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Construction of Mississippi College Residence Halls Set for July Completion


Construction of new Mississippi College residence halls on the East Campus in Clinton continued in early January. The facilities will accommodate nearly 190 students.

From the back of the Kroger parking lot or while driving along Fairmont Street, it’s hard to miss the construction of Mississippi College’s first residence halls in nearly two decades.

“It’s growing really fast,” said freshman Elliot Rimmer, 18, of Clinton as work crews stayed busy with the building project on the university’s East Campus in early January. “This will be a good way to attract students,” adds the MC Choctaws soccer player.

Mississippi College’s eight modern apartment-style housing units featuring green spaces, convenient parking, new sidewalks and space for 189 beds should be substantially completed around July 17, school officials say.

Students eagerly anticipate the facility’s opening before the start of Fall 2015 classes in late August.

“I am looking forward to having a bigger and newer living area once I become an upper classman,” says freshman Mariah Walker of Thomasville, Alabama. “I think it will be a great addition to Mississippi College residence life.”

Once the bulk of the work is completed, furniture will be delivered, punch list needs will be checked off and the first wave of upper class students will arrive, says Steve Stanford, vice president for administration and government relations.

Construction of the East Campus residential units on the site of the former Clinton Junior High remains on schedule, Stanford said. Part of the project includes construction of an inner street connecting College and Fairmont streets and two parallel sidewalks adding to the large green field fronting the Clinton Parkway.

Due to steady enrollment growth at 5,000-student Mississippi College for more than a decade, demands for housing on the Clinton campus continued to rise, school leaders say. There were 3,200 students when President Lee Royce arrived as the leader of the Baptist-affiliated institution in 2002.

Each of the eight new residential units will feature private rooms that share a common living room and kitchen. There will be four students per unit and 12 units per building to accommodate nearly 190 students. MC leaders received input from students before building plans were put on the drawing board.

“We expect heavy demand to live in this new space,” says Jim Turcotte, vice president for enrollment services and dean of students.

MC housing officials expect upper class students will begin signing up for slots in the new housing units in April.

While construction work moves forward the next six months, Mississippi College staffers are already preparing to welcome the new residents.

“Our student life programming will include a full range of activities designed to create a sense of community among those living in this space,” Turcotte said.

Students are delighted to see the new buildings take shape as the new year begins, says freshman Hannah Kanengiser of Pearl. “It gives an additional option to stay on campus and be part of the student body.”