April 30, 2021

UM Family,

Yesterday, state legislators in Helena adjourned “sine die,” marking the conclusion of the 67th Montana Legislative Session.

Over the past four months, UM and Montana University System representatives worked hand-in-hand to advance and pass important legislation that will help shape UM’s future.

To be clear, there were bills that UM opposed that the Legislature passed, and there were bills UM supported that the Legislature did not. We were, however, able to work with legislators to pass numerous laws and secure financial resources that will benefit UM immediately and in the long term.

These laws and UM investments will build upon the progress we have made over the past 18 months to improve our campus infrastructure, prioritize faculty and staff, and achieve long-term growth.

Overall, the Legislature provided a 2.8% increase to the Montana University System budget – a modest funding boost that seemed unlikely during the height of financial uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alongside this growth of overall funding, the Legislature supported UM’s request for $25 million to construct a new state-of-the-art facility to house the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation. The College of Forestry and Conservation outgrew its century-old building decades ago, and now through the support of the Legislature, we have the opportunity to provide needed space for this college to continue to grow. Constructed largely of timber harvested in Montana, this building will not only better meet the instructional needs of the college, but it also will serve as the climate-friendly showcase project for Montana’s re-emerging wood products industry.

In addition to the new College of Forestry and Conservation building, the Legislature allocated $4 million to pay for other critical infrastructure upgrades for our University at these facilities:

• Flathead Lake Biological Station
• Urey Lecture Hall
• Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
• Stone Hall
• Clapp Building

Before UM can begin additional infrastructure improvements beyond the projects listed above, the Legislature must provide authority to procure outside financial resources. Here is a list of the projects that received that authority-only approval this legislative session:

• Music Building renovation, $6 million
• Rankin Hall renovation, $6 million
• Construction of a new on-campus Museum of Art and Culture, $2 million of which is in addition to the $6 million authority-only approval from a previous Legislature.

This authority-only approval will allow UM to undertake renovation and construction as institutional resources and philanthropic support become available. A portion of the Music Building will be renovated this summer using philanthropic gifts designated for that project. Construction of a new Museum of Art and Culture building is anticipated to begin next academic year.

These building investments supported by the Legislature – combined with the campus renewal plan that is paid for through UM’s strategic debt restructure – will lead to the largest student-facing infrastructure investment and revitalization our campus has experienced in generations.

By the time the class of 2025 begins their procession to Commencement, UM will have invested more than $100 million in new classrooms, additional teaching labs, performance spaces, renovated residence halls, public museum space and a new dining facility.

Our success this legislative session expanded far beyond infrastructure. Here are a few of the other major initiatives that the Legislature passed:

• $1.5 million to expand Accelerate Montana on the UM campus
• $1.1 million to establish a cybersecurity hub at Missoula College
• Creation of new tax credit for employer-paid education
• A pay raise for hundreds of state employees who work on our campus 

Of course, actions of the 67th Legislature did create some challenges for the Montana University System, but we are pleased with the progress that was made to invest in our campus and our UM family this fiscal biennium.

Our work is not complete. During the coming months, many UM leaders will continue to engage with legislative committees as funds are allocated from the federal American Recovery Plan Act.

After such a challenging year for our campus, it is exciting to see so much momentum building towards next academic year.

Seth