University of Virginia Library

CLINCH VALLEY COLLEGE CONSTRUCTION OF STUDENT HOUSING
FOR 96, PHASE II
PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION

Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia has recently completed construction of the second phase of a student housing facility. The construction of this housing project for 96 students was originally authorized under Item R-2 for the 1980-82 biennium. The project was to be funded from $1,030,000 in revenue bonds and $888,500 in coal mining royalties. A feasibility study was submitted to the Treasurer and approved. In 1983, however, it was determined that revenues from mining royalties could not support the construction of the 96-bed unit, so the decision was made to construct the housing facility in two phases.

Phase I for 48 beds was constructed using $515,000 in revenue bonds and $629,500 in mining royalties. A revised financial feasibility study was submitted to the Treasurer before the 9(c) bond issue in April, 1984. Debt on this bond issue is currently being serviced by dormitory fees. Clinch Valley College requested retention of the balance of the original revenue bond authorization to use when it became feasible to begin construction of Phase II of the housing project. This $515,000 is reflected as a reappropriation under Item R-13 of the Revenue Bond Bill approved during the 1987 General Assembly Session. Phase II of the facility was completed and occupied in September, 1987, and includes 44 beds and a student lounge area.

Project Description and Justification, cont.

Clinch Valley College student housing is a self-supporting auxiliary enterprise, acting in direct support of the educational mission of the college. Clinch Valley has three goals in providing student housing. One is to furnish students with a variety of housing arrangements at reasonable cost. Another is to provide an environment in which each student may achieve the maximum realization of his or her potential, intellectually, socially and physically. The third is to have the ability to move the students from temporary housing, which may be either small rooms on campus or substandard housing in the town of Wise. The population of Wise is only 3,800 and any off-campus housing is very limited. Many of the students cannot commute because of the mountainous terrain and the long distances to surrounding communities. Therefore, housing must be provided for the majority of the student body. At present, the College has beds for less than half of the FTE student population. Occupancy of this dormitory will enable Clinch Valley to better accommodate this critical need for student housing.