THATCHER — With more four-year degrees on the way from Eastern Arizona College, the school is now looking at the need for more housing.
“The state has appropriated $1 million to EAC for housing purposes, for student housing,” said EA President Todd Haynie. “You probably also know that $1 million for student housing doesn’t go very far.”
To maximize the college’s resources, Haynie said the governing board approved a plan to develop additional student housing in phases.
The college will develop four units on land it owns on 4th Street, east of College Avenue and north of the Goodman Apartments. Each unit will be two stories and house 32 students.
“We’ll be able to one unit (with the $1 million in state funding). So 32 beds in that one unit, and then, hopefully, we’ll can add additional units as we have additional funds, either from the state or funding that we’re able to have at the college,” Haynie said.
Work on preparing the lot for development of the first unit began in late January.
In addition to certificate and Associate’s degree programs offered by the college, EA has two four-year degree programs currently underway — health sciences and music education — and a four-year degree in nursing will start this fall.
The governing board also approved moving forward with, and the college is in the process of obtaining accreditation for, four-year degrees in organizational leadership, elementary education and secondary education.
