The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication plans a multi-million dollar studio renovation for its new Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media program.

The $3.75 million project, including about $2 million in construction, will be paid for with donated funds, according to information UGA officials submitted to the state Board of Regents in advance of the board’s monthly meeting on Wednesday.

UGA won’t sign a construction contract until the entire $3.75 million is in hand, according to the paperwork.

Regents also on Wednesday will see recommendations for hiring one of three Atlanta design firms for a 525-bed dormitory for first-year students planned for Baxter Street.

University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley last month approved a staff ranking of the top three firms out of 20 who applied for the residence hall commission — Beck Architecture Georgia at the top; Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates; and, Collins Cooper Carusi Architects.

The new residence hall is budgeted at $49.9 million, including construction costs of up to $40.3 million. The new building will allow UGA to expand the size of its first-year class “and provide ‘swing space’ as UGA continues to renovate or replace other residence halls on campus,” according to the university’s request.

The building’s facilities will be similar to other first-year student housing and will be a public-private partnership.

The regents approved the new MFA program last year. UGA intends to operate the program in conjunction with the Georgia Film Academy and Pinewood Forest, a residential development under construction in Fayetteville next to Pinewood Atlanta Studios and its 18 sound stages.

Georgia has in recent years become one of the top movie-making states in the nation.

Assuming the regents’ likely approval of the studio project, the plan would be to renovate nearly 6,000 square feet in UGA’s Journalism Building.

Once equipped, first-year students in the new MFA program will use the space to learn about technical aspects of video and film production, such as cinematography, editing, lighting, audio production, and writing, directing and producing movies.

In the first part of the two-year program, set to launch this fall, students will study at UGA. In their second year, they’ll move into Pinewood Forest and work with the Georgia Film Academy and industry professionals.