The South Dakota Board of Regents will hear reports this week on several major building projects planned for three university campuses.

The University of South Dakota plans to renovate Slagle Auditorium on its Vermillion campus and create the USD Performing Arts Center. The regents approved a preliminary statement in May 2007 and a program plan last October.

The original cost estimate was $8.1 million, but the 2008 Legislature increased the project's authority to $8.5 million.

According to a report provided to the regents, $4.6 million of the total would come from bonding and $3.5 million from private donations.

The School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City wants to build a Paleontology Center. The board approved preliminary planning in 2005 and 2007.

The Legislature approved issuing $7 million in bonds, and another $3 million is to come from private donations and federal funds.

The regents' building committee planned to review the design plans for both projects before the board's next meeting Thursday and Friday in Brookings. If the committee approves, the staff recommends the Board of Regents approve the design plans for both facilities.

At an earlier stage in the process is a proposal to build an addition to the Barnett Center on the Northern State University campus in Aberdeen. The addition, on the southwest side of the building, would include locker rooms and office space. A report from the staff says funding is expected to come from gifts and donations to the Northern State University Foundation.

If the regents endorse Northern's preliminary plan, it will allow the school to hire an architectural firm and develop cost estimates, the regents staff says.