2008 PRESIDENT'S REPORT

2008 Highlights

UM Posts Record Enrollment

Student numbers at UM were the highest they have been in the University’s 115-year history. Total enrollment for fall 2008 was 14,207, a jump of 349 from the previous year. The number of full-time equivalent students – students taking at least 15 undergraduate credits or 12 graduate credits – also reached a new high of 12,296. “Quite clearly, the faculty, staff and recruiters have succeeded in their efforts to let young people know of the value we have to offer,” President Dennison says.

Education School Among Nation's Top 10

UM was one of only 10 education schools in the nation to meet all standards of a two-year study for preparation of elementary teachers in mathematics, the National Council on Teacher Quality announced in June. The NCTQ report surveyed 77 education schools in 49 states. In addition to placing UM among the top 10 schools, the report also ranks a textbook co-written by UM Professors Rick Billstein and Johnny Lott second in quality of content among the 12 most frequently assigned by faculty members. The book received the study’s highest rating for algebra content of all the evaluated texts.

Largest Donation Given to UM
for Education Center

In May the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation contributed $10 million – the largest single donation in UM history – toward the building of the Phyllis J. Washington Education Center. Construction of the 27,000-square-foot education center began in September. As the first of its kind in the nation, the state-of-the-art center will house unique programs and 21st-century technology to train a new generation of teachers.

Main Campus Grows with Two New Centers

Groundbreaking ceremonies for two new centers were held on campus this year. In April, leaders from all Montana American Indian tribes attended the groundbreaking of the Native American Center. This 19,900-square-foot center will be the first of its kind on a U.S. university campus and will house all UM’s Native American studies programming and related activities.

Construction also was launched for the Gilkey Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Executive Education. The vision for the Gilkey Center was developed with UM alumni Harold and Priscilla Gilkey, who wish to inspire and educate business leaders of tomorrow.

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