Montana Tech develops master plan to expand, improve Butte campus

BUTTE — Montana Tech is developing a master plan for improvements and expansions at the Butte campus into its future, and they also want input from students, staff and the public.

Many students here already have some ideas about improving the campus.

“More parking, definitely, that’s one of my biggest complaints. Finding a parking spot,” said student Kimi Hueftle.

Kimi Hueftle.jpg — Montana Tech student Kimi Hueftle says she would like to see more parking as part of the university’s master plan.

Campus officials recently held a public meeting to go over possible changes and improvements to the campus over the next few years. Some ideas are making the campus more pedestrian-friendly and expanding student housing.

“If we want to grow as a university, we’re going to have to potentially add a few more residence halls, and that could take away the parking, so then we’re going to have to deal with parking as well,” said Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Ron Muffick.

Ron Muffick.jpg — Ron Muffick, vice chancellor for administration and finance at Montana Tech

Some students said they would like to see better outdoor lighting on campus.

“In the winter, it gets really dark, especially in the mornings, so going to class in the dark can be a little scary. And then, sometimes activities go late into the night and it gets dark by 5:30 these days,” said student Madelynn Hasz .

Kaden Cohn added, “At least for me personally, I like to be out and do things like that, but I feel like there aren’t too many places to just hang out.”

Campus officials hope to have a final report ready by February. Tech currently has about $40 million in state funding to make improvements to Main and Engineering Hall.

“Our classroom space, some of them we can always improve and modernize things, so it’s an exciting time for Montana Tech,” Chancellor Les Cook said.