Carpentry Program Real Estate
Technical colleges within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system have statutory authority to acquire, develop, construct and sell residential properties pursuant to authority granted under Minn. Stat. 136F.36.
Campus Resources for Carpentry Program
- Process: System procedure 6.7.4 outlines the real estate requirements for such carpentry projects.
- Forms and Contracts: The Carpentry Handbook page provides links to the carpentry handbook, which includes all forms and contracts.
Unique Provisions
- All technical colleges are required to obtain written approval from the Vice Chancellor - Chief Financial Officer prior to any acquisition, construction, or sale of carpentry program real estate.
- Technical colleges are exempt from residential contractor or remodeler licensing requirements. Minn. Stat. 326.84, subd 3(9).
- Technical colleges may opt-out of residential construction warranties. Specifically, on any work completed by our carpentry students in construction, additions and remodeling projects, the college may opt-out of the standard statutory residential warranty provisions found in Minn. Stat. 327A.
Campuses with Carpentry Programs
- Alexandria Technical College
- Hennepin Technical College
- Southeast Technical College (Red Wing and Winona)
- Minnesota State Community and Technical College (Moorhead and Wadena)
- Minnesota West Community and Technical College - Pipestone
- Northeast Higher Education District - Mesabi Range - Eveleth
- Northwest Technical College
- Ridegwater Community and Technical College - Wilmar
- Riverland Community College - Austin
- Rochester Community and Technical College
- South Central College - Faribault
- St Cloud Technical College
Having a House Built by Carpentry Students
- Projects are varied. Examples include:
- Constructing houses on blocks on campus. (Auctioned at end of academic year)
- Constructing a residence on an owner's lot, and acting as either a general contractor or carpentry subcontractor
- Remodeling an existing residence
- Buying residential lots and constructing a spec home for sale at the end of the school year
- Constructing garages or outbuildings
- Cost structure. The carpentry programs at the campuses are designed to give carpentry students the opportunity to "learn on the job", and the fee structure reflects the learning emphasis. All carpentry programs are obligated to charge a service fee, which is generally used to purchase new equipment for the program and offer financial assistance to students in need. The fee structures are as follows:
- Service fee = a percentage of the total cost of materials used in the project
- Flat fee
- Change order charges at the discretion of the campuses
- Carpentry programs advertise in the early spring for carpentry projects for next fall's students. Contact the campus nearest to you for specific details on when the next project is advertised.
- Risks involved. Because these are carpentry students, who are learning on the job, the projects typically span an academic year (Sept - April or May). Mistakes happen, however, the instructors are typically on the site at all times the students are.
