River Cities Business Journal: Education

KINGMAN - Officials at Mohave Community College gave members of the media an advance look Feb. 27 at the Facilities Master Plan they presented to the public March 1.

The plan is the culmination of two years of study that addresses MCC education and facility needs through 2020.

“This is not a proposal to our board to go for a bond issue,” MCC Chancellor Thomas Henry said. “It's time to educate the community on our present facilities and growth.

“We don't want taxpayers thinking someone is about to tap them for more money.”

Henry said MCC revenue comes through traditional sources.

They include property taxes, state aid, tuitions and fees, and from the MCC Foundation.

Bill Lovejoy, vice chancellor for administration, and Mike Kearns, vice chancellor for instruction, joined in the PowerPoint presentation, answering questions and offering their insight on the school's plan for the future.

A printout of the plan encompasses 33 pages.

Public meetings for input are slated on all four campuses, beginning in Room 200F at 3 and 7 p.m. Thursday on the Kingman campus.

The college currently has 75 buildings that contain 301,673 square feet under roof.

Proposed renovations were stipulated for each campus, along with how much square footage will not require any attention under the plan.

Kingman has 92,663 square feet of space, of which 4,716 square feet requires no attention.

Estimates are that 60,712 square feet will need some level of renovation, and 27,235 square feet will require replacement.

Plan details education levels,

demographics and growth

The plan also details education levels of county residents, demographics and population growth projections.

Student services centers, each including 8,000 square feet under roof, are planned for the three southern campuses.

In addition, the college would need to add 48 full-time faculty members, 218 associate faculty members, 50 professional staff and 96 support staff to offer the level of service projected within the plan. That means an extra 29,159 square feet of office space must be built.

Kingman would need an additional 126,499 square feet of space.

College-wide infrastructure and property acquisition also are incorporated into the plan.

What does this all mean to the taxpayer?

The study indicated for every dollar of taxpayer financial support, MCC returns $2.50 in the form of either higher tax receipts or reduced social costs.

“Academic and social integration must happen for students here to make it,” Henry said.

“We're going to ask the public at these meetings, 'What are your thoughts?' We need discussion for a clearer picture of what is needed.”

Henry plans to report to the MCC Board of Governors in April and finalize the plan in May.