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MSU-Northern Reconsiders Secondary Education Decision

The secondary education programs at Montana State University-Northern are not being terminated and a task force will be appointed to provide recommendations with regard to these programs. "We have listened to community leaders and school representatives from across the Hi-line with regard to Northern’s secondary education program," stated Dr. James Limbaugh. "Based on comments and suggestions received from community members all across the Hi-line and after a great deal of re-evaluation, I have decided to recommend to the Board of Regents that MSU-Northern place our secondary education programs in moratorium and not to terminate them."

Academic programs are placed in moratorium for a maximum of three years when they are undersubscribed, thus allowing time for further review. Additionally, the moratorium provides an opportunity to rework curriculum and make other changes needed to improve program viability, reinstate it, and attract student enrollment.

This past year, MSU-Northern spent considerable time and effort evaluating all 74 of the University’s academic programs. At the end of the evaluation, decisions were made as to specific academic programs to support, to grow, to rework, or to phase out. Nearly every decision was met with unanimous agreement from within the University as well as from individuals living in communities along the Hi-line. However, the initial decision to terminate the secondary education programs at MSU-Northern was met with mixed feelings.

Noting that MSU-Northern’s education programs are important to all schools in Montana and especially to those located all across the northern tier of Montana, Chancellor Limbaugh said he will establish a Hi-line taskforce to evaluate the University’s secondary education programs and make recommendations to him with regard to tailoring them to meet the needs of Montana, the academic needs of students attending MSU-Northern, and the realities of financial viability.

"These programs have historically been a very important part of Northern’s tradition of excellence and the K-12 schools we serve," Chancellor Limbaugh stated. "I will be engaging in conversations with officials from schools and school districts across the Hi-line as well as with key staff in Montana’s’ Office of Public Instruction to see how best our secondary education programs can and will meet specific needs of teachers, administrators, and students being served by these important schools."

Chancellor Limbaugh indicated he will initiate the meetings with representatives from K-12 schools and school districts as quickly as possible. "There is no question that schools are critically important to the vitality of many small communities across the Hi-line and to students and their families," Chancellor Limbaugh added. "My goal is to enhance existing collaborations and partnerships with K-12 teachers, administrators and school districts, and to identify additional opportunities that will be beneficial to all of us in education as we prepare students for rewarding and exciting careers."

Students currently enrolled in MSU-Northern’s secondary education programs will be able to complete their degrees.

Montana State University-Northern

P.O. Box 7751

Havre, MT 59501-7751

Phone: 406-265-3727

Fax: 406-265-3790

Contact: Jim Potter, Director of University Relations

[email protected]

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