The Montana University System

The following Strategic Plan was adopted by the Board of Regents October 19, 2001.

Mission

The Mission of the Montana University System is to serve students through the delivery of high quality, accessible postsecondary educational opportunities, while actively participating in the preservation and advancement of Montana’s economy and society.

Vision

We will prepare students for success by creating an environment of ideas and excellence that nurtures intellectual, social, economic, and cultural development. We will hold academic quality to be the prime attribute of our institutions, allocating human, physical, and financial resources appropriate to our educational mission. We will encourage scientific development and technology transfer, interactive information systems, economic development and lifelong learning. We will protect academic freedom, practice collegiality, encourage diversity, foster economic prosperity, and be accountable, responsive, and accessible to the people of Montana.

Goals

The following five goals and subordinate objectives will guide the Montana University System in moving toward realization of its vision for the future of higher education in Montana.

  1. To provide a stimulating, responsive and effective environment for student learning, student living, and academic achievement.
    1. 1. To assure adequate campus policies to protect academic freedom and promote the free exchange of ideas while requiring pre- and post-tenure evaluation of faculty performance and systematic program review that reflect the Regents’ priority on student learning.
    2. To offer academic programs and services focused around approved campus missions and consistent with available resources.
    3. To foster an environment that attracts and retains high quality faculty and staff.
    4. To improve rates of student retention and degree completion across the Montana University System.
    5. To develop, maintain at/near state-of-the-art condition Montana University System facilities, technology and infrastructure and to coordinate the use of capacities and resources across all MUS institutions.
    6. To ensure student readiness for higher education and validate student competencies for graduation.
  2. To make a high quality, affordable higher education experience available to all qualified citizens who wish to further their education and training.
    1. To identify or seek creative funding alternatives that will expand public and private resources.
    2. To make sure that every academically qualified individual has an opportunity to receive the benefits of higher education without financial or social barriers.
    3. To expedite student progress toward degree objectives in order to reduce time to degree (and related costs) and maintain affordability for the widest range of students.
  3. To deliver higher education services in a manner that is efficient, coordinated, and highly accessible.
    1. To operate as a unified system of higher education and increase productivity through effective planning, assessment, collaboration and resource sharing.
    2. To increase student access to Montana University System programs through coordinated statewide delivery and expanded use of technology.
    3. To increase the coordination of academic resources to improve student progress toward degree.
    4. To promote diversity with special attention to Montana’s Native American populations.
  4. To be responsive to market, employment, and economic development needs of the state and the nation.
    1. To offer programs and services consistent with the changing market and employment needs of the state and nation.
    2. To encourage basic research and technology transfer to contribute to the economic development of the State of Montana.
    3. To promote the full spectrum of higher education needs and opportunities in two-year, four-year, graduate and professional education.
    4. To make the Montana University System more accessible and responsive to businesses, government and other constituents.
  5. To improve the support for and understanding of the Montana University System as a leading contributor to the state’s economic success and social and political well being.
    1. To improve and expand the communication and outreach of the Montana University System to constituents, communities and policy makers.
    2. To meet constituents’ expectations for accountability through responsible stewardship of resources.
    3. To expand community involvement, service and outreach initiatives at the campus level.
    4. To partner with state government, our congressional delegation, K-12 education, tribal and local governments, labor and business leaders to preserve and improve the economy of Montana.