UW-Platteville is hoping to capitalize on the proposed Foxconn plan by constructing of a new engineering building. 

The university is hoping the state legislature will approve the $55 million dollar project.

Chancellor of UW-Platteville, Dennis J. Shields, issued a statement Thursday regarding the passing of the economic development project.

He says a new engineering facility would allow the university to take in an additional 1,000 engineering students every year.

Molly Gribb, Dean of Engineering, Mathematics and Science at UW-Platteville, says the possibility of Foxconn bringing 13,000 jobs to the state is a promising opportunity for engineering students.

"This is going to be a huge state of the art facility so they're going to need a lot of highly skilled engineers."

With the second highest number of engineering graduates in the state, UW-Platteville hopes the proposal is passed to accommodate an additional 800 freshman and 200 transfers pursuing an engineering degree.

Gribbs says the new building would allow the school to offer more courses. They're also hoping to get new technology to train even more experienced students.

"We need to get even more modern equipment in front of our students so they're even more prepared for the workforce."

The $55 million dollar proposal is being considered for the 2018-19 biennium budget.

Governor Scott Walker and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos both say the budget could pass by the end of September.

Copyright 2017: WMTV