Administration
The 1997-98 University of Montana Catalog

The Montana University System

    The following statement was adopted by the Board of Regents in March, 1990.

    Mission Statement

      Under the Constitution of the State of Montana, the governance and control of the Montana University System are vested exclusively in the Board of Regents of Higher Education which has full power, responsibility, and authority to supervise, coordinate, manage, and control the Montana University System. In addition, the Board of Regents exercises programmatic oversight of Montana's three community colleges. The Board of Regents appoints, by constitutional mandate, a commissioner of Higher Education as the chief administrative officer of the Montana University System.

      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, the Regents and Commissioner are obligated to exercise several principal responsibilities on behalf of the citizens:

    Coordination for the Maintenance of Diversity and Access

      Fundamentally, 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 studies is not offered in Montana, the Regents will make very effort to secure access to such a program in another state though 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 missions 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 public 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 preparations of college-bound students and provide to students assurances of increased likelihoods 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 institution 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

      In as much 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 executive 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 alternative 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 encouraging 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 education 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.

    Role and Scope Statement

      The Montana University System is comprised of six colleges and universities bound together for the common purpose of serving the citizens of Montana. The system includes comprehensive research universities, specialty institutions, and smaller colleges closely attuned to regional needs. The State of Montana does not need nor can it support six identical comprehensive institutions of higher learning. Hence, the System is committed to provide reasonable access without unnecessary duplication of programs. Indeed, examination of the six institutions will reveal that they are diverse, shaped by different histories, and designed to meet different needs. This uniqueness is recognized and encouraged.

      While the institutions are unique, they function as part of an integrated hole seeking to achieve maximum cooperation and interdependency as directed by the Board of Regents. this cooperation and interdependency is marked by:

      • Sharing of intellectual and material resources;

      • Collaboration among units in teaching, research, and public service;

      • Participation in a common transfer core curriulum;

      • Guaranteed acceptance of credits from other institutions in the System;

      • Use of a common academic calendar;

      • Mutual efforts to assure orderly educational changes in response to shifts in society.

      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 important 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 to 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 conductive 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 outgrow 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, Montanas 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 minimum of cost.

Institutional Identity

    Nature of the Institution

      Since receiving its charter in 1893, The University of Montana-Missoula has evolved into a comprehensive, doctoral level university with a home campus at Missoula, residence centers in numerous locations, and broad responsibilities statewide for on-site and technological delivery of academic programs and services. As a major public university, The University of Montana-Missoula generates new knowledge through research and creative activities, transmits that knowledge through its instructional programs, and commits its academic resources to the public good through a variety of service activities, including important contributions to Montana's economic development. Excellence is expected in all these areas. Admission, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, is competitive, under policies endorsed by the Board of Regents of Higher Education.

      The University of Montana-Missoula has been recognized as the center of liberal education in Montana and will be supported in its efforts to prepetuate a rech academic tradition which for decades has constituted a special and unusual asset to Montana and the Rocky Mountian West, and which ha sgiven the University its speical character within the Montana University System. Consistent with both its heritage and its comrehensive 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 rigourous general education requirement for all students and through undergraduate and graduate degree offerings in the munaities 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, Joournalism, 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.

    Areas of Emphasis

      The University of Montana-Missoula is assigned exclusive responsiblity within the Montana University System for instructional programs in Jouranlism, Law, Forestry, Pharmacy, Physcial Therapy, and Social Work, and currently offers the only graduate degree programs in Accounting, Business Administration and Administrative Sciences. Lead responsiblility for graduate offerings in the humanities, the arts, and the social and behavioral sciences will remain a key institutional mission. Appropriate instrucional and other academic entities are combined into The Center for the Rocky Mountain West. The University shares lead responsiblity in the physical and biological sciences and the allied healthe professions.

      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 Theater, 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.

    Areas of Continuing Development

      The University of Montana-Missoula will maintain its commitment to program diversity through an essential balance between liberal learning and professional preparation. Nonacademic support services, essential to the quality of student life, will remain an institutional priority. The University will continue to respond to the needs of citizens for courses and programs through continuing education, telecommunications, and higher education centers in accord with regential policies; this responsibility is particularly strong in those areas in which the university has been assigned exclusive professional or graduate programmatic responsibility within the system. The University will be encouraged to strengthen its international programing, especially toward the peoples of the Pacific Rim. Programs related to Montana's K-12 educational system, to economic development, and to environmental quality will receive sustained support.

    Degree Levels

      The university of Montana-Missoula awards associate, bachelor's, master's, specialist and doctoral degrees, as well as certificates of completion, among its more than fifty undergraduate and more than forty graduate and first professional disciplines. In addition, it maintains, through its night classes and a variety of developmental programs, access for nondegree students.

    Constituencies Served

      Consistent with its status as a major public university, The University of Montana-Missoula recognizes multiple constituencies, local, national, and international. Its student population will remain cosmopolitan, with large numbers of graduate, international, off-campus, out-of-state, and nontraditional student enrollments. Local students will continue to benefit from the University's developmental Program, while telecommunications and other continuing education activities will continue to address the increasing demands of a statewide constituency.

Institutional Philosophy

    To meet its obligation to students and the state, the University maintains programs of high quality in liberal arts and professional disciplines at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The liberal arts emphasis of the College of Arts and Sciences is supplemented by the professional programs in both the College and the Schools. Undergraduate teaching is a major concern of the university, while graduate education encourages faculty members to stay abreast of developments in their fields and to contribute to new knowledge through 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 fives high priority to the maintenance of adequate laboratory facilities and library services.

The College of Technology of the University of Montana-Missoula

    The mission of the College of Technology is to provide lifelong occupational learning opportunities for Montana residents. The College is committed to developing the vocational skills and background needed to give students ongoing occupational competence and to the development of this occupational competence through an emphasis on hands-on experience.

    Faculty and staff believe in the encouragement of the fullest development of each student's individual potential, so that students can continue to contribute creatively to society. Student dignity is enhance by fostering respect for individual differences, talents, and abilities.

    The College is committed to an ongoing relationship with our national, regional, state and local community. This challenge of community interaction is met by providing a technically skilled workforce, by developing programs responsive to industry needs, and by listening and responding to the community workforce and other educational institutions.

Accreditation and Support


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