Colby Community College will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. on April 10, 2026, to mark the start of construction on a new 80-bed student dormitory and maintenance facility. Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran will be in attendance for the event.

The need for the 80-bed residence hall stems from increasing enrollment and student interest in single-occupancy living options. The College currently houses approximately 300 students in double-occupancy units. The additional facility will support future growth while providing a limited number of private accommodations.

Continued enrollment gains have reinforced the need for expanded housing. Over the past five years, the College recorded a 16.2% increase in full-time equivalency (FTE), a notable achievement during a period when many Kansas community colleges experienced declines. FTE measures enrollment based on total credit hours rather than headcount alone. Over the past decade, Colby achieved a 12.3% increase in FTE, the highest among the state’s 19 community colleges.

The new dormitory features a pod-style layout, with each unit offering four bedrooms, shared living space, kitchen amenities, and bathrooms. In addition, common areas will include laundry rooms, a computer lab, and storm shelters.

To accommodate the project, the current maintenance shed will be demolished and replaced with a new 60-by-140-foot pre-engineered facility constructed east of the Steve Lampe Athletic Center. This updated structure will provide office space, storage areas, service bays, and modern mechanical and electrical systems to support campus operations.

"This project is first and foremost about our students and their experience at Colby Community College,” said Executive Vice President Nikol Nolan. “Expanding housing allows us to better meet student demand and provide a comfortable, supportive living environment, while the new maintenance facility helps ensure our campus continues to operate efficiently and serve students effectively every day."

Construction will begin in April and is expected to be completed by May 2027. The facilities will be funded through grants and institutional dollars.