In a special meeting June 6, the New Mexico State University Board of Regents approved $1.2 million in emergency repairs to Jett Hall following a fire in the building earlier this year.

The March 30 fire caused considerable damage in the west wing of Jett Hall, affecting a number of classrooms, labs and offices. Immediate mitigation has included asbestos abatement and emergency cleanup and remediation. This will be followed by repair and restoration on both the first and second floors of the west wing.

The construction and repair portion of this work exceeded the $300,000 threshold for projects, and requires approval by the NMSU Board of Regents, the New Mexico Higher Education Department and the state's Board of Finance. The project is scheduled to be voted on by the other entities later this month.

Funding for the project will be reimbursed through insurance via the New Mexico Risk Management Division. The university hopes to have some of the repairs completed before classes begin again in the fall.