Gadsden, AL – Gadsden State Community College is set to boost its annual revenue by approximately $600,000 through an increase in the special building fee. Beginning in the fall semester, the fee will rise from $12 to $20 per credit hour. This adjustment is part of the college’s ongoing efforts to enhance its infrastructure.
“The special building fee provides funds for improvement of our facilities and to finance bonded indebtedness of the College,” stated Dr. Kathy Murphy, president of Gadsden State. “It is important that we continue to improve the infrastructure at Gadsden State because it enhances the overall educational environment. Ultimately, our students and community benefit from the improvements provided through these fees.”
In addition to the building fee increase, a standard $2 tuition hike has been implemented, bringing the total cost to $178 per credit hour, up from $168. Despite this increase, Gadsden State remains one of the most affordable higher education options in Alabama. According to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the cost of tuition and fees for 30 credit hours at Gadsden State is about $6,600 less than at public universities in the state.
“At Gadsden State, we are laser-focused on providing affordable, accessible training and education with new or improved campus facilities and amenities,” Murphy added.
Recent infrastructure improvements at Gadsden State include the renovation of two buildings, the completion of the new Advanced Manufacturing and Workforce Skills Training Center, and the announcement of two additional construction and renovation projects.
In October, ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held for the renovated Helderman Hall and Bevill Hall on the Wallace Drive Campus. Helderman Hall houses Gadsden State’s Nursing Program and Emergency Medical Services, while Bevill Hall is home to the Radiography Program, Medical Laboratory Technology Program, and Medical Assistant Program. The $1.4 million renovations included new equipment, replacement of heating and cooling systems, new student study spaces and lounges, office spaces, testing labs, exterior lighting, and updated elevators and restrooms.
On April 2, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for a new softball and baseball complex at the Gadsden Sports Park, located behind the Wallace Drive Campus. The $10 million project will feature new fields with fully synthetic turf and bullpens, state-of-the-art LED light systems, new scoreboards, protective netting systems, locker rooms, restrooms, press boxes, concessions, elevated bleachers, and a covered hitting facility with three lanes.
Additionally, on April 29, Dr. Murphy announced a $7.9 million renovation project for the Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center and its academic wing. The renovation includes updates to classroom and studio spaces, a computer lab, restrooms, interior walls, doors, flooring, and paint. New electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems will also be installed. Exterior renovations will feature a new brick and precast façade, a concrete-paved courtyard with lighting, a new front entry to both the Fine Arts Center and academic wing, and all-new windows.
The Wallace Hall and sports complex projects, costing a total of $17.9 million, are funded by a bond approved by the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees in November.
On June 12, Gadsden State held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) on the East Broad Campus. The state-of-the-art facility includes 10 laboratories, seven classrooms, 11 offices, a multipurpose room, 10 tool and storage rooms, a storm shelter, a testing suite, a kitchen and serving area, a break room, and six restrooms. The facility also features glass viewing areas for prospective students and industry partners to observe laboratory activities.
The AMC project received approximately $24 million from a statewide bond issue passed by the Alabama Legislature in 2020 and an additional $12 million from the Education Supplemental Appropriation Bill approved in June 2023.
“The comprehensive renovations and ambitious new construction projects are designed to provide our students and employees with facilities that foster learning and innovation,” Murphy said. “Our commitment to the advancements and enhancements on our campuses ensures that Gadsden State will remain at the forefront of academic excellence in the communities we serve.”
For more information, visit www.gadsdenstate.edu.
