By Allison Peck
Listen to the full interview on our Kubota Podcast Page
IMPERIAL, Neb. — The Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors approved several major projects during its meeting Wednesday night in Imperial, including new student housing construction, underground utility upgrades and expanded healthcare training efforts.
Ryan Purdy said holding the meeting at the Imperial Community Campus gave board members and administrators a chance to connect directly with the community and campus staff.
“It was great,” Purdy said during a Thursday interview with the North Platte Post. “It’s been a great addition to that community.”
Purdy said the Imperial campus continues to grow, averaging roughly 45 full-time equivalent students while serving both traditional students and dual-credit students from area high schools. The campus also recently hosted a graduation reception celebrating local Mid-Plains graduates.
Among the larger action items approved Wednesday was a nearly $900,000 underground utility update project on North Campus in North Platte. Purdy said aging sewer infrastructure has reached the point where replacement is necessary.
“We’ve got some sewers that are collapsing and causing some problems,” Purdy said. “With new housing coming in, we don’t want to tie into an old failing system.”
The project includes replacing sanitary sewer lines, storm sewer systems, electrical feeders and campus data infrastructure.
The board also approved multiple bid packages tied to the construction of two new student housing buildings on North Campus in North Platte — the first new campus housing construction there in roughly 40 years.
Purdy said the project is expected to add approximately 24 beds and come in under the original $3.5 million estimate.
“We anticipate this to be just under $3 million for the total project,” he said.
Purdy noted the housing project will be funded through student housing and room-and-board revenue rather than tax dollars. He also emphasized the importance of keeping work local, saying 14 of the 15 approved contractors are based in North Platte.
“A lot of them are employing our students,” Purdy said. “If we can keep the taxpayer money local, all of our service areas benefit.”
The board also approved the purchase of a new HAL simulator for the college’s medical simulation trailer program. The simulator will support healthcare and emergency response training throughout the MPCC service area using funding from the Rural Health Transformation Grant.
Purdy said the mobile training trailer allows rural hospitals, EMS departments and fire departments to train locally rather than sending staff across the state or country.
“It’s just a win-win for everyone,” he said.
Other approved items included the college’s general liability insurance renewal, participation in the ESU Coordinating Council purchasing cooperative and salary increases for non-negotiated employees and adjunct instructors.
The board also approved a one-year extension to Purdy’s contract.
Meanwhile, Daniel Stinman highlighted several upcoming athletics events, including the college sending nine student-athletes to the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, next month.
Stinman also said the McCook Community College softball team will compete in the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series beginning Monday in Oxford, Alabama.
MPCC will also unveil its 2026 raffle car June 13 on South Campus in North Platte.