MCC master plan draft approved

The Mesalands Community College board of trustees last week officially approved a final draft of its 10-year master plan that includes new residence halls, a black-box theater, a 9-acre solar farm and 11th Street being converted to the campus' main entrance.

Trustees during their Oct. 19 meeting also voted to begin the process of renaming the institution to simply Mesalands College in the coming months.

Architect Melissa Walker of the Parkhill, Smith and Cooper firm in Amarillo presented the final version of the master plan during the board's meeting, held by videoconference. The plan changed little from the initial draft presented to trustees in September, except for moving a mobile meat-processing facility closer to 14th Street.

The plan recommends renaming 11th Street to Campus Drive and making it the college's main artery, with signs on both sides of Route 66 pointing it. The main entrance to Building A would have more windows and face 11th Street. Flagpoles and trees would line the street. Walker previously said the changes would give Mesalands "more of a campus feel."

Board Chairman Jim Streetman said in an earlier meeting he liked the 11th Street artery idea, noting college leaders 25 years ago originally envisioned the west side of Building A as the main entrance.

A 9-acre solar farm would be south of the wind turbine.

A two-story residence hall would be built on vacant land owned and used by Tucumcari Public Schools as the site for the annual Homecoming bonfire. Mesalands has been in talks with the district to deed over the land to build those halls.

The plan states the college's nursing program would be relocated inside the former National Guard armory building, now being used as a student center, fitness center and cafeteria, and it would continue to offer those services. One goal is to partner with a rural health provider to set up an urgent-care clinic there.

The plan includes a mother's room for nursing students and staff, a Hispanic and multicultural center, an art gallery and a new Mesalands store for books and merchandise.

The black-box theater, added to Building C, would be part of extracurricular activities that include e-sports and intramural volleyball.

The dinosaur museum would undergo exterior repairs.

College President Gregory Busch said the meat-processing plant on the northwest side would be moved to a later phase of the plan. He said Mesalands is about to sign a memorandum of understanding with principals of a meat-processing facility that will open in one to two months on the east outskirts of Tucumcari. Mesalands will offer a meat-processing curriculum by fall 2022, he said. Busch's president's report states the plant's principals want to remain anonymous until the agreement is signed in November.

The first phase of the master plan, projected to be completed by fiscal year 2024, would cost about $11.8 million. The entire plan, finished by 2032, would cost $19.6 million.

All trustees voiced approval of the plan before voting.

"I don't know what else to say except it looks good," Streetman said.

"It's nice," trustee Jimmy Sandoval said.

Before the board accepted the plan, Busch noted it is "a guiding document" for the college and not a contract.

Regarding a name change, such a move also was endorsed by Busch's predecessor, John Groesbeck, before he was fired last spring. Noting Mesalands' wide-ranging curriculum and a student body that hails from all over the country, Groesbeck and Busch advocated removing the "Community" part of the college's name to better reflect those aspects and improve its marketing opportunities.

After consulting with officials from Central New Mexico Community College about its name change, Busch advocated a motion to begin the process of changing its name to simply Mesalands College. He said numerous institutions would have to be informed about the change, and now would be a good time to start before new merchandise needs to be ordered.

The board unanimously approved the motion with little discussion.

Other action

In other action by the board:

• It approved the addition of workforce certificates offered by the college. Busch explained they are micro-credentials with two to four classes that employers are requiring. He said the FieldCore training at the wind-energy center was a good example of such certificates, and they are growing in popularity across the country.

Jim Morgan, vice president of campus affairs and external relations, said the courses are "stackable" for any student who wished to use them academically in the future, from occupational certificates to associate's degrees.

• The board approved Morgan's September financial report, compiled with assistance from vice president of academic affairs Natalie Gillard. Streetman had urged the resumption of monthly financial reports during the board's previous meeting. He thanked Morgan for the new report.

• The board approved a $72,347.02 purchase requisition with Florida-based CampusWorks for enterprise resource planning implementation services. Busch said it's a transition program that allows colleges to share internet technology, business and human resources systems with each other.

• The board held a closed, 40-minute executive session with Busch to discuss personnel matters and real estate issues. No action was taken when open session resumed.

Reports

Highlights from monthly reports by Busch and his executive staff:

• Busch said he had scheduled additional meetings with Pattern Energy Group officials about Mesalands possibly providing training to employees. Pattern Energy is building a large wind farm near Corona.

• Busch said he met with a possible contractor for residence halls who was "excited" about the project and pledged to bring in more investors, if needed, to complete the project. He said more student housing is "desperately needed," noting Stampede Village is "overflowing," and students are being housed at the Best Western hotel.

• Busch said he approached the Eastern Great Plains Council of Governments about possible grants ranging from $500,000 to $25 million to help expand agricultural offerings.

• Hazel Rountree, vice president for student success, said Mesalands was given a $10,500 grant from Passport to Success to help establish a food pantry for students. She said Tucumcari Lumber Co. also donated materials for the pantry's floor.

• Busch said a storage building for the dinosaur museum was declared a total loss by its insurer after a recent severe storm damaged it.

• Busch said he's received more reports of broken windows, stolen copper and other vandalism at the college, which he said reiterates the need for more security. On a related note, Morgan said a funding request for a new campus police force was turned down.

• Busch said he recently hired Shannon Fries as director of nursing and Chester Bobbitt as grounds supervisor and coordinator of campus safety. Fries will be certified in New Mexico and Texas, which would allow her to set up clinic sites in both states. Bobbitt is a retired New Mexico State Police officer.

• Busch paused to recognize the recent death of Mesalands grounds supervisor Tommy Jones. Streetman also recognized the recent death of Carlos Ortiz, a volunteer assistant coach for the Stampede rodeo team.