THAT: The Board of Regents of Higher Education authorizes the Office of the Commissioner for Higher Education to enter into an agreement for both Montana State University and the University of Montana to provide the senior year of professional clinical laboratory training for Medical Laboratory Science students at Montana State University-Bozeman and post baccalaureate training for Medical Technology students at the University of Montana-Missoula.

EXPLANATION: Both Montana State University-Bozeman and the University of Montana-Missoula propose to establish an agreement as part of the Montana University System with three clinical laboratory training centers. Both campuses currently have separate agreements with the University of North Dakota which allows each of the institutions to send students to the University of North Dakota (UND) for three semesters of training. In this agreement they spend a summer semester at UND and then return to hospitals throughout Montana for two semesters of clinical bench training. The credits they earn during this year of professional training contribute to a degree in Microbiology at Montana State University-Bozeman and post-baccalaureate credits at the University of Montana-Missoula.

This present affiliation will continue but it is proposed that a MUS affiliation be instituted so that students from both campuses have additional opportunities to participate in the clinical training program. These programs are the HealthOne School of Medical Technology in Denver, Colorado and the Sacred Heart Medical Center School of Medical Technology in Spokane, Washington. Both Schools have a three semester program similar to UND but students remain in their hospitals for the entire year. The training and credits from all three programs would allow students to take national examinations to become certified clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists. By having one agreement with each program, it allows both universities the opportunity to send a greater number of students to each center and have a greater negotiating position to keep the cost/credit at a reasonable level. It also signifies a cooperation between institutions within Montana and a broader regional effort to train personnel in an important allied health profession.