The presidents of community colleges in Greenfield, Holyoke and Springfield said they have no current plans to build dorms on their campuses.
BOSTON - A state board on Tuesday voted to allow the state's 15 community colleges to consider building student dormitories, but local campuses have no current plans to pursue dorms.
Ira H. Rubenzahl, president of Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, did not rule out dorms for the college for the future, but he said the college currently has no plans for dorms.
Rubenzahl said the college has other priorities.
"We're located in Springfield. There are a lot of apartments in Springfield," Rubenzahl said.
William F. Messner, president of Holyoke Community College, also did not rule out a dorm for the future, but he said the school has no current plans for a dorm.
"There is some housing available here," Messner said of the city of Holyoke. "The bottom line is .. we simply don't hear or perceive much demand from students."
Robert L. Pura , president of Greenfield Community College, said that in the past, officials have discussed the possibility of student housing for single mothers and their children. But at this point in time, the college is not pursuing the possibility of a dormitory, according to Pura.
"We have no student demand for college-based housing," Pura said. "It seems there is housing in the community at this point."
Because many students are single parents, the greatest need on campus is for a child care center. The college currently has no money for a child care center, but Pura said he is exploring state, federal or possibly private funding.
Pura said he was pleased to hear that the state Board of Higher Education voted unanimously to approve a policy change to allow the community colleges to consider building residence halls.
To date, only one Massachusetts community college has expressed public interest in a student housing proposal, according to a press release from the state Department of Higher Education. Mount Wachusett Community College, located in Gardner, has indicated that it would investigate the feasibility of establishing a residential life program and facility if the board declared its willingness to consider such a proposal, the release said.
Board policy in effect since 1980 precluded consideration of residence halls at community colleges, the department said. The vote to change the policy establishes Massachusetts as the 40th state to permit the construction of student housing on community college campuses, the release said.
Nationwide, 22 percent of community colleges offer student housing, mostly at medium-sized institutions located in rural areas.
“I want to stress that this is not a decision to initiate a program of student housing construction at community colleges,” said Richard M. Freeland, commissioner of higher education, in a statement. “Rather, this is a vote to be prepared to consider proposals in cases where they may enhance the educational experience of our students.”
The department’s research indicates that residential life at community colleges has a positive impact on academic outcomes such as graduation rates. Students who live on campus are more fully integrated into college life, resulting in overall higher levels of academic achievement, the department said.