Recent legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly included an appropriation of $2 million towards the planned construction of a performing arts academic center at Mount St. Mary’s University.  The university originally requested a $4 million capital grant from Maryland through the State’s capital grant program, which funds primarily the construction of educational facilities for Maryland’s public schools and colleges.  The Governor requested $8 million to be made available to Maryland’s independent colleges and universities.  The amount budgeted, and finally approved by the Legislature, is $1 million less than that allocated last year, but on par with prior year appropriations.

The Maryland Independent College & University Association (MICUA) coordinates the capital grant requests for its members.  This year, MICUA requested $12 million for its members, in recognition of the sharply increasing costs of construction.  Although the Mount received half of its $4 million request, both the Governor’s office and the Legislative leadership encouraged the University to seek the balance of its request next year.  The actual request will be coordinated through discussion by the presidents of the independent colleges in the coming months.

The $2 million capital grant is a matching grant that will be available to the university effective this June, and will be contingent on the Mount raising matching funds from private donations.  President Powell has secured pledges equal to and exceeding the initial state contribution to the project.  The performing arts academic center will be designed as an addition to Flynn Hall.  The design portion of the project is expected to be substantially complete by early fall.