Statewide Foundation Pitched to Montana Regents

Montana's commissioner of higher education has asked the state board of regents to consider creating a foundation to accept donations on behalf of the entire Montana university system.

Clayton Christian tells the Missoulian Gov. Steve Bullock is working with a private donor who wants to make a system-wide gift.

Christian says he's asking the foundations already in place at university system schools to weigh in on the issue. He says the money would pass through the statewide foundation and be transferred to individual schools for scholarships.

Christian said last week that creating the foundation would allow the university system to accept donations that it otherwise wouldn't receive. He says the statewide foundation wouldn't compete with individual schools seeking donations.