HAVRE — The state Board of Regents has approved renaming Montana State University’s computer science department after Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte.
University officials say the Bozeman technology entrepreneur’s family foundation pledged a total of $8 million to MSU, $5 million of which will go toward an endowment for the new Gianforte School of Computing.
Another $2 million will go toward construction projects on the university’s south campus and $1 million for the current use of the computer science department.
The regents unanimously approved the proposal on Friday during its meeting at MSU-Northern in Havre.
Democrats oppose MSU naming the school after Gianforte. Three legislators say they will introduce a bill next year to bar naming buildings and schools after candidates.
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