Regents approve MSU American Indian Center

The Board of Regents Thursday passed a motion to approve the Montana State University American Indian Student Center’s funding.

The funding source will be a combination of private donations and non-state funds up to $1,250,000. The American Indian Student Center serves the Native American community in addition to MSU students, faculty and staff. Promoting recruitment and retention of the American and Alaskan Native students.

“The project consists of constructing a new facility of approximately 20,000 square feet to house academic and support functions focused on both serving the unique needs of the American Indian student population as well as the general community and provide opportunity for cultural exchange within the academic and local community. The facility is expected to provide centrally administered instructional classrooms and seminar spaces, student study and mentoring space, peer advisor and administrative offices, gathering space, exhibit spaces, and support space,” as the document stated.

The Board of Regents meeting also approved Montana Tech to officially change the university’s name to Montana Technological University.

With the board showing signs of support with Chairwoman Fran M. Albrech saying, “(This is) a momentous, historical, vote and I am delighted to be a part of it.”

Chancellor Donald Blackketter said he wanted to express his appreciation to the board for the approval and to those on the campus and those on the wire committee.