By MSU News Service MSU NEWS SERVICE
After a year and a half of fundraising, Montana State University announced today that a gift of $4.8 million from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation has allowed it to reach its goal of raising the $22.5 million in private donations needed to move ahead with constructing an on-campus facility for its fast-growing Gallatin College MSU.
“Gallatin College MSU has been helping students find successful careers and helping the industries of southwest Montana find qualified, highly educated employees for years,” said MSU President Waded Cruzado. “I’m thrilled that it’s finally time for Gallatin College MSU to have the home it deserves to continue to grow and help even more students.”
The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation is the major philanthropic organization for The Washington Companies and the Washington family. The foundation strives to better the human condition by supporting programs and services that give people the tools to enhance the quality of their lives and to benefit society as a whole.
“The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation is pleased to support this project that will provide Gallatin College a dedicated home,” said Jon Bennion, executive director of the foundation. “This new facility will be an important place where students will receive a great education and training for the careers of today and tomorrow.”
Lone Mountain Land Co., a developer of the area around Big Sky, including hospitality services, residential properties, and ski and golf communities, as well as Big Sky’s Town Center, recently committed $4 million to the project, following an $11.25 million gift from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation last August. Numerous contributions brought the effort forward, including $1 million from an anonymous local industry partner.
“We are honored to partner with Gallatin College as we work together to create opportunities for students in our community,” said Matthew Kidd, president of Lone Mountain Land Co. “At Lone Mountain Land Co., we believe that collaboration is key to inspiring the next generation of leaders in hospitality and beyond. This partnership reflects our commitment to nurturing talent and driving innovation, ensuring that that local students are equipped to shape a prosperous future for Montana’s industries.”
“Our gratitude to our donors and supporters throughout the community and region cannot be overstated,” Cruzado said. “Their gifts are an investment in the future of Montana students that will strengthen our state tremendously. And we are very thankful to the governor and the 2023 Legislature for their support of Gallatin College MSU as well.”
“What an amazing show of support across Montana from donors, MSU alumni and friends, recognizing that our communities require a highly skilled workforce to thrive, centered on access for students,” said Fran Albrecht, president and CEO of the MSU Alumni Foundation. “Gallatin College MSU will now be able to house its programs in one location, serving our students and, subsequently, Montanans and industries across the state.”
Gallatin College MSU has been the university’s fastest growing college for years, setting enrollment records semester after semester, including a record 1,101 students in fall 2024. It offers professional and workforce trades certificates and associate degrees.
Despite the growth, the college has never had its own dedicated facility — the only two-year college in the state without one. Gallatin College MSU’s 24 programs have operated out of leased and donated space in five locations spread across Bozeman.
The college collaborates with Montana industries and employers to build academic and training programs to meet the state’s workforce needs. Its classes fill quickly, and several of its programs routinely need to maintain waiting lists due to limited capacity — a circumstance worsened by the lack of space and which will be eliminated with a dedicated building.
“Having our students spread across Bozeman has been limiting in more ways than one,” said Stephanie Gray, dean of the college. “Space limitations and sheer distance between labs and classrooms have kept our courses from growing to meet needs. And Gallatin College MSU students haven’t had the same ease of access to campus resources as other MSU students, such as career services, transportation, study spaces or the MSU Library. Having a dedicated building will greatly contribute to larger enrollment student success in the long term.”
In 2023, the Montana Legislature passed and Gov. Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 5, which included $23.5 million in funding for Gallatin College MSU. The university was required to raise the remainder of the funds needed for the $46 million facility.
“I’m honored to join MSU President Cruzado for this historic announcement, which will benefit Montana for years to come,” Gianforte said. “I thank the Legislature and all donors who helped make this public-private partnership possible. I’d especially like to thank the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, and Lone Mountain Land Co. for their generous contributions. Together, we will continue to help students prepare for a successful career in a good-paying job right here in Montana.”
The Gallatin College MSU facility will be located in the heart of MSU’s South Campus District along the east side of South Seventh Avenue, close to Norm Asbjornson Hall, Gianforte Hall and the future location of the privately operated campus hotel, the Vim, which will provide hands-on training and education for the MSU and the Gallatin College MSU hospitality and culinary students.
Gallatin College MSU’s programs include transfer degrees, associate of applied science degrees, certificates of applied science, professional certificates, dual enrollment courses for Montana high school students, and developmental math and writing courses.
The college routinely partners with Montana industries and tailors its offerings to meet their workforce needs. Its programs include photonics and laser technology, culinary arts, carpentry, CNC machining, HVAC, cybersecurity, aviation, health care and welding, among many others.
Gallatin College MSU was previously known as the MSU-Great Falls College of Technology. It was renamed in May 2010 to more accurately reflect its location and offerings and has subsequently grown alongside Montana and Bozeman’s economy, adding needed programs over the years, such as programs in construction job preparedness and HVAC.
In November 2023, the National Security Agency named Gallatin College MSU as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense for its high-quality programs that prepare students to protect and promote America’s national security and economic prosperity.
“With this new building Gallatin College MSU will be able to triple the number of workforce students we are preparing for Montana’s future economy,” Gray said.
