Educational Program Overview

Energy

MSU uses energy districting, passive and photovoltaic solar, ground source geo-thermal and heat pump technologies, control systems, metering, and a tunnel distribution infrastructure to gain efficiencies in both energy use and maintenance.  Sessions in this track will address underlaying energy philosophy and the processes, programs, and equipment applied to continuously improve. 

*Sessions:

Energy 101 MSU Campus Energy Story: Culture of Opportunities

Discover how Montana State University is achieving campus transformation by acting on energy opportunities. This session highlights the vital role facilities staff play in shaping energy progress and explores how everyday actions create long-term impact. Join us to learn from MSU’s energy journey—and uncover new opportunities to lead change in your own work.

 

Energy 201 -Down to Earth Sustainability: Practical Solutions for Campuses

Incorporating holistic sustainability solutions can feel overwhelming. This session will bring sustainability "down to earth," identifying practical strategies that can improve student health and experience, lower operations and maintenance costs, and reduce carbon footprint.

 

Resource Conservation: People, Process, Performance

A case study exploring the program and processes used to collaboratively identify building system inefficiencies, repairs, and opportunities to enhance the ongoing operations of the buildings improving comfort and reliability while realizing energy savings.

 

Campus Lighting in the LED Era: Innovations, Lessons Learned and Best Practices

This presentation highlights over 15 years of experience implementing LED luminaire and lighting control systems upgrades across university campuses and discusses practical challenges and long-term strategies for lighting upgrades in campus environments.

 

*Tours:

MSU Energy District & Tunnel Infrastructure Tour

Explore the MSU energy infrastructure including the Heat Plant, campus utility tunnels and energy districts. This tour will showcase elements discussed in Energy 101, MSU Campus Energy Story: Culture of Opportunities session.

 

MSU Outdoor & Indoor Lighting Tour - 10 Years of Lighting Implementation

Discover how new lighting technologies are transforming campus spaces— saving energy, reducing costs, and enhancing research. This tour will showcase elements discussed in Campus Lighting Innovations & Best Practices session.

 

Projects

Identifying and addressing mechanical, operational, and institutional goals while not precluding future opportunities is critical to the success of any project. Sessions in this track will feature site tours and discussions about project philosophy, intent, processes and specifics.  To see some of our current projects visit  Current MSU Construction Projects - RMA 2025 | Montana State University 

*Sessions:

Projects 101

MSU is in an unprecedented construction cycle.  This session highlights MSU’s recent and current MSU projects and discusses how they are transforming our campus in alignment with our Mission and Strategic Plan.

 

Facilities Commissioning – A Valuable Tool for Building Operations and Sustainability

 Initially, commissioning was driven by a desire to improve design and construction quality and ensure the owner’s requirements were being met.  In todays world, when applied early and often, it can help align projects with campus design standards and sustainability goals, while minimizing initial maintenance requests and enhancing energy efficiency.

 

Drones + GIS: Utility Data Collection at Montana State University

This presentation will showcase how drone imagery has enhanced the accuracy of GIS utility data and provide an overview of the data collection and editing process. Attendees will gain insight into the history of utility data on campus, the key steps we've taken to reach our current state, and our vision for the future of sub-surface utility data—a complete transformation!

 

Managing Aging Buildings and Infrastructure

Aging infrastructure on college campuses is a common theme across the country coupled with funding challenges.  Through a case study this session explores a targeted approach for Planned Maintenance and capital renewal.

 

Automate and Elevate: How continuous occupancy data is Informing campus space Decision

The race for space on campus is more complex now than ever. In a time of rapidly evolving demand’s objective, data-driven insights around space use leads to conversations with data instead of anecdotes helped inform fact-based master planning. This session explores how occupancy data can optimize facility usage, enhance the student experience, and improve operational outcomes.

 

*Tours:

Grant Street Pedestrian Mall project

Right down the middle of campus this project was somewhat disruptive to adjacent projects, buildings, and overall campus operations. Discover how this linear project has transformed the overall campus experience while enhancing or creating experiences, embedding messaging and art, improving service and multi-modal transportation, and accommodating current and future infrastructure needs. 

 

Student Wellness Center Building project

Conceived by the ill effects of heavy snow fall this project presented a huge opportunity.

The Student Wellness Center unites three departments – Counselling and Psychological Services, Campus Recreation, and Student Health Services – to provide services and support for whole person health and wellbeing.  Discover how planning and construction addressed three distinct user groups under one roof.

 

Romney Hall Renovation project

Constructed in 1922 as MSU's original state-funded physical education building, Romney Hall has been a central fixture of campus for much of its history. This renovation and repurposing project transformed Romney Hall featuring 17 classrooms and housing 4 high-impact programs that directly serve students. See how the project preserved and celebrated campus history while embracing the needs of today and tomorrow.

 

Facilities Yard and Building project

To support current and future campus growth the University Facilities Services Trades, Engineering, Landscape, Custodial and Work Control operations are moving.  See how data and employee input manifested in an adaptable building/site design that improves the customer experience, enhances site security, increases shop functionality, and leverages proximities of operations while providing opportunity for future improvements.

 

 

Everything Speaks

There are many underappreciated or unrecognized elements imbedded into operations that affect the campus aesthetic, resource use, participation, and institutional culture. Sessions in this track will highlight programs and processes that bring awareness to these efforts by actively demonstrating mission alignment, leveraging faculty and staff expertise, harnessing student enthusiasm, and encouraging participation.

*Sessions:

Everything Speaks 101 - Will I stay or will I go?

Perceptions, good and bad, are made within the first 15 minutes of arriving at your destination.  In today’s world visitors come armed with a wealth of information and a pre-formed opinion about your institution.  This session will present a campus-wide overview of the MSU philosophy and elements of creating positive, reinforcing perceptions through active and passive engagement in cognizance of existing resources and expectations.

 

Everything Speaks 201 – Talking Trash!

We all need to dispose of stuff.  This session explores leveraging this common experience to improve the MSU waste management systems and chase our 2035 Zero waste goal.

 

Struggling with Custodial Staffing, Standards, or Satisfaction? There’s a Smarter Way

Consistent and reliable Custodial services are core to first impressions.Explore how data analytics, professional development, hands-on training, and quality control converge to elevate cleaning outcomes, reduce costs, and improve staff performance with proven, scalable solutions.
 

Operational Excellence in Route-Based Services: Elevating Campus Service Culture Through Smarter Resource Use

Custodial, housekeeping, and grounds services play a powerful yet often underrecognized role in shaping campus culture, aesthetics, and institutional pride. This session highlights how higher ed institutions are reimagining route-based operations as a strategic lever for engagement, sustainability, and service quality. Through a real-world university case study and insights from a 10-campus collaboration, attendees will learn how data-informed improvements can reduce waste, elevate staff visibility, and align day-to-day work with broader institutional values.

 

Climate Action Planning (CAP)

Climate Action Planning provides a framework that connects personal efforts to the broader vision of institutional transformation and environmental commitment through stakeholder engagement and data analysis. This case study explores how Campus Action Planning influences purchasing, commuting, business travel, waste. water conservation, climate resiliency, emergency preparedness, innovative building design, enriching campus culture, and embedding sustainability into the curriculum. 

 

Cradle to Cradle

Maximize the value of your flooring investment while demonstrating your commitment to sustainable operations.  

We all share a planet and the resources it provides.  Stewardship at all levels can and does make a difference. The Cradle to Cradle concept focuses on material health, product circularity, clean air & climate protection, water & soil stewardship and social fairness, The Cradle-to-Cradle concept improves health and wellness outcomes without sacrificing budget, aesthetics, product quality AND allows one to tread more lightly on the planet. Learn how one company embraces Cradle to Cradle concept in their business operations.

 

Water – A Limiting Factor

Water is a finite resource that is used and reused during its journey through the water cycle. In Bozeman, a Headwaters community, water has the real potential of being a limiting factor in community growth and quality of life.  This session will explore the limitations and discuss potable water, landscape irrigation, and stormwater strategies used to address this challenge.

 

Partnerships

From an idea to a reality, partnerships at all levels have a direct impact on final deliverable and stakeholder satisfaction. Effective partnerships build broader understanding and foster creative, collaborative problem solving. This session will explore various stakeholder partnerships and their influence on decisions, building cohesive messaging, cooperative operations and creating educational opportunities.

 

*Tours:

Everything Speaks Sustainability Tour

This tour explores the parts and pieces of the MSU campus that “speak” and compliments the Everything Speaks 101 and 201 classroom sessions. A variety of operational, educational, and service elements incorporated in the MSU campus will be featured.

 

American Indian Hall site and building

This LEED Platinum building and site demonstrate the integration of LEED principles, institutional and educational goals, and efficient operations. This tour highlights building and site features demonstrating accomplishment of institutional goals while demonstrating departmental values. Tour will include the use of on-site materials, landscape management, transportation, cultural messaging, and a Pepsi machine.