In 1987, the Legislature vested the Board of Regents with general administrative oversight and supervision of post-secondary vocational-technical education. The Commissioner of Higher Education serves as chief administrative officer for post-secondary vocational-technical education in Montana.
As public servants of the state of Montana, te Regents and Commissioner are obligated to exercise several principal responsibilities on behalf of the citizens:
Coordination for the Maintenance of Diversity and Access
Fundmentally, all units of public post-secondary education exist to serve the educational, social, and campus environmental needs of a diverse student population not bounded by the traditional definition of college-age students. It is reasonable for these Montanans to expect a wide range of instructional programs in their institutions of higher learning. College-bound and vocational-technical students should find available in Montana academic and technical disciplines commensurate with those found in other states. Generally, undergraduates and vocational-technical students should not have to leave Montana to pursue programs of study because they are unavailable in the State. In cases where a particular program of study is not offered in Montana, the Regents will make every effort to secure access to such a program in another state through interstate cooperative arrangements.
To be sure, not all programs can be made available on each college campus or vocational-technical center. However, the Board of Regents must be cognizant of educational needs in all areas of the State and endeavor to provide reasonable access to as many programs as possible for as many qualified citizens as possible. This effort should involve, when feasible, state-of-the-art technology for distance learning and the development of nontraditional modes for the delivery of courses and programs.
For reasons of economy and necessity, public expectations for diversity must necessarily narrow when considering graduate education. Master's programs should be initiated and continued only when needs, resources, and institutional mission so dictate. Doctoral programs should be very limited in number and scope. They should not be initiated or continued if resources are inadequate to permit regional and/or national reputations of high quality as determined by appropriate external reviews.
The Board of Regents has the responsibility for coordinating the delivery of public post-secondary education in Montana. Accordingly, the System must set the proper role and scope configuration of programs at each campus, determine state-wide educational needs, and provide leadership and support to the several campuses in meeting these needs. The Regents must be mindful of economic limitations and wary of unnecessary duplication.
Assurance of Quality
Through careful and regular review of programs in both vocational-technical and academic areas, the Board of Regents assures high educational standards in all public post-secondary institutions. Further, the Regents seek to provide institutional budgets that are consistent with the maintenance and enhancement of high quality instruction, research, and pubic service. In cooperation with secondary schools in Montana, the Montana University System establishes appropriate statewide standards for admission to post-secondary education. Minimum admission standards improve the preparation of college-bound students and provide to students assurances of increased likelihood of success. In addition, through various scholarship programs, the Montana University System seeks to attract outstanding Montana high school students to one of the several campuses.
The Board of Regents, in concert with the several campuses and centers, has the responsibility of providing leadership in helping to attract and retain outstanding faculty, staff, and administrators. This is to be done through improved salaries, better working conditions, and professional development opportunities.
Accountability to the Public
Montana citizens have over the years placed a high priority on public higher education and, therefore, have a right to proper accounting for the actions and expenditures of the Montana University System and the post-secondary vocational-technical education centers in the State. Accordingly, the Board of Regents makes public explanations of activities, expenditures, and discharge of responsibilities.
The Regents exercise their responsibility to be accountable in several ways. First, they require that all institutions achieve and maintain accreditation by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Second, the Montana University System encourages, and in some cases requires, specific program accreditation. Third, the Regents are responsible for monitoring learning accomplishments of students and professional accomplishments of faculty. Finally, the Board of Regents must provide appropriate reports of financial expenditures. The best system of education exists when the greatest possible results are achieved with the most efficient expenditure of the taxpayers' investment. The Regents have committed themselves to this ideal and seek always to provide explanations and assurances to the citizens that their funds are being prudently expended.
Seek Adequate and Stable Funding
Inasmuch as excellent higher education is essential for the cultural, economic, and social well being of Montana, it is imperative that funding for higher learning in Montana be adequate and stable. Consequently, it is an obligation of the Board of Regents to advise the legislative and executuve branches on fiscal challenges and opportunities facing higher education. Undeniably, it is a primary responsibility of the Board of Regents to be staunch and committed advocates of adequate educational funding. To that end, the higher education community must stand ready to provide accurate, broadly-based data to be used in the construction of a tax structure for all state purposes. In addition, the Board of Regents has the responsibility of seeking creative funding alternatives to supplement state revenues. These would include but not be limited to institutional partnerships with private businesses and industry, aggressive fund raising efforts from both private and public agencies, and internal reallocations that eliminate unnecessary expenditures and assure funding for programs of high quality, priority, and demand.
Enhancement of Economic, Environmental, and Cultural Well-Being of Montana
Through its many programs in teaching, research, and public service, post-secondary education has the responsibility of making Montana a better place to live. Continuation of the State's economic growth will be increasingly dependent upon its ability to meet the demands of existing commercial enterprises and new industries seeking to locate within its borders. Higher education opportunities for managers, scientists, and technicians must come largely from the colleges, universities, and vocational-technical centers. Moreover, the development of new products can be enhanced through expanded research capabilities within the Montana University System. Low-cost counsel to nascent businesses and assistance in the transfer of technology from laboratory to factory to marketplace are proper obligations of the campuses and vocational-technical centers.
Montana has been blessed with a splendid natural environment_clean air and water, abundant wildlife, verdant and plentiful forests, spaciousness, and breathtaking beauty. The systems of higher learning in Montana, through educational, research, and service programs, assist in the preservation of this natural environment while encuraging desired economic growth and diversification.
The quality of Montana's human environment rests in large measure on the competence of its teachers, health care providers, public administrators, law enforcement personnel, business leaders, and officers of the judiciary. The Montana University System and post-secondary vocational education enhance this rich human resource through a myriad of educational opportunities for training, retraining, and upgrading.
In addition, the Board of Regents recognizes its responsibility to help improve the educational fortunes of Montana's large Indian population. Measures of this commitment include close cooperation with the tribally-controlled community colleges, Indian student fee waivers, establishment of Native American Study Centers on the campuses, extensive data collection and student tracking, and many other efforts to recruit and retain Indian students.
Further, all units of the Montana University System have the common and fundamental purpose of developing the intellectual potential and aesthetic awareness of all students, including the skills of inquiry, reasoning, and expression. Through a variety of professional programs, the System seeks to impart essential competencies that students will require for successful careers both now and in the future.
The Montana University System emphasizes undergraduate education through a broad range of Associate and Bachelor's degrees in the arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, and professional disciplines. In addition, Master's, Specialist, and Doctoral degrees are offered in certain fields. The System is committed to lifelong learning opportunities and continuing education for both degree-seeking, and nondegree-seeking students.
The Montana University System recognizes the significant relationship of research (including artistic and creative works) to all instructional programs. Accordingly, each campus has a research mission consistent with its defined role and scope. The community of scholars operates in an atmosphere conducive to free inquiry, unfettered exploration of the unknown, and honest examination of hypotheses and accepted bodies of knowledge. Moreover, the System affirms those commonly accepted principles of academic freedom that are hallmarks of American public higher education.
Public service is a natural and desired outgrowh of the instructional and research activities of the System. Each institution offers public services consistent with its specified role and scope, and when adequate expertise exists to assure the quality of the program. In addition, all units in the System serve as cultural centers for their local communities and regions. Through a variety of shows, festivals, performances, and symposia, Montanans are exposed to artistic and cultural developments from around the world.
The entire higher education enterprise is coordinated by the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education so that the needs of the state can be met efficiently and effectively with a minimum of cost.
The University of Montana-Missoula has been recognized as the center of liberal education in Montana and will be supported in its efforts to perpetuate a rich academic tradition which for decades has constituted a special and unusual asset to Montana and the Rocky Mountain West, and which has given the University its special character within the Montana University System. Consistent with both its heritage and its comprehensive mission, The University of Montana maintains extensive and diverse academic offerings, fostering dialogue between professional schools and academic disciplines, sciences and humanities, theorists and practitioners. Equal emphasis is placed on traditional learning_through a rigorous general education requirement for all students and through undergraduate and graduate degree offerings in the humanities and the social, behavioral, physical and biological sciences_and on specialized academic and professional career preparation in the Graduate School and in the schools of Business Administration, Education, Fine Arts, Forestry, Journalism, Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences, and Law. Through a variety of faculty and student exchanges, research partnerships, diverse offerings in languages and cultures, Mansfield Center programs, and other special efforts, the University has established a unique role in international programming. This special commitment will continue.
The Montana Science and Technology Alliance has sited the Center of Excellence in Biotechnology at The University of Montana-Missoula which it operates in partnership with Montana State University-Bozeman. The University of Montana-Missoula also cooperates with Montana State University-Bozeman and Montana State University-Billings in the Montana Entrepreneurship Center. In addition to the teaching and scholarly resources within each department and school, the University maintains a number of specialized laboratories, institutes and facilities: Yellow Bay Biological Station, Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center, Wood Chemistry Laboratory, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Division of Educational Research and Services, Stella Duncan Memorial Institute, Montana Water Resources Research Center (in cooperation with Montana State University-Bozeman), Geology Field and Research Station at Dillon, Montana University Affiliated Program/Institute for Human Resources in Rural America including Rural Rehabilitation Training Center, Montana Defender Project, Center of Excellence in Biotechnology, Montana Entrepreneurship Center, Center for Population Research, Wilderness Institute, Telecommunications Center (including KUFM), Montana Repertory Theatre, Bureau of Press and Broadcasting Research, Clinical Psychology Center, Center for Continuing Education and Summer Programs, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Montana Public Policy Research Institute and Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research.
The University promotes high-quality instruction through support of traditional programs, development of new curricula, encouragement of innovative and interdisciplinary programs, and modification or elimination of programs that require change or no longer warrant support. It recognizes the individuality of each student by encouraging close contact between student and teacher and by providing advising and counseling services.
The University's foremost responsibility in service to the state is to prepare students for the intellectual and ethical challenges of responsible citizenship. But it also maintains a strong program of continuing education, including sponsorship of off-campus programs, courses and workshops; promotes public access to cultural programs and other University-sponsored events; and encourages faculty members to offer their knowledge and creative talents to the public through publishing, consultation, artistic performance and participation in public affairs and forums.
The University serves the broader society and the nation by exploring for new knowledge and seeking solutions to social problems. It vigorously supports research programs and gives high priority to the maintenance of adequate laboratory facilities and library services.
The College is committed to an ongoing relationship with our national, regional, state and local community. This challenge of community interaction is met by proividing a technically skilled workforce, by developing programs responsive to industry needs, and by listening and responding to the community workforce and other educational institutions.
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; drama is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theater at the undergraduate and graduate levels; all programs in the School of Education are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education; the athletic training emphasis in the Health and Human Performance Department in the School of Education is accredited by the National Athletic Trainer's Association; 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 for 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 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 and the baccalaureate program is fully accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (311 West Superior Street, Suite 512, Chicago, IL 60610, telephone 312-664-4652 or Pharmacists' Learning Assistance Network, P.L.A.N., 800-533-3606); the professional baccalaureate program in physical therapy has been granted accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association; 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, Recreation, 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 therapy and surgical technology programs are accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation; 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.