GRAYLING – After several years of discussions, Kirtland Community College has voted to close its Roscommon campus.
A release issued by the college said:
“In order to meet the evolving needs of today’s students, Kirtland Community College board of trustees today voted to approve a new phase of development on the Kirtland-Grayling campus.
The approved proposal includes plans for an additional building on the Kirtland-Grayling campus, anticipated to be sized up to 70,000 square feet. The new building will house learning spaces and facilities for; criminal justice, the police academy, the automotive technology lab, print and mail shop, art and design department, an event center, and the facilities management department.
This decision signifies Kirtland’s commitment to enhancing the student experience and outcomes through continual growth and improvement. When completed, the new Kirtland-Grayling building will allow a greater number of students to benefit from Grayling’s advanced facilities and vibrant learning atmosphere.
“The time is now to invest further in the modern and dynamic environment of the Grayling campus,” said Tom Ritter, trustee for Kirtland Community College. “Since the campus opened in 2016, students have been flocking to it. It has become a beacon of opportunity for both our students and the broader community, and its expansion will take that even further.”
This approved proposal will be the third phase of development on the Kirtland-Grayling campus, which launched in 2016 with the Health Sciences Center and expanded in spring 2019 with the Michigan Forest Products Institute. Plans for the third phase of development are underway and are anticipated to be final by the end of this year. Construction on the new building will begin spring 2020, with programming anticipated to begin in the new space fall 2021. The project is being funded through college reserves and bonds.
Once the building is complete in fall 2021, programming and facilities will be transitioned out of the Kirtland-Roscommon campus, and into the new Kirtland-Grayling space. In the interim, college leadership and board will determine the feasibility of long-term solutions for the Roscommon campus, including its potential sale.
“For decades the Roscommon campus has been a cherished place, and the decision to transition out has been taken very seriously,” shared Dr. Tom Quinn, president of Kirtland Community College. “With dwindling enrollment, soaring maintenance and operational costs, and inadequate shops and laboratories at Roscommon, we are not able to responsibly invest in the campus long-term. Our Grayling campus, on the other hand, which was built just three years ago, offers an optimal learning environment with lower capital improvement and operational costs. We are excited to begin this next phase, knowing we’re providing the very best opportunity for our students.”
Students enrolled in criminal justice, the police academy, auto tech and art will continue to take classes at Kirtland-Roscommon until fall 2021.
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