1980-1989
1980
The bidding process started in March for the new library building.
1982
Vande Bogart Library
The new library building opened and is named in honor of former NMC President Guy Vande Bogart.
A fund drive for a Farm Mechanics building is begun.
1984
The Farm Mechanics building is dedicated. All funding for the construction came from community and corporate supporters.
An Apple computer lab was added to the Math-Science Building and the Library.
The Northern Alumni Association began a $175,000 remodeling project to restore the main floor of the west wing of Donaldson Hall for campus use.
President James Erickson proposed a new technology building for campus, but the legislature rejected the concept.
Improvements are made to campus outdoor recreational fields.
President Erickson announces his retirement plans for the following year.
1985
KNMC DJ circa 1986
KNMC DJ - KNOG increases its power to 10 watts and changes its call letters to become KNMC.
William Merwin is named President in May.
The We Love Northern Ball was the brainchild of some of the local Soroptimist members in December of 1984. It was designed to show support for Northern while other campuses picketed the proposed cuts in University system budgets. Fifty-seven organizations and businesses worked together for two months. On Valentine’s Day 1985 the first “Ball” was held. Everyone in the community participated from the Girl Scouts handling the coat check, Boy Scouts helping with cleanup, Bacchus Club setting up a non-alcoholic bar, Tavern Association setting up the bars, students helping Loendorf’s Florist make corsages, R & R Studio set up for “Ball” pictures, Marge Holt played dinner music, Roger Barber was Maitre D and coaches and students were the waiters and waitresses.
1986
Montana's legislature cuts state budget when Northern's enrollment is a record high.
Havre Cable TV announces plans to bring PBS TV to Havre.
The Computer Assisted Design (CAD) lab opens in Brockmann Center.
1987
Legislators consider proposals that would make Northern and Western two-year colleges and merge Montana Tech with MSU in Bozeman.
Governance of Montana's five vo techs is transferred to the Board of Regents, creating an 11-unit university system.
President Merwin is forced to cut 22 programs and 12 administrators due to state budget cuts. Amid legislative concerns about program duplication, Montana's Board of Regents considers eliminating Northern's elementary education program.
Northern's Food Services building is renovated in September to better serve students and additional repairs are made to the Gym.
Northern opens the first on-campus child care facility in September with a capacity of 28 children.
Northern begins offering a four-year bachelor of science degree in nursing.
The Math-Science building is named the Hagener Science Center in memory of L.W. Hagener, long time faculty member and curator of many of the exhibits now in the Vande Bogart Library.
1988
Montana's Board of Regents require all campuses to move from a quarter to semester system and adopt a common calendar. They also re instate Northern's elementary education program and consider plans to re organize the Colleges of Technology.
The KNMC radio station begins broadcasting the NPR public radio signal from KEMC in Billings.
Northern is awarded a joint water quality training grant in cooperation with the State of Montana.
The college opens a grant funded Women's Center to help attract women students to non-traditional careers.
As Carillon bells on the gym aged, it became difficult to find replacement parts for them and they are removed (late 80's).
1989
President Merwin announces his resignation to accept the Presidency at the State University of New York Potsdam campus.
Frank Kerins, retired Carroll College President, is named interim President at NMC.
Northern begins offering the associate of science degrees in business and computer technology in Great Falls through the Vo-Tech Center.
An automation lab complete with an IBM Scara robot is added to Brockmann Center.
Facing a space shortage at the Malmstrom Air Force Base Higher Education Center Northern leases the former USDA building in Great Falls.