Tuesday was the groundbreaking for a new ag, powersports and diesel facility at Mitchell Tech. Despite being a large facility, the school hopes students will be learning in the space by next year.
The Mitchell Tech ag program is already dealing with a student waitlist, and this building should help alleviate some of that pressure.
Carol Grode-Hanks is vice president of academics at Mitchell Tech. She said this facility has been in the works since 2019.
“Just to make sure we can get a building big enough to get our diesel program, our ag programs, precision ag, powersports, all in one location and have the space big enough so that we can do the hands-on labs that are desperately needed," Grode-Hanks said. "With the new building it allows us to actually add another instructor which will increase the section number, so we can add 25 to 30 more students.”
Grode-Hanks said the new space will help these programs start bigger projects.
“Our powersports program is working on motorcycles, marine, and UTVs, and we just don’t have enough space for all of that equipment – so that program is also going to grow due to the fact we’ll be able to take more students now,” Grode-Hanks said.
The cost of much of that equipment has been a barrier for some prospective students. Clayton Deuter, vice president of enrollment, said the school is also taking the moment to reconsider its tool policy.
“The biggest thing we’ve seen over the years is the tool cost the students need to have to go into the diesel industry," Deuter said. "I know last year we required students to purchase tool kits on their own. If they don’t have that money up front prior to financial aid coming in, Mitchell Tech will have tool kits here they can use.”
Construction is slated to begin June first, and students are expected to be learning in the building by spring 2024.