This authority request is for an amount greater than $150,000, which requires the following additional information:

 

(a) Project Description:

A donor put one million dollars forward in order to renovate the gym for the purpose of aiding in the growth and development of the Media Arts Program.  The demand and need for the program is great. Media Arts  trains students in the newest toolsets, which are necessary for our students to master as they move forward in the new century. At present there is not enough space to accommodate classes. The undergraduate students cannot get into sections as they are presently offered, with 75 students turned away from our two beginning classes this fall alone.  With the renovation of the McGill gymnasium, the program has the ability to serve the needs of the school for the next ten years.

 

(b) Cost Estimate and Funding Sources:

The current phase of this project is estimated to cost $1,000,000,including construction costs, consultants fees, and all other expenses associated with this phase of the project.

 

(c) Programs Served, Enrollment Data, Projected Enrollments:

Media Arts is the fastest growing program at the University of Montana.  In 1997, when the graduate program was approved, there were four students, and no undergraduate curriculum. Now, in the fall of 2001, we have 20 graduate students and are servicing close to 300 undergraduate students  per semester with the addition of a minor which allows students from all areas of campus to use these digital tools in a way that can benefit them.  The program has the potential of growing to 45 students on the graduate level, and the undergraduate possibilities include the expansion of the program to include a major in the next five years.  The graduate curriculum is fixed at this point, but the undergraduate course offerings would expand from the five offered at present to approximately fifteen.

 

(d) Space Utilization Data:

This project will add 6,300 s.f. of new instructional space and labs to serve the Drama/Dance and Media Arts students.  This will be accomplished by adding another level to the existing gymnasium. 

 

(e) Projected Use for Available Residual Space:

The residual space currently housed by Media Arts will go to Health and Human Performance for their programs.

 

(f) Projected O&M Costs and Proposed Funding Sources:

The increased level of custodial, mechanical and electrical services that will be installed to serve the renovated space will result in a marginal increase in the O&M costs for McGill Hall. This increased O&M responsibility will be funded with campus funds.  The increased O&M responsibility is currently projected to be $36,000 per year, which includes custodial, maintenance and increased utility consumption, but excludes future capital replacement costs at the end of the equipments life cycle.