Chancellor Invites Alumni Participation
in Applied Technology Center Project
Winter 2002

In previous issues of the Aurora Borealis, we have discussed the MSU-Northern plans for the Applied Technology Center. MSU-Northern proposed this major building project to further position the institution to prepare students for careers that are in high demand and meet the increasingly sophisticated technology and business needs of employers.

Last April, the 2001 Montana Legislature approved $2 million in bonding for the proposed Applied Technology Center in HB 14. The Legislature also stipulated that MSU-Northern seek and secure, at least, another $2 million in funding from other sources. In total, the Legislature authorized a $5 million project.

Building on the excitement of that Legislative approval, MSU-Northern has been busy building the foundation for a successful campaign to secure that additional funding for the construction of the Applied Technology Center. We have worked closely with our Congressional delegation and Bear Paw Development Corporation to secure Federal support for the project. Faculty, staff and alumni are building on our partnerships with several private companies and foundations for part of the package. And now I would like to invite all Northern alumni to help us meet our goal to bring the Applied Technology Center online in 2004 to celebrate Northern's first 75 years and launch our next 75.

We are excited about the opportunity this project represents to expand the number of available MSU-Northern graduates, highly skilled in technical and business fields, prepared to be valuable employees or successful business managers.

The Applied Technology Center will utilize a multi-disciplinary model. In today's economy there is no situation where only one discipline is involved in making a business decision. The multi -disciplinary use of the ATC will allow graduates from all disciplines to work together in order to find the most efficient business solutions for clients, employers and partners.

We believe the Center will strengthen the unique business and industrial partnerships that Northern has built with the private sector. These partnerships will enable MSU-Northern to generate business and technology innovation and incubation, including aggressive technology transfer, and foster new business opportunities in technology.

The successful conclusion of this fund raising campaign for the Applied Technology Center will be good news for prospective MSU-Northern students. The investments by the State and Federal governments, private companies and foundations, and, yes, individual alumni and friends of Northern will assure all that MSU-Northern will continue to offer great educational opportunities well into the future.

Therefore, I invite you to share in this great opportunity to capstone Northern's first 75 years and begin our next 75 prepared for the future. For information on how you can participate, please contact Judy Bricker, (406) 265-3770, bricker@msun.edu or Greg Jergeson, (406) 265-3595, gjergeson@msun.edu or Tom Reynolds, (406) 265-3711, reynoldst@msun.edu.

Sincerely,

Alex Capdeville
Chancellor
 

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