New Bachelor's program coming to USI, request approved for build - 14 News, WFIE, Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro

Changes are coming to the University of Southern Indiana.

Thursday afternoon, the board approved a new Anthropology Bachelor's Degree program one instructors say has been in the works for over a decade.

The Board of Trustees also approved a capital budget request. That's $18 million for improvements to the Physical Activities Center, Science Center and Technology Center.

The university says those three buildings are each over 30 years old and serve thousands of students each year.

That's why university officials say state money would help make sure the facilities are up-to-date.

"At some point in the life of a building, and 40 years is probably that point, things just wear out," explained Vice President for Finance and Administration at USI Mark Rozewski. "I mean, the building was built in the late '60s, and so you need to go in and deal with all the finishes and fixtures and do them over."

University officials say the next steps in securing those funds are presenting their recommendations before the State Budget Committee and working with legislators when the session starts in January.