STUDENTS INVOLVED IN HUB PROJECT
MHCC staff and faculty gather every other week to discuss Mt. Hood’s new renovation project, the Student HUB.
John Hamblin, executive dean of Student Development for MHCC, leads the meetings and said construction for the HUB, which is now fully funded, will begin April 15.
The goal for the HUB – not an acronym, but all capital letters, it’s been decided – is to create a central place for orientation on topics and tasks new students need the most help with, while making it a space where they feel welcome. Incoming students will be able to ask questions about financial aid and accessible education services, and receive academic advising in the HUB.
The HUB will be located where Student Services now operates, inside Building 12. Financial Aid will be to the left (north) of the present lobby area, where the business offices are currently. Advising and Accessible Education, on the right/south side, will not be moved. The MHCC business offices will be moved to Room 50 in the Main Mall basement, below the Student Union.
This four-phase project will proceed as follows, said Hamblin: First, construction of the business offices as well as temporarily “surge space” for other affected departments; second, the HUB’s core (the orientation center) will be renovated; then, Financial Aid, and finally, Advising, will be overhauled.
As construction begins, the college is being cautious to make sure it won’t create any new issues with bouncing students around to different parts of campus to find things in new locations too far from where they were previously located, such as needing a document from the business offices through Financial Aid or Advising. The college is also working to make sure staff fully understand the changes that impact them and timelines for their departments, so they continue to feel supported during the renovations.
Grow Construction and Hue Architecture and Design are the companies that will be working on the Student HUB. On March 19, students had the opportunity to visit Hue in downtown Gresham to go over designs and ideas for the HUB.
Hamblin said the group had some great takeaways: Students suggested that counters in the Financial Aid area for filling out paperwork be moved slightly to a more private area. They also suggested that while the furniture be comfortable and welcoming, a clear distinction should be made between these being productive meeting spaces, versus a hangout area for students. The students also suggested installing charging stations throughout the HUB.
Since spring and summer are the least busy periods at Mt. Hood, construction will take place during this time. The Student HUB is fully funded by the MHCC Foundation. Completion is set to be done by Aug. 15, depending on the progress made by contractors.
Cassie Wilson contributed reporting to this story.
The college is not working with the front counter staff in the Student Service (Enrollment Services Specialist) to understand the changes that my impact their position. No clarification regarding their position and how that new HUB will effect them with a job at the college or not.
As a student at MHCC, I’m very excited about HUB. It college is nasty in need of a bond for updates in safety, security and repairs, as well as a new technology center.
*is so in need (not nasty!)