July 8-9, 2004

 

ITEM 124-1503-R0704��������������� Authorization to increase spending authority previously granted by ITEM 118-1501-R0303 to renovate two rooms (approximately 1700 sq. ft) in the Chemistry/Biology Building to accommodate the interim home of the National Center for Health Care Informatics; Montana Tech of The University of Montana

 

THAT:�������������������������������������� The Board of Regents of Higher Education authorizes Montana Tech of The University of Montana to renovate two rooms in the Chemistry/Biology Building to accommodate the interim home of the National Center for Health Care Informatics.� This request is to revise and increase spending authority from $188,255 to $225,000 for architectural and construction costs (see (b) of attachment).� This amount ($225,000) matches the amount of spending authority delegated to Montana Tech from The University of Montana�s Spending Authority as set forth in House Bill 5 of the Fifty-Eighth Legislature.

 

EXPLANATION:����������������������� Montana Tech and St. James Healthcare have worked together to create a new BS and AAS degree in Health Care Informatics at Montana Tech.� That program started during Fall Semester 2002.

 

St. James has also taken the lead on a federal grant requests to create the National Center for Health Care Informatics that will eventually be built on the campus of St. James Healthcare in Butte, MT.� In September 2002, a $400,000 federal grant was received to construct the interim site for the National Center for Health Care Informatics at Montana Tech.��

 

Montana Tech has identified two rooms in the Chemistry/ Biology Building that could be used for the interim center.� Because of a lack of funding, these rooms were intentionally left unfinished when renovation of the facility was completed in 1999.� The grant funds would be used to renovate and equip one room into a 24-seat multi-media classroom for use by the students in the Health Care Informatics curriculum.� The second room would be renovated and equipped to accommodate offices and storage space.� All construction would conform to the construction standards established during the renovation completed in 1999.�

 

The entire project will be financed by non-state funds and will result in no new programs.

 

Attachment:���������������������������� Additional information