The Mohave Community College Governing Board will meet on June 13 to vote on the 2019-2020 fiscal year budget.
“The budget is balanced, with zero debt, and the vast majority will continue to be dedicated to instruction and student support,” said Interim MCC President Dr. Diana Stithem.
The $45 million budget includes $34 million in direct support of classroom instruction, student support and local scholarships.
The college is looking at many classroom investments, including a $400,000 expansion of collaborative technology college-wide. This would allow the college to offer more real-time interactive video classes, which benefit students who learn much better in a traditional classroom setting, but need the flexibility of online classes.
“We will be putting live streaming cameras in nearly every classroom so students have an option to participate in nearly any class we have on any campus, as the class is happening, without requiring the student to drive to campus,” said Chief Information Officer Mark VanPelt, who oversees all college information technology services.
He also said the college must budget $260,000 each year to upgrade every computer with modern applications. “Nobody wants to hire someone who only knows software that is five, ten or 15 years out of date, so we have to stay current because that’s what businesses hiring our graduates demand.”
Another update reflected in the budget will benefit students studying Life Sciences. Labs on all the campuses are getting more modern equipment and instructional materials to improve the student learning experience. The cost of the lab upgrades is $47,500.
Nursing students on each MCC campus are trained in high-tech Simulation Centers that prepare them for real-life situations in the medical field. Annual maintenance and upgrades necessitated by industry standards are required each year, according to college Nursing Programs Director June Weiss.
The college Career and Technical Education programs also require industry-specific classroom equipment to teach students the job skills that accrediting agencies and hiring companies require.
“We prepare our students to walk out of the classroom and into careers,” said Associate Dean Jason Gee, who manages the CTE programs. “Equipment maintenance and upgrades, just to keep the programs running, are expected to cost close to $150,000 next year.”
The college is also looking at a 16 percent increase to maintain the public assets on each campus, such as buildings and roads. Much of the infrastructure is approaching 50 years old and requires more maintenance. Projects for the next year include asphalt replacement and repairs to leaking or failing roofs on the campuses.
Other expenses the college must pay include unfunded government mandates, such as the new minimum wage law and institutional pension contributions. The new minimum wage requirement will cost the college an additional $438,681 next year, and the mandatory pension contribution will increase by $90,625.
The MCC Governing Board meeting to adopt the 2019-2020 budget will be held Thursday, June 13 in room 508 on the Kingman campus at 1971 Jagerson Ave. The meeting can be viewed live via interactive television from room 508 on the Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City campuses, and room 403 on the North Mohave Campus.
A copy of the budget summary and board meeting notice is available at the college website. You can request a print copy by calling 928-757-0801, or emailing MCC@Mohave.edu.
Currently, the college is enrolling students for the fall semester, which begins August 26. For more information about the free application process, contact 1-866-MOHAVECC or go to www.Mohave.edu.
