“Across the MUS, the spirit of innovation, creativity, and care is flourishing.” 

As we wrap up the fall semester and look forward to the upcoming holidays, I’ve been reflecting on the remarkable contributions our students, staff, faculty, and leadership have made throughout the state and beyond. I hope you take a moment to read some of the latest highlights from my office and each of our campuses in the featured stories below.

I’m continuously struck by how our universities serve as hubs of creativity and innovation that are fostering research and generating solutions to some of the greatest challenges we face as a state.  As a result of hard work and each campus’s dedication to excellence, Montanans can expect to see improved health care delivery and outcomes, a stronger education system, new ideas and innovations that catalyze and drive small businesses, and enhanced stewardship of Montana’s venerated natural resources.

Part of this is because we are one of the few states to have two R1 research universities, part of this is because of the work we do together with state leadership to prepare the workforce of tomorrow, and part of this is because of the partnerships faculty and staff have forged across the state that are supporting key pillars of our economy and well-being, namely agriculture, health care, recreation and tourism, education, and business. And there are many more “parts” to this success story and many chapters yet to be written.

While it’s gratifying to reflect on what we’re achieving across the MUS, what’s clear to me when I visit with students, faculty, and staff is that all of this is possible because of how we do our work. Across the MUS, the spirit of innovation, creativity, and care is flourishing. Students and faculty are focused not just on awarding degrees but on preparing citizens to be life-long learners and community leaders who will contribute to the future success of our communities, state, and nation.

At OCHE, we’re focused on supporting and strengthening this spirit and what it is achieving. We know that by investing in great people and supporting them with the right system-wide resources and tools, we can build on the outstanding achievements of the past and reach for even greater success in the future.

As we look ahead to 2023 and beyond, we’re excited by what’s possible when we work together – across the MUS and in partnership with community, state, and national leaders.

Wishing you all a joyous, healthy, and restorative holiday season!

 

Clayton Christian