Board of Regents approves housing repairs, classroom renovations and multiple academic proposals

The Montana Board of Regents voted by voice during its March 2025 meeting to authorize three capital maintenance projects, approve honorary degrees recommended by campuses, and advance multiple academic program and research‑center proposals, board leaders said.

Votes at a glance: Paisley Court student‑apartment exterior repairs (MSU Bozeman) — authorization to spend up to $3,500,000 approved (funded from auxiliary/physical plant funds). Classroom renovations (MSU Bozeman) — authorization to spend up to $2,000,000 approved (previously authorized; reauthorized after authority expired). Jesse Hall corridor and common‑area remodel and elevator generator (University of Montana, Missoula) — authorization to spend up to $2,000,000 approved (funded from housing renewal/replacement auxiliary funds).

The actions were presented by Dan Stevenson (Deputy Commissioner, Facilities Planning) and discussed at the Budget Committee before board action. The board recorded motion and voice votes for each item; there was no roll‑call tally recorded in the public transcript. Chair Dombrowski, Regents and campus leaders described the projects as routine maintenance and life‑safety upgrades.

In academic and student affairs business, the board’s ARSA committee forwarded and the full board approved multiple items by voice vote: campus emeriti appointments and one tenure upon hire on the consent agenda; honorary doctorate recommendations from the University of Montana (Steve Vronella; Eric Sprunk) and Montana State University (Morton Meyerson; Wendy Red Star); and requests to plan two bachelor’s degrees at MSU Bozeman (a B.S. in Optical and Photonics Engineering and a B.S. in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering). The University of Montana also advanced research/engagement centers and an institute through the planning step: Center for Hunting and Conservation (partnered with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation), an institute for positive education (training and teacher supports), a Montana Clinical Translational Research Center and a Montana Public Health Training Center.

Board members confirmed the consent agenda and voted on each action item individually; public comment was noted as not present on those votes. Motion language in the transcript was generally recorded as "so moved" and voice votes were recorded as "aye" with no named roll‑call in the public minutes.

Regents and campus presenters emphasized that the capital work will be funded from auxiliary or housing renewal funds and that the academic requests to plan are largely supported by external grants or philanthropic gifts; committee members said there is no net new administrative staffing associated with the proposed centers at the University of Montana.