Construction of the $25 million Instructional Facility #3 (IF3), an expansion of the Science Building and an addition to the Zahnow Library, started in September. The 105,000 square foot Science Building was expected to include classroom, computer laboratories, chemistry laboratories, the physics and biology departments, and office and support space. The library portion of the project included the addition of 38,530 square feet. Construction was expected to be completed in 2001.

A living center for upperclassmen opened in the fall with more than 300 residents.

On November 1, Crystal M. Langue, associate vice president for academic affairs and director of Faculty Support and Sponsored Programs, died. In June, the SVSU Board of Control had dedicated the Crystal M. Lange College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Lange founded SVSU's College of Nursing and served as its dean for 20 years. She was with SVSU for 23 years, joining the staff in 1976 as dean and professor in what was then the School of Nursing and Allied Health.