ULLIN, Ill. -- Shawnee Community College won't be home to only commuter students next fall. The college, through its fund-raising foundation, plans to open its first residence hall for students.

The single-story building is expected to house about 100 students. Each dorm room could house two students, school officials said Monday. Future plans envision construction of two more residence halls if demand warrants it, school officials said.

The rural college has a growing number of students from Southeast Missouri and Kentucky who make long commutes to the campus. With the high price of gasoline, student housing could make it more convenient for some of those students to attend the two-year college, school officials said.

The college has more than 200 students enrolled from Southeast Missouri, half of the school's total out-of-state enrollment, officials said.

Many Southern Illinois students also have commutes of 45 minutes or an hour to get to the main campus. "We are in a corn field," Jeff Wiggs, executive director of the Shawnee Community College Foundation, said.

Wiggs said student housing will change the campus climate. "It will definitely change the look of Shawnee Community College, having 100 students right there," he said.

The college gave 10 acres to the foundation to develop student housing. Under Illinois law, community colleges can't legally own student housing. But college foundations can own such housing.

The single-story, two-wing residence hall is expected to cost about $2.7 million, Wiggs said. The money will have to come from donations and loans. The foundation expects to borrow most of the money it needs, Wiggs said.

Each room would have its own restroom and shower. Each wing of the building will have its own lounge.

Students would pay about $225 a month to live in the residence hall, he said.

The foundation wants to keep the room charges to a minimum, recognizing that many of its students are on tight budgets, Wiggs said. "Many of our students get some type of financial assistance," he said.

Wiggs said the foundation plans to use geothermal technology to heat and cool the building. Several wells would be dug to draw air from underground.

At 56 degrees, the air is warmer than the outside air temperature in winter and cooler than the outside air temperature in the summer, he said. That makes it less costly to heat and cool a building, Wiggs said.

The building will be located within walking distance of classes.

Contempri Homes of Pinckneyville, Ill., is the contractor on the project.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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