MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave Community College recently heard from students, citizens and local government leaders at a public forum to discuss the Facilities Master Plan and the potential of adding student housing on the Bullhead Campus. The response to the question of whether the college should move forward with exploring options for on-campus student housing was overwhelmingly supportive.
Edigar Kajirwa, assistant to the Bullhead City Manager, presented MCC President Dr. Stacy Klippenstein a resolution the City passed in support of student housing at MCC.
College students also showed support citing several reasons, including the lack of affordable housing options in the region.
Mohave County Director of Community Services Michael Smith was at the forum to speak in support of student housing and confirmed apartment vacancy rates in the county very low, which leads to a lack of affordable housing. “Student housing on campus would not only benefit student, it would also help alleviate some of the pressure on the local market,” he said.
One man who spoke up at the forum explained his struggles as a homeless MCC student, and the support he received from college employees.
“They’ve helped me succeed and I wish there was housing on-campus for students like myself because it would have been much easier to focus on my goals,” said Michael Adams, Lake Havasu student. “I’m now looking forward to graduating and transferring to a university to finish my bachelor’s degree where I will have access to student housing. So yes, there is a need here for everyone who hit obstacles in life and are trying to improve themselves.”
The College Director of Dental Programs Tracy Gift also spoke about the need for student housing, which would allow her to expand the dental program to serve more students and community members who use the College dental clinic.
“A patient mentioned he wouldn’t be able to afford to get his teeth cleaned without our services at the clinic here at MCC,” Gift said. “The College dental program serves 9,000 patients from our local communities and if students are allowed access to on-campus housing we could grow the program, teach more dental students and help more people in the region.”
Dr. Klippenstein was very thankful for the community involvement and feedback, and said “the College will continue to review the future of student housing on our campuses, ensuring it is fiscally responsible and generates auxiliary funds, outside of other revenue sources.”
An off-campus option the College is considering would be a lease agreement with a developer to make some units available for students at an apartment complex expected to be built on the southside of the Bullhead City Parkway, near the Bullhead City campus.
The forum was also covered by local media and you can be read more in the Mohave Valley Daily News.