Architectural plans ready, if approved construction could begin as early as July 2004

The need for new space at the Cambridge campus of Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) was made clear during the third in a series of tours by key legislative decision makers, Oct. 14. The capital funding request includes plans to demolish two 20-year-old, pole-constructed buildings and replace them with an addition to the Campus Center, just east of county road 70.

“Our goal is to continue to work toward a thriving Cambridge campus of Anoka-Ramsey Community College,” says ARCC President Patrick Johns. “This project is really step two in achieving that goal. Step one was building the Campus Center and there are more steps planned to create the best educational environment and opportunities for our students.

“With this project the instructional needs of this campus are the priority. As our curriculum changes the infrastructure needs to change with it — like computer labs with Internet access,” says Johns. “Additionally, there are real health and safety concerns with these buildings. The maintenance alone will cost much more than the value of the buildings.”

The legislators who attended the event included Representative Doug Stang, Assistant Phil Raines, Assistant Mike Miller, Senator Sean Nienow. Cambridge Mayor Marlys Palmer, Cambridge foundation members Al Nelson and John Schlagel, and Sally Grans from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Office of the Chancellor were also in attendance.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s Cambridge campus capital project has been approved by the Office of the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees (for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System). This visit is the beginning of the next step in the process — approval by the Legislature. The college will receive an answer on its request at the end of the next legislative session, Spring 2004.

With the approval of this funding, Anoka-Ramsey Community College will be better equipped to respond to the need for nurses, increase training opportunities, and increase job placement for graduates.

Students attending the Cambridge campus of Anoka-Ramsey Community College will feel an immediate impact with the approval of this funding through improved labs and equipment, a strengthened Academic Support Center, additional workforce-related resources, and consolidation of buildings all on the same side of county road 70.

For more information on the Anoka-Ramsey Community College capital project, contact Mike Seymour, Vice President of Administration, at 763-422-3430.