MCC wants $3.4M for program expansions

Mesalands Community College will request more than $3.4 million in state funding to expand its nursing, commercial driver’s license and wind-energy programs, including an upgrade to its iconic wind turbine.

The college’s board of trustees during a special meeting Sept. 12 approved the requests to the New Mexico Research and Public Service Projects program.

Mesalands faced a deadline of Sept. 15 to submit the requests. The state will schedule hearings to formally hear and discuss the requests at a later date.

Joel Kiser, vice president of academic affairs, and Josh McVey, vice president of student affairs, explained the requests to the trustees.

The college wants $2 million to upgrade its current wind turbine, plus another $375,000 to expand wind-energy instruction operations.

Kiser said Mesalands’ wind-energy program currently has 57 students and is turning away more, with a waiting list.

“Our instructors are maxed out,” he said. “We’ve hit a brick wall on the wind side.”

The additional funding would enable the college to hire additional faculty, staff and cover other expenses related to the expansion. Mesalands also proposes a wind-energy credentials program with the New Mexico Department of Corrections.

Kiser said the college’s current wind turbine had an expected lifespan of 12 years, and it is 15 years old now. He said a new turbine would bring more up-to-date technology to train students.

Board member Tom Sidwell noted a new turbinea also would produce more electricity more efficiently.

Mesalands is requesting $655,000 to team with hospitals in Tucumcari and Clayton to train nursing students there. The funding will cover additional faculty, equipment, credentialing, supplies and transportation to the Clayton hospital.

Kiser said Mesalands’ nursing program is scheduled by next spring to reach its limit of 12 students per cohort based on current faculty levels.

McVey also said the nursing expansion would allow healthcare workers at the Tucumcari and Clayton hospitals to boost their skills.

“It’s a great opportunity to expand health services in that area,” McVey said, noting the region is dealing with a shortage of healthcare workers.

Mesalands nursing students could help assisted living centers, clinics or hospitals in Logan, Amarillo, Clovis, Tucumcari, Albuquerque, Clayton and possibly Santa Rosa.

The college is requesting $375,000 to boost its commercial driver’s license, or CDL, program. The funds would be used for additional instructors, examiners and one truck.

Kiser said the program expansion could include training at Logan High School.

The request states: “The proximity of Tucumcari to one of the nation’s busiest Highways (Interstate 40) and its high usage by commercial trucks make it a natural fit for this program to be available to both drivers and the community as a whole for economic development.”

Board member Phillip Box said Mesalands also should mention U.S. 54 — another busy route for trucks — in its proposal.

He also said the CDL program might spark the revival of a diesel-repair program at the college.

Board members voiced their support for the funding proposals.

“These programs have a real need for employees,” Sidwell said.