Pine Technical and Community College: $25M Expansion, New Labs and Trail Use Highlighted
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Summary
Joel Mulford, president of Pine Technical and Community College, told the board the college completed a $25 million state-funded expansion adding 24,000 sq ft and new technical labs, and he recognized a nearby trail expansion that supports student recruitment and activity.
Joel Mulford, president of Pine Technical and Community College, presented to the Pine County Board to thank the county for a recent trail expansion and to provide an update on the college's facilities and programming.
Mulford said the college completed a roughly $25 million state-funded bonding project that added about 24,000 square feet of space, including a new auto shop, a gunsmithing lab and a new welding lab. The project allowed the college to expand curricula: it added a second-year welding curriculum that previously was not possible, increased welding enrollments (from 20 to 40 students in the cited example), and enabled new programs such as an automation lab and expanded machine shop capacity.
Mulford credited the trail expansion south of campus with increasing amenity value for students, staff and faculty, and said he already sees the trail being used by the college community. He noted that student housing (dorm conversions at Lakeside Medical Center) has expanded the college's ability to offer alternative modalities, including short intensive sessions.
Board members asked about program alignment with in-demand jobs (diesel, HVAC, automation) and how the college tracks employer needs. Mulford described the college's use of industry advisory committees and annual review to keep curriculum current. He also discussed preliminary planning to integrate AI tools across programs and operational steps to limit fraud in online applications.
Mulford's presentation served as recognition of the trail project and an update on workforce-focused capital improvements.