ITEM
110-1501-R0101
Attachment 2
February 15, 2001
Margaret Thompson,
Chair
Board of Regents,
State of Montana
c/o Joyce Scott
Deputy Commissioner
for Academic & Student Affairs
Montana University
System
2500 Broadway
P. O. Box 203101
Helena, MT 59620-3101
Dear Margie,
Montana Tech of the
University of Montana has submitted a proposal to the Board of Regents to
initiate an off-campus program in Helena.�
The purpose is to implement, in Helena, a program of study that leads to
a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Information Technology.
Under the provision
of Board Policy 220, certain procedures are to be followed when new programs
are proposed to off-site campuses.� Dr.
Dan Bradley, previous Vice Chancellor at Montana Tech, and I have had previous
conversations about their intent to initiate this program.� In addition, I received a letter from Joyce
A. Scott, Deputy Commissioner, that the official date for initiating the review
process is December 12, 2000.� Board
Policy 220 sets forth provisions for independent colleges to provide written
comments about proposed programs.� This
letter is sent in response to these provisions.
As indicated in
Policy 220, �Units of the Montana University System will not offer degree
programs that unnecessarily duplicate existing programs offered by a tribal,
community or independent college in its immediate community�.� We see Montana Tech�s new program as
contradicting the policy.� With one
exception, all of the business classes that are to be offered in Helena by Montana
Tech are taught at Carroll College.�
Many of these classes are, or have been, taught in the late afternoon
and/or evening.� In addition, we offer
computer science classes that are equivalent to the two computer science
classes listed in the Montana Tech proposed curricula.
Prior to the meeting
of December 12, 2000, Dr. Bradley and I had previous conversations as to
whether we could develop a joint Montana Tech/Carroll College degree.� We were not able to complete any detailed
proposal, partially because we were conducting a self-study for accreditation
by Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.� This self-study was completed last October.� I understand that the Board of Regents has
concerns about approved new programs, but I would suggest that innovative
cooperative ventures might best serve the people of Montana.� Both Dr. Bradley and I were open to the
explorations of such options, but this is a process that will take time, and a
great deal of conversation on behalf of respective faculty and administration.
I
appreciate the complexity of the issues related to Policy 220.� There are many difficulties that confront
all of us in higher education and we are all looking for innovative ways to
address these problems.� We would be
open to further dialogue as to possible cooperative efforts for offering degree
programs in Helena.
In closing, I thank
you for affording me, as a representative of Carroll college, the opportunity
to be a participant in the discussions pertaining to Montana Tech�s proposal.
Sincerely,
James A. Trudnowski,
Ed. D.
Vice President for
Academic Affairs
�� and Dean of the College
cc:������� Rev. Stephen Rowan
����������� Belle Marie, Dept of Business
����������� Provost Lois Muir
����������� Chancellor Frank Gilmore