Administration

The following statement was adopted by the Board of Regents in July 1999.

Mission

The Montana University System serves the citizens of Montana and the public good through a diverse community of scholars and learners. Representing a rich academic tradition, this community prepares graduates who are inquisitive, productive, and contributing citizens not only in the state but also in the larger world community. To this end and in fulfillment of its mission the Montana University System will

Philosophically

• Exercise proper stewardship of the public trust and remain sensitive to its civic responsibility .

• Accord priority to student learning and success, quality in instruction, research and public service programs, and efficient and effective use of taxpayers' investment in public higher education.

• Embrace the principle of academic freedom exercised in the context of academic responsibility toward students and the larger community.

• Acknowledge the importance of discovery to the advancement of society and promote a learning environment that fosters critical thinking and inquiry both within and across disciplines.

• Expect campuses to meet their civic duty and exercise leadership by serving as educational, cultural, and economic development resources within their communities, regions and the State.

Educationally

• Develop an informed, educated and culturally aware citizenry that is prepared to meet the challenges of the 21^st century, engage in life-long learning, and lead productive lives in an increasingly diverse and global society.

• Serve students of all ages and from all walks of life and all Montana cultures by providing a wide range of educational experiences at the non-credit, certificate, associate, baccalaureate, master's, specialist and doctoral levels both on the MUS campuses and through distributed learning strategies.

• Emphasize student success, treat all students with the respect they deserve, and provide them with the services they need to be successful.

• Foster a climate where students take responsibility for their own learning and engage in both active and collaborative learning experiences.

• Promote programs of study that combine theory and practice, research and service, along with hands-on and creative activities.

• Encourage all members of the university community to explore and develop international and interdisciplinary perspectives in their programs and activities and to understand the power and influence of globalization.

• Use outcomes assessment to validate student achievement and acquisition of essential skills, e.g. excellent communication skills, facility in use of technology, ability to solve problems, capacity to work in teams.

• Involve students in the full range of college and university activities (research, instruction, administration, public service, etc.) To enhance their learning experiences.

Operationally

• Enact policies that promote greater efficiency and effectiveness in university system programs, activities, and operations.

• Remain steadfastly committed to the public good while relying upon a wide range of both public and private funding and support.

• Provide academic opportunities to the citizens of Montana when and where they need them and at a price they can afford.

• Pursue an approach that is market oriented and customer driven, while maintaining a service orientation toward both students and citizens in its management and operations.

• Expand the use of information technology to advance student learning, increase access to educational services, and improve the management of resources.

• Engage in collaborative relationships with business, industry, community, government and other educational entities to promote the common good and to advance learning.

The University of Montana

Mission

The University of Montana consists of campuses in four locations to serve the state, nation, and world through integration and coordination of post-secondary education from the certificate through the doctoral level. By use of telecommunications and innovations in instructional design, the campuses strive to deliver programs to students wherever they reside whenever possible. The University's research/creativity and service components have important economic and cultural impacts in Montana, while they also broadly involve citizens throughout the nation and the world.

Each of the four campuses of The University of Montana makes a distinctive contribution to the state. Montana Tech of The University of Montana at Butte offers a special array of programs from the certificate through the master's level in technology, basic and information sciences, and mineral engineering. The Helena College of Technology of The University of Montana gives special attention to occupational programs, but also offers an Associate of Science degree and serves as a higher education center for the Montana University system. The University of Montana-Missoula has a comprehensive program inventory with degrees ranging from the Associate of Applied Science to the Ph.D. Western Montana College of The University of Montana offers baccalaureate and two-year programs and places a special emphasis on rural teacher education. The combined strengths of the faculties and academic programs provide students a wide array of academic alternatives.

The success of The University of Montana and that of its graduates derives from offering personalized instruction by practice-oriented faculty; curricula that develop an appreciation of the arts, humanities, and sciences; significant opportunities for scholarly and creative activity; and genuine concern for student success, learning, and personal development. The education provided nurtures in each student the capability to think critically, communicate effectively, and to understand the world as the student matures intellectually and emotionally.

In addition to this emphasis on student learning, the University seeks to enrich the cultural and economic life of the state of Montana through research and creative activity. By discovering and transmitting knowledge through instructional programs and libraries, the University strives to prepare and inform future generations of professionals, leaders, and citizens. By sharing its academic resources and faculty expertise in an effort to solve public problems and keep the citizens of the state abreast of new developments, the University makes a contribution to every constituency it touches.

The University makes its decisions through a governance process involving all groups and constituencies on and off the campus. In its activities, the University accords the highest priority to the rights and opinions of all. As a free marketplace of ideas and a forum for bringing together the diverse cultures and views of the people of the state, nation, and world, the University recognizes no limit upon freedom of expression or opinion, but does expect people to respect the equal rights of others. Diversity plays a central role in intellectual freedom and exchange. Only through the willingness to consider all perspectives can the University arrive at the most appropriate and well-grounded decisions about policy, process, and procedure. At the same time, the University provides an example and experience for students to apply in civic life following graduation.

The University of Montana-Missoula

Mission

The University of Montana-Missoula dedicates itself and its resources to the search for truth and new knowledge, the responsibility to disseminate knowledge, and the obligation to provide service to the people of the state, nation, and world. The University strives for excellence in all its endeavors, including creating and sharing new knowledge and serving the public, and seeks to assist the people of Montana to achieve their full cultural, professional, and personal potential.

The University offers a wide array of programs from the certificate through the doctoral level. Programmatic offerings distinctively reflect the human, natural, and social environments and culture of the Rocky Mountain region. Extraordinary faculty-student interaction provides exceptional opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to learn the techniques and skills essential to cope with an increasingly complex, challenging, and technological society.

The University community accords the highest priority to the rights and opinions of all. As a free marketplace of ideas, the campus brings together the diverse cultures and views of the people of the state, nation, and world, The University does not condone limits upon freedom of expression or opinion but expects people to respect the rights of others. Through these commitments the University strives to provide students significant scholarly, leadership, and extracurricular enrichment. This education nurtures in students the capability to think critically, to communicate effectively, and to understand the world as they mature intellectually and emotionally.

Aspiration Statement

The University of Montana-Missoula aspires to national and international recognition as a research-oriented, doctorate-granting institution that maintains a balanced emphasis upon the quality of its undergraduate education based in the liberal arts and sciences. The undergraduate and first-professional programs combine the breadth of the liberal arts and sciences with proficiency and practice standards in the professions. As such, the University strives to prepare educated citizens for meaningful and engaged lives in an increasingly diverse, technological, and interdependent world.

Accreditation

The University of Montana-Missoula is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.

Many of the professional schools and departments have the approval of appropriate accrediting organizations, also. The Department of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD); all programs of the School of Business Administration are accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business; the Chemistry Department's Bachelor of Science program is approved by the American Chemical Society; computer science is accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission (CSAC) of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board (CSAB); drama is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theater at the undergraduate and graduate levels; all programs preparing licensed school personnel though the School of Education are fully accredited by the Montana Board of Public Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education at the undergraduate and graduate levels; the athletic training option in the Health and Human Performance Department in the School of Education is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; the food service management program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Educational Institute Accrediting Commission; the forest resources management program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters; the School of Journalism is accredited by the American Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications; the School of Law has approval of both the Association of American Law Schools and the American Bar Association; the Legal Assisting program is approved by the American Bar Association; the Department of Music is fully accredited at the undergraduate and graduate levels by the National Association of Schools of Music; the School of Pharmacy is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the baccalaureate program is accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education and the entry-level Doctor of Pharmacy program has been granted candidate accreditation status by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, 311 West Superior St, Suite 512, Chicago, IL 06010, (312) 664-3575, (800) 533-3606, Fax (312) 664-4652; the Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association; this agency has also granted Interim Accreditation to the Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy; the practical nursing program is approved by the Montana Board of Nursing; the graduate program in clinical psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association; the recreation management program is accredited by the Parks, Recreations, and Leisure Services Education Council on accreditation sponsored by the National Recreation and Parks Association in cooperation with the American Association for Leisure and Recreation; the respiratory care and surgical technology programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; and the baccalaureate program in social work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

The University of Montana-Missoula is fully accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care.

University Officers

December 1999

Board of Regents of Higher Education

• Patrick Davison (Chair) -- Billings

• Jeremy Fritz (Student Regent) -- Kalispell

• Ed Jasmin (Vice Chair) -- Bigfork

• Lynn Morrison-Hamilton -- Havre

• Richard Roehm -- Bozeman

• Margie Thompson -- Butte

• Debora Wetsit -- Billings

• Richard Crofts, Commissioner of Higher Education -- ex officio

• Nancy Keenan, Superintendent of Public Instruction -- ex officio

• Marc Racicot, Governor -- ex officio

Local Executive Board

• Arlene Breum Missoula

• Sam Roberts, COL (R) Missoula

• Leonard Landa Missoula

Administrators

• George M. Dennison, Ph.D. President

• Robert Kindrick, Ph.D. University Provost and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs-Missoula

• Barbara B. Hollmann, Ph.D. Vice President for Student Affairs

• David Aronofsky, J.D. Legal Counsel

• V. Scott Cole, M.S. Vice President for Administration and Finance

• T. Lloyd Chesnut, Ph.D. Vice President for Research and Development and Graduate Studies

Council of Deans

• Sharon E. Alexander, Ed.D. Center for Continuing Education and Summer Programs

• Betsy Wackernagel Bach, Ph.D. Assistant Provost for Retention and Enrollment Management

• Philip T. Bain, Ph.D. Registrar

• Jerry E. Brown, Ph.D. School of Journalism

• Perry Brown, Ph.D. School of Forestry

• Frank D'Andraia, M.L.S. Library Service

• E. Edwin Eck II, J.D. School of Law

• Gerald A. Fetz, Ph.D. Davidson Honors College

• James A. Flightner, Ph.D. College of Arts and Sciences

• David S. Forbes, Ph.D. School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences

• Larry D. Gianchetta, Ph.D. School of Business Administration

• Shirley Howell, D. A. School of Fine Arts

• Robert Kindrick, Ph.D. Provost

• Dennis Lerum, Ed.D. College of Technology

• Donald L. Robson, Ed.D. School of Education

• John F. Schwaller, Ph.D. Associate Provost

• David Strobel, Ph.D. Graduate School

• Philip West, Ph.D Mansfield Center