University of Illinois at ... Singapore?

The University of Illinois may expand its reach in Asia with a new digital-science research center in Singapore.

University trustees meeting Thursday are expected to consider a plan to build the Advanced Digital Sciences Center in partnership with Singapore's government.

The cost would be covered by a $50 million grant from the Singaporean government.

Engineering students from the Urbana-Champaign campus and faculty would have the chance to spend time at the facility.

The center's first project would focus on how people and computers interact.

Trustees are also expected to consider a $4.1 billion budget for the next school year. The university system's budget has never before topped $4 billion.