The Mesalands Community College Board of Trustees approved a $17 million operating budget for the college for the 2009-2010 fiscal year at the board's Tuesday night meeting.

A large portion of the $17,142,953 budget is from capital outlay projects, said David Gallatin, Dean of Administrative Services.

Gallatin said that Mesalands budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year was $11,281,915, which included  $3 million in capital outlay projects.

"There is $8 million in capital outlay projects such as the North American Wind Research and Training Center," Gallatin said.

The larger budget is an indicator that Mesalands Community College is continuing to grow and is offering courses that are attracting students, said Phillip O. Barry, college president.

Attracting students is  what Mesalands' recruiters, Kimberly Hanna and Jarred Panger, worked on during the March 18 inaugural senior preview day "Road Trip to Mesalands."

"High school students enrolled in dual credit programs through Mesalands had an opportunity to come to the college and see where they are getting their credits from," Hanna said.

Panger said that 92 students enrolled in the dual credit program and potential rodeo students attended the day with their parents.

"The students and their parents were given a tour of the facilities," Panger said. "They had a chance to speak with Dr. Barry and several other staff members about the opportunities that await them at Mesalands."

Of the 92 students, Hanna said, 11 students applied for college courses and nine have registered for classes next semester.

"This type of event is something that we want to look into doing again next year," Barry said.

"It is a great idea to hold an event like this when we have nine students enroll for classes," said Jim Streetman, District 1 trustee.