The Montana University System

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 21st 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 back to top

Mission

The University of Montana capitalizes on its unique strengths to create knowledge, provide an active learning environment for students, and offer programs and services responsive to the needs of Montanans. The University delivers education and training on its four campuses and through telecommunications to sites inside and outside of Montana. With public expectations on the rise, the University asks its students, faculty, and staff to do and accomplish even more than they have in the past. The dedication to education for and throughout life reflects the commitment to service learning and community building on and off the campuses. The University enhances its programs through continuous quality review for improvement and remains fully accountable to the citizenry through annual audits and performance evaluations.

The University of Montana-Missoula back to top

Mission

The mission of The University of Montana-Missoula is the pursuit of academic excellence as indicated by the quality of curriculum and instruction, student performance, and faculty professional accomplishments. The University accomplishes this mission, in part, by providing unique educational experiences through the integration of the liberal arts, graduate study, and professional training with international and interdisciplinary emphases. Through its graduates, the University also seeks to educate competent and humane professionals and informed, ethical, and engaged citizens of local and global communities. Through its programs and the activities of faculty, staff, and students, The University of Montana-Missoula provides basic and applied research, technology transfer, cultural outreach, and service benefitting the local community, region, state, nation and the world.

Vision Statements

In pursuit of its mission, The University of Montana-Missoula will:

1) Educate students to become ethical persons of character and values, engaged citizens, competent professionals, and informed members of a global and technological society.

2) Increase the diversity of the students, faculty, and staff for an enriched campus culture.

3) Attain the Carnegie Commission status of Doctoral Research-Extensive University by 2005-50 or more doctorates annually in at least 15 fields-and increase funded research to $50,000,000 annually by 2005.

4) Develop more partnerships-especially with local communities, businesses and industries, public schools, community and tribal colleges, state and local governments and universities abroad-and expand the training and technology transfer programs to promote community and economic development.

5) Develop the capability and infrastructure for use of information technology to increase the efficiency and productivity of the campus and the state; and

6) Involve and engage the faculty, staff, students, alumni, partners, and friends of the University in institutional governance.

Accreditation back to top

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 Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET); 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 back to top

June 2001

Board of Regents of Higher Education

Administrators

George M. Dennison, Ph.D.
President

Lois Muir, 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

Rosi Keller, B.S. (Interim)
Vice President for Administration and Finance

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

Academic Officers

Sharon E. Alexander, Ed.D.
Center for Continuing Education

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 Services

E. Edwin Eck II, J.D.
School of Law

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

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

Dennis Lerum, Ed.D.
College of Technology

Lois Muir, Ph.D.
Provost

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

John F. Schwaller, Ph.D.
Associate Provost

Thomas Storch, Ph.D.
College of Arts and Sciences

David Strobel, Ph.D.
Graduate School

Philip West, Ph.D.
Mansfield Center