MONROE - The Monroe campus of Blackhawk Technical College will soon see an expansion meant to aid students pursuing agriculture-based degrees.
Gary Kohn, marketing and communication manager for Blackhawk, said the entity hopes to begin construction in early 2018 with completion of the structure to follow during the summer season. Plans have not been finalized, but the college intends to connect the addition to the southern side of the school.
The space would be meant for students who pursue degrees in agribusiness, such as the one-year specialist program which provides students with the necessary skills to work in a variety of fields from tourism to farm marketing. Agribusiness Science and Technology is a two-year associate degree which helps students understand how to merge science and business to either become producers or work for agriculture businesses. Kohn said both programs would benefit from the additional space.
"It's also going to be a benefit to our lab food science and technician program," Kohn said. "It has the potential to benefit other programs down the road."
Kohn said the size of the addition has not yet been finalized. According to August meeting minutes of the Blackhawk Technical College District Board, the area would accommodate for agriculture equipment use and maintenance instruction with the inclusion of a garage and shop space as well as an adjacent agriculture lab and classroom with an adjoining greenhouse.
Mark Mayer, University of Wisconsin-Extension of Green County agriculture agent and department head, serves on the Blackhawk board as an employee member.
Mayer said per drawings he has reviewed, the addition would connect to the south side of Monroe's campus via a walkway. The greenhouse would face Wis. 69 and the garage area would face its southern neighbor AmericInn Lodge & Suites.
A new GPS-enabled tractor was part of the need for more space, Mayer said. Agribusiness Instructor Dustin Williams successfully requested a grant to acquire the machine, which will help keep Blackhawk current with agriculture programs offered at other colleges.
"The premise is to help build our ag programs in our area," Mayer said. "We wanted to provide that part of our program with better facilities."
Students will be exposed to the most modern facets of agriculture technology as a part of everyday class by using the equipment and updated laboratories, he added.
"I'm excited we're doing something at the Monroe campus. I think it's a real plus for the county," Mayer said.
Total estimated cost of the project is $475,000, which was marked within the 2017-18 capital budget for this use. While the money is available, the meeting minutes indicate that initial offers to build the facility exceeded expectations. Kohn said the board will continue to evaluate building options to ensure the addition is constructed within budget.
Gary Kohn, marketing and communication manager for Blackhawk, said the entity hopes to begin construction in early 2018 with completion of the structure to follow during the summer season. Plans have not been finalized, but the college intends to connect the addition to the southern side of the school.
The space would be meant for students who pursue degrees in agribusiness, such as the one-year specialist program which provides students with the necessary skills to work in a variety of fields from tourism to farm marketing. Agribusiness Science and Technology is a two-year associate degree which helps students understand how to merge science and business to either become producers or work for agriculture businesses. Kohn said both programs would benefit from the additional space.
"It's also going to be a benefit to our lab food science and technician program," Kohn said. "It has the potential to benefit other programs down the road."
Kohn said the size of the addition has not yet been finalized. According to August meeting minutes of the Blackhawk Technical College District Board, the area would accommodate for agriculture equipment use and maintenance instruction with the inclusion of a garage and shop space as well as an adjacent agriculture lab and classroom with an adjoining greenhouse.
Mark Mayer, University of Wisconsin-Extension of Green County agriculture agent and department head, serves on the Blackhawk board as an employee member.
Mayer said per drawings he has reviewed, the addition would connect to the south side of Monroe's campus via a walkway. The greenhouse would face Wis. 69 and the garage area would face its southern neighbor AmericInn Lodge & Suites.
A new GPS-enabled tractor was part of the need for more space, Mayer said. Agribusiness Instructor Dustin Williams successfully requested a grant to acquire the machine, which will help keep Blackhawk current with agriculture programs offered at other colleges.
"The premise is to help build our ag programs in our area," Mayer said. "We wanted to provide that part of our program with better facilities."
Students will be exposed to the most modern facets of agriculture technology as a part of everyday class by using the equipment and updated laboratories, he added.
"I'm excited we're doing something at the Monroe campus. I think it's a real plus for the county," Mayer said.
Total estimated cost of the project is $475,000, which was marked within the 2017-18 capital budget for this use. While the money is available, the meeting minutes indicate that initial offers to build the facility exceeded expectations. Kohn said the board will continue to evaluate building options to ensure the addition is constructed within budget.