University of Montana

Happening at UM

Two Alums with Successful Business Careers to Receive Honorary Doctorates

Two of the most successful businessmen ever to graduate from UM will receive honorary doctorates during Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 17. Terry Payne, founder of Terry Payne & Co. Inc., will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. John “Jack” Poe, former CEO and chairman of the Semtech in Camarillo, Calif., will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Business. Gov. Steve Bullock will be the Commencement speaker. Read more about Commencement.

March 7th, 2014

Board of Regents Approves Neural Injury Center at UM

The Montana Board of Regents on March 7 approved a proposal by UM to open the Neural Injury Center, empowering students with traumatic brain injury and other neural injuries to access support and services from departments and colleges across campus. The NIC is not a physical space as yet, but rather a collaborative of expertise on campus and an extension of UM’s ongoing, interdisciplinary Brain Initiative. Read more about the Neural Injury Center.

March 7th, 2014

Academics

Research

Campus and Community

College of Education and Health Sciences

Washington Foundation Gifts $2.4 Million for Online College-Prep Curriculum

The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation has made a $2.4 million gift to the Montana Digital Academy at UM to launch a statewide project designed to help students avoid remedial coursework when they attend college. During the next three years, the Montana Digital Academy will test EdReady, a curriculum from the National Repository of Online Courses that was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Read more about EdReady.

March 6th, 2014

Academics

Team of Students Wins International Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl

A team of UM students recently won the 18th International Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl after competing against undergraduate students from 32 different universities. Students Hayden Hooker and Joel Johnson both are seniors studying philosophy; Alan Rolph is a senior studying political science and journalism; and team coach Neil Bennett is a graduate student pursuing a master’s in economics. This is the first UM team to win the competition since 1997. Read more about the Ethics Bowl winners.

March 5th, 2014

Academics

Facilities Services Spends Weekend Hauling Snow

Facilities Services worked around the clock to keep up with the torrential snow fall last week. At least 900 truckloads of snow were hauled off the mountain campus over the course of the extended weekend, said Gerald Michaud, office administrator for Facilities Services. And during cases of extreme snowfall like this Facilities Services manages more than just clearing snow. Facility crews also patrol campus buildings periodically to check for problems. The Montana Kaimin reports.

March 5th, 2014

Campus and Community

Royce Engstrom, Earle Layser, Jim Burchfield

UM Receives $1.5 Million Boost for Conservation from Wyoming Couple

A UM alumnus has committed $1.5 million of his estate to the College of Forestry and Conservation. The gift from Earle Layser and his late wife, Pattie, of Alta, Wyo., will endow a professorship in conservation biology and policy. The position will be called the Earle and Pattie Layser Endowed Distinguished Professorship in Conservation Biology and Policy. Read more about the Laysers’ generous gift.

March 4th, 2014

The Story Behind the Photo

Joe Butler puts aside his carpentry tools to help with snow removal on the roof of Brantly Hall on Monday. UM thanks all the employees who have worked long hours after the recent storms.

Submit photo and story ideas to thrive@umontana.edu

Previously Featured Photos