work part time would also have access to the New Age center.

Irvine Valley, Fullerton and Rancho Santiago are the other three community colleges jockeying for the much-sought-after money.

Only one other telecommuting center exists in Southern California, according to the state chancellor’s office of the California Community College in Sacramento.

“We think it’s a good idea,” said George McCrory, public information officer for Irvine Valley College.

“We’re trying to keep up with technology and help students along the way. If you work out of your home, but you don’t have access to video conferencing or telemeetings, then you can use the center.”

The state chancellor’s office will decide in early March which college will get for the grant.