State releases funds for Maui CC Student Services Building

$6.7 million to renovate Maui Community College Student Services Building

WAILUKU — The State of Hawaiʻi has released more than $6.7 million to renovate Maui Community College's Student Services Building. The project includes renovating the interior of the facility to meet current program needs and health and safety concerns, removing corroded railings and hazardous materials, re-roofing, refurbishing the air conditioning system, and bringing the facility into accessibility compliance.

Governor Linda Lingle presented Maui Community College Chancellor Clyde Sakamoto with a $6,775,000 check to finance the construction costs during a visit to the college, where she met with Chancellor Sakamoto and toured the student services building.

In a press release issued by the Governor, she expressed the importance of the renovations in ensuring student safety while providing facilities that could support a wide spectrum of activities for student related programs.

"We are very grateful for the Governor's support of the renovation of this facility," said Chancellor Sakamoto. "The improvements to the facility will allow us to better serve all of our students and is a part of our overall effort to expand our vision to include both local and global perspectives, to encourage diversity, and attract students from all walks of life and from all corners of the world. To do this we need to establish a standard of excellence not only for our academic programs but also in the services and facilities that support and nurture our students."

"It is part of our mission to make Maui Community College a learning-centered institution that provides affordable, high-quality educational opportunities to a diverse community of lifelong learners."

The Student Center Building was originally constructed in 1973. The facility, which has open corridors and walkways, has been deteriorating due to the constant sea breeze from the adjacent Kahului Harbor. In Fall 2003, the Culinary Arts Program relocated from the Student Center Building to the new Culinary Arts Building. The subsequent renovation of the vacated space will restore the building to its original purpose as a "student center."

Phase I will address the health and safety issues and alter the exterior of the building, while Phase II will include interior renovations. In March 2005, the State released $225,000 to finance the design costs for the renovation project. The total project cost is $7,589,000.

About Maui Community College
Maui Community College is part of the University of Hawaiʻi system. Its main campus is located in Kahului with learning centers in Hana, Maui and on the islands of Molokai and Lanai. Because it supports students on three separate islands, MCC has pioneered and developed expertise in distance education and technology. It offers a high quality liberal arts undergraduate program and vocational-technical two-year degree and certificate programs. There are a variety of special programs and curricula, including Apprenticeship Program, Cooperative Education, Maui Language Institute, Marine Option Program, Space Grant and Work Practicum. MCC has focused on development of its technology curriculum, and offers an Associate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology (ECET).

The MCC campus also hosts the University of Hawaiʻi Center, Maui. This extension campus offers bachelor and master degree programs via distance education from other campuses of the University of Hawaiʻi statewide system.

About the University of Hawaiʻi
Established in 1907 and fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the University of Hawaiʻi is the state‘s sole public system of higher education. The UH System provides an array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees and community programs on 10 campuses and through educational, training, and research centers across the state. UH enrolls more than 50,000 students from Hawaiʻi, the U.S. mainland, and around the world. For more information, visit www.hawaii.edu.