With the record high increase in enrollment over this past year, Madison Area Technical College hopes to expand the western campus to accommodate to the growing number of students.
“With a 12 percent increase this past fall, we have been growing by leaps and bounds, so expanding the west campus is a good idea,” Madison College spokesperson Bill Bessette said.
Currently, Madison College West occupies the basement, first and fourth floors of the far west side of the building of the former Famous Footwear Corporate Headquarters.
The expansion would allow for the college to occupy the entire building, an increase of 42,149 rental square feet which would be used to accommodate 18 classrooms as well as campus libraries, learning centers and conference rooms.
This need for expansion was prompted by the lack of vacancy in the downtown campus, which currently operates at capacity, Vice President of Infrastructure Services Roger Price said.
“We are growing everywhere and any relief we can provide would be helpful,” Price said.
The expansion would require roughly $822,000 for rent, utilities and maintenance, as well as $1.1 million for furniture and equipment, according to a statement released by Madison College.
Rent and utilities costs would be funded through the operations budget, whereas furniture and equipment costs would require capital borrowing, Price said. However, he added the potential revenue from the increase in student enrollment through the expansion could help cover costs over time.
Madison College officials will meet today with the district board to present information and ask for permission to continue negotiating the lease. If this request is granted, Madison College officials will meet with the state board on Dec. 14. State board members would then vote on whether or not to grant funding for the expansion.
State board member Steve Hurd conveyed excitement for the idea, though he expressed concern over covering the costs of the expansion.
“It is quite a bit of money when we are already in a deficit, but you juggle things around and see how we can accommodate the idea,” Hurd said.
