With the Texas Legislature’s approval of Senate Bill 52, Midwestern State University (MSU Texas) is approved to begin renovation, expansion and infrastructure projects totaling $44.9 million. The projects are part of legislation authorizing the issuance of $3.3 billion worth of revenue bonds to fund capital projects at Texas higher education institutions.

“We appreciate the efforts of our local legislators, Sen. Drew Springer and Rep. James Frank, to ensure MSU Texas received this funding. We also appreciate the efforts of Chancellor Tedd Mitchell to have all component institutions in the Texas Tech University System included,” said Interim President James Johnston. “These funds pave the way for the much-anticipated upgrades to Bolin Science Hall and provide support for student success. This project will transform our existing facility into a contemporary teaching, learning, and research facility for our current and future students.”

In the biennial Legislative Appropriations Request submitted in summer 2020, the University requested funding for the renovation and expansion of Bolin Science Hall as well as critical university infrastructure upgrades.

Constructed in the 1960s, Bolin Science Hall was partially updated in 1997. Funding will be used to update lecture halls, laboratories for teaching and research, conference rooms and offices as well as technology enhancements and life-safety improvements.

“Over the past 20 years our spaces in Bolin Science Hall have become some of the most utilized on campus,” said Marcy Brown Marsden, dean of the McCoy College of Science, Mathematics & Engineering. “This promise of a Bolin Hall transformation will allow us the needed spaces and resources to recruit students to MSU Texas and significantly enhance our ability to offer a modern facility for students to learn, conduct research, and collaborate.”

This funding along with the $5 million pledge from the McCoy Foundation announced in 2018 secures the funds needed to complete the Bolin project.

“What a fitting tribute this news is to Jim and Vicki McCoy. Jim was an avid supporter of education, especially in our science and engineering programs. We were saddened by his recent passing, but his legacy of philanthropic investment will continue both now and for years to come,” said Johnston.

Additionally, MSU Texas cited infrastructure upgrades across campus that are required to support additional space and functions added to the campus over the past decade.

“Infrastructure projects are never as glamourous as new construction or renovation, but they are critical to support our growing campus,” said Johnston. “Our facilities services team provides remarkable work each year to ensure our facilities are repaired on an established schedule, however, the needs we outlined were beyond the funding we currently had available.”

The University last received revenue bond authorization of $58.4 million in 2015 resulting in the construction of Centennial Hall, a state-of-the-art health sciences facility, renovation to Moffett Library and Bridwell Hall, and ADA/fire safety upgrades. This was an important first step in the University’s master plan for academic and revitalization projects.