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| April 5 , 2005
40th Anniversary Edition |
MCC plans for the future
Adam Eickerman
Mesa Legend
By 2012, 50,000 students are anticipated to be enrolled at MCC at the Southern and Dobson, Downtown Mesa, and Red Mountain campuses.
Each of MCC’s campuses are expanding and will continue to do so because of the recently passed bond that may help alleviate some of the growth concerns of community colleges.
"We have had quite a planning process to determine what should be built and where it should be built,” said Ronald Etter, dean of Administrative Services. “The money is strictly for capital improvements.”
The community college bond which was passed by voters in the general election last November, gave Mesa Community College $111 million to be dispersed among its campuses.
The bond gave $951,359,000 million to the entire district.
MCC at Southern and Dobson is planning to build new structures that will house science and mathematics, communications and humanities, performing and fine arts, and health and wellness disciplines.
It may take a couple of years before these new buildings would be open becasue of planning and construction time.
“Our deadlines are to open at the beginning of the fall or spring semesters, so we want to make sure they open on time.
“It takes about six months of planning and about 18 months of construction,” Etter said.
The Red Mountain campus will receive about $20 million, which will primarily be used to build new structures.
The growth of the Red Mountain campus is expected to reach 10,000 students by 2012.
Etter believes that the amount of money for the district was based upon a realistic picture of what taxpayers could afford.
“We have identified a budget, unfortunately it is probably not enough to cover everything: structures, equipment, and technology,” Etter said.
The money allocated for MCC may be enough at this point in time but with high construction costs it is difficult to say whether it will be enough in two or three years, he explained.
The majority of the money will be used for areas that directly contribute to the education of students such as classrooms and equipment.
MCC’s main campus received approximately $60 million from the community college bond.
The specifics about how much money will go where on the campus is still under planning, but some of the other key areas include upgrading technology, refurbishing old facilities, and upgrading of security.
And yes, additional parking.
However, no plans for parking structures are currently underway, according to Etter.
He does believe though, that if enrollment does reach in the range of 50,000 students that it could be estimated that MCC would need four parking garages.
“The most important thing is that the college is preparing for growth, that’s the good news.
“The college has planned and continues to plan,” said Sonia Filan, the director of Institutional Advancement.
The recent news of the possibility of four-year degrees being offered at community colleges may have some forthcoming benefits such as additional funding for the college.
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