Photo/MIKE MALONEY HEADING OUT ON his second run of the day, Andrew Payne drops over the crest and sets up for the next gate in K2 racing action at Hockley Valley Resort on Sunday morning. It was a full weekend for Hockley skiers who also participated in a K1 level race over the same course on Saturday. Come this fall students attending Humber College's Orangeville Campus will have a slightly different experience, for at least their first year, than their counterparts attending an established campus.

Construction on the campus has been delayed due to issues beyond Humber's control, said Joe Andrews, director of community relations.

As a result, students enrolled in any of three programs to be offered in September will attend classes at the Alder Street Recreation Centre in four of the centre's five meeting rooms.

The delay stems from specific environmental studies that need to be conducted before construction or even a site plan can go ahead.

The problem, said Mr. Andrews, is that some of the studies can't be performed during the winter months. As well, some studies can't be completed until the previous studies are finished.

"It makes it very difficult to do certain things," he said.

Originally, Humber was hoping to see construction begin in 2006.

"The environmental assessments are really critical, especially with the location where the Humber campus site is going to be, on Veteran's Way," said Mr. Andrews. "There's some conservation land and the Credit Valley Conservation authority has some jurisdiction over the land, and so we have to work with them to ensure we move forward properly."

There will be a ground-breaking ceremony sometime this summer, but that doesn't necessarily mean construction will be under way at that point, said Mr. Andrews.

In the mean time, students enrolled in the Business Administration, Business Management or Police Foundations program will go to classes at the recreation centre. The agreement hasn't been finalized yet, but Mr. Andrews is optimistic it will be within the next 30 to 45 days.

Since Humber committed to offering full-time programs this fall and construction is yet to begin, Mr. Andrews said the recreation centre looked like the best interim site because of the size of its meeting rooms, which will be converted into classrooms, and the on-site library and recreational facilities. He said these will help establish a collegial atmosphere as quickly as possible, which is important for the roughly 180 students who could be using the facility.

Humber also plans on creating office space on the second floor for administration and faculty, as well as a student common area in a section of the library.

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"This is the perfect location to house our full-time programming while planning phase one at the Veterans' Way campus location continues," he said. This is because of all the amenities not only within the rec centre but near the building such as parking, transit and a local pub.

Having Humber temporarily housed at the rec centre will create an opportunity to help increase the limited operation hours with the branch library said Mr. Andrews. An agreement is still in the works.

"We're hoping to develop an arrangement where the library will be open during certain hours it's not currently open, with additional hours to provide library services to our students," said Mr. Andrews.

The agreement between Humber and the Town will contain three components. A dedicated space for faculty and students, classroom space and services, such as food, library and information technology.

As well some construction will occur, as indicated in a draft proposal. The student common room will be created in the library with the use of a wall partition. Another partition will be added to meeting room 4 for additional student space and a wall between meeting rooms 1 and 2 will be torn down.

Humber will be responsible for costs arising from these changes.

An open house where campus and program information will be available is scheduled for April 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the rec centre.

For more information contact Mr. Andrews at 519- 278-1079.