Construction of the 60,000 square-foot CTE facility is to begin immediately. The $6 million project is to be done by late summer and is to open to students in time for the fall 2010 semester.
The CTE should compliment the existing WSC TrainND program, which is enjoying huge success in training thousands of area residents and other individuals for the region’s workforce, especially the oil industry. The TrainND program uses the Crighton Building and its new facility in Williston’s east industrial park for its programming.
The upcoming WSC career and tech program is to offer such programs as welding and diesel technology, and is to work with area high schools.
The CTE facility, however, is just one of three major building/renovation projects that WSC is pursuing at this time. School officials also continue to develop plans for a new dorm. Meanwhile, WSC also recently received legislative approval to expand its renovation plans for its science lab, with the plans now including an addition. The new CTE structure is to be located east of the WSC Art Wood Building and the Crighton Building parking lot. A formal location for the new dorm has not yet been decided. Some early considerations included building where the existing trailer park is on the northeast corner of the campus, or near the WSC tennis courts.
All three projects are going to help create a much larger sense of a true college setting and atmosphere on the WSC campus. The additional students the buildings should attract are naturally going to make the campus more vibrant.
Simply having two new major facilities at WSC is truly going to expand the campus’ imprint in the minds of staff, students and visitors. This improved impression is going to be invaluable when recruiting students and when WSC officials seek approval for future proposals involving growth of the campus.
Meanwhile, the expanded campus also becomes a more valuable asset for Williston and the region as community leaders and others continue their work to attract new businesses and residents. The enhanced quality of life the campus provides is a huge consideration by business owners and everyday workers who consider relocating to any community.
As we’ve previously stated, new WSC President Dr. Raymond Nadolny inherited a great opportunity with the improvement projects that awaited him upon his arrival here this year. How the campus capitalizes on these major capital improvements directly rests on Nadolny’s leadership.
Meanwhile, area community leaders also have a shared responsibility in determining how the region capitalizes on the improved WSC campus. How strongly these leaders embrace the campus, continue to support it and tout what it offers, is going to be critical to the institution’s future.
We congratulate and thank our area state legislative representatives who stepped forward to help secure state approval and funding for the current WSC capital projects. Without their efforts, these major improvements simply wouldn’t be happening at WSC. And we appreciate and encourage their continued oversight of these important expansions.
At the same time, we encourage area residents to make it a point to stop by the campus and see for themselves this exciting moment for WSC. The current construction projects represent a new cornerstone for the campus’ future, which is something we all should celebrate.
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