Jones, who declined to be specific about her conversation with Rowland aides, said the City Council's 4-2 vote Monday objecting to consolidation at Mahan Drive necessitates the move.

"This (debate) is not serving our learners," she said. "They knew they were taking on a challenge, and so the college is going."

While no specific sites are being focused on, others of the 22 communities Three Rivers serves, including Preston and East Lyme, have expressed interest in hosting the college, she said.

Three Rivers, according to Jones, is at capacity and students are working with obsolete lab equipment. For example, she said, the nursing program -- at a time when hospitals need nurses -- needs updating.

While the school has 128 nursing students, it turns away as many every year because of space constraints. That's a disservice to the community, Jones said.

Jones is aware that the government process takes time, saying, "If I don't have the sense that we are moving forward soon, I will ask my staff to give me sustaining plans to make the college viable" in its current configuration.

There are now two campus: Mohegan on Mahan Drive; and Thames Valley on New London Turnpike.

The Rev. David Cannon, a member of the State Community College Board of Trustees, supported Jones' initiative, saying, "I am not going to waste anymore of my time worrying about Norwich. We have a much greater responsibility."

Cannon, who lives in Preston, which has expressed interest in the campus, said the board and the college must take action promptly, because he fears the $75 million might be used for another project in the state.

"There are 11 other community colleges that are ready to go on other projects," he said.

Cannon said the board's only clientele is the students, not the governor, not Norwich City Council, not local businessmen seeking an economic boon from some proposed locations.

"They have squandered their opportunity," Cannon said. "The board is sick and tired of this runaround and we've done this little dance for 10 years now."

The next meeting of the board of trustees will be July 28 at Quinebaug Community College in Danielson.