Dear Bobcat Parent and Family Members,

In my email earlier today, I notified you about the roof collapse of the South Gym of our Marga Hosaeus Fitness Center. Those of you who signed up to receive our campus alerts would have been alerted to this news early this morning. I am sharing two links again now if you did not receive the alert this morning, so you can make sure to update your email information and opt-in to receive future text alerts.

Since the midday communication, the investigation for the cause of the roof failure has continued. The entire fitness center will remain closed for tonight and tomorrow.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are removing snow from roofs adjacent to the South Gym and from other buildings on campus. We have several structural engineers providing analysis regarding snow loads on other campus buildings.

Please know that the safety and wellbeing of our students is at the center of our work right not. New information about the roof collapse and response can be found at this campus website, which is being updated regularly.

Now, turning our attention back to a topic I mentioned in an email last month: A number of staff members at MSU and with the City of Bozeman have been working this year to update and expand services for our students as they transition from living on campus to living in the Bozeman community.

Later this month, we will publish the first-ever MSU "off-campus living guide," a student-renter handbook. And, we will be offering a new opportunity for students to meet local landlords and property managers during an off-campus Housing Resource Fair.  

We also want to provide you, as a parent or family member, information about your student's transition to moving off campus. As partners in your student's success, we know that you continue to offer guidance to your student as they navigate this major step into adulthood and further independence in their living environment.  

To that end, please join us on Monday, March 11th at 6:00 p.m. for a webinar focused on off-campus living. This webinar will discuss student's responsibilities of being a good neighbor and citizen while living off campus in the Bozeman community.

In addition to the responsibilities of being a good tenant and neighbor, webinar topics will include resources available for students looking to move off campus, how to negotiate legal issues with signing a lease and what safety features to look for in a rental property.

Once you register for the webinar, you will receive the link to login and to confirm your email. Please ensure you bookmark that confirmation email to use the link when it is time for the webinar to begin. The webinar is offered online for viewing/listening on a mobile device or computer.

Thank you for partnering with us in supporting your student, especially during this time!

Truly, 

Matthew R. Caires

Dean of Students

Bobcat Parent & Family Program
174 Strand Union Building | P.O. Box 174220 | Bozeman, MT 59717
www.montana.edu/parents | parents@montana.edu | 406-994-7359