Mesalands Community College has requested and received $1.5 million from the  state’s Higher Education Department for the construction of classrooms and offices.

The funds come from the GO, or general obligation bonds approved by voters in 2006, said college President Phillip Barry at the college’s Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday night.

The college’s maintenance building on W. Hines Street will be converted to classrooms, Barry said.
Construction will begin in the fall, Barry said.

In the next 10 days, the college expects to award the bid for construction of the foundation and installation of its GE wind turbine for its North American Wind Research and Training Center. Installation should be completed by October, Barry said.

In other business before  the board:
• The headcount at the college has grown from 743 in the 1995-96 school year to 2,505 in the 2007-08 school year. While there have been declines in some areas, programs such as the college’s wind technician and building trades make up for the shortfalls.

• Headcount in the Distance Education Internet enrollment has grown from 186 in the 2002-03 school year to 706 in the 2007-08 school year.
• Thomas Morris of Albuquerque will join the college Monday as the coordinator and instructor of the Health and Wellness Facility. He has   a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Illinois.