The University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees has approved a $96 million operating budget for the upcoming year.
Thirteen million will go to a new Teaching Theatre on campus.
USI Construction Administrator Gary Burgdorf says a new on campus teaching theatre is badly needed.
"The old building has been there since I was in high school in the 70's. Part of the basement takes on water whenever it rains. Its been a very small, cramped building. It's dark, it's everything a theatre would not want to be," Burgdorf said.
A new theatre has been in the works for a couple years, and now with financial backing in place, plans have been made to break ground.
It'll be positioned right in front of University center, which means students will no longer have to travel off campus to attend performing arts classes.
"This will be a whole lot better and everything will be centrally located," Burgdorf said.
He says the Teaching Theatre will also provide a hands on learning environment for students.
"Classes in regards to lighting and sound and theatre itself, possibly music."
Burgdorf says the project will offer about 100 on site construction jobs.
"The more construction jobs we have to offer here, the more people, first of all become familiar with USI and second of all, contribute to the economics of the county."
The university will break ground next month, and finish it in 2014.
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Ground is expected to be broken next month for the new teaching theatre. It's scheduled for completion in the Summer of 2014.
