For the first time ever, UM's spring semester enrollment has topped 13,000 students.

A total of 13,039 students are registered for classes on the Missoula campus, an increase of 41 over spring semester 2004. The increase in headcount is all at the graduate level, with most of the additional students enrolled in doctoral programs, said Registrar Phil Bain.

While the headcount increased slightly, the number of credit hours students are taking decreased slightly. Full-time equivalents (FTEs) decreased by 31 with 11,036, compared to 11,067 a year ago. An FTE represents 15 undergraduate or 12 graduate semester credits.

Last fall's enrollment was at an all-time high of 13,558 students. Spring enrollment typically is lower than in the fall.

The largest increases in student enrollment are at the College of Technology and in the School of Education.

UM geology Professor George Stanley has been named a research associate of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

The honor is awarded to "scientists of distinction who maintain a scholarly affiliation with the Smithsonian and its research community." The research associate appointment is for three years.

An invertebrate paleontologist and internationally recognized expert on modern and ancient coral reefs, Stanley joined the UM faculty in 1982. He has discovered dozens of previously unknown species during the course of his research. He also has written and edited six books and published more than 100 scientific writings and papers about paleontology and geology.

Before coming to UM, Stanley worked as a paleobiologist at the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History during 1979-81, followed by a one-year Fulbright fellowship to Germany.

The UM professor is on sabbatical this year so that his research can take him to China, Germany and Japan. He leaves for China March 10 to work with scientists from Yunnan University on the Chengjiang Biota, one of the world's most important fossil deposits.

Nearly 400 high school students from across the state will travel to UM on Friday, March 4, for the 23rd annual Foreign Languages and Literatures Days event.

This year, students from Livingston, Stevensville, Choteau, Great Falls, Belgrade, Billings, Deer Lodge, Helena, Thompson Falls, Hamilton and more will make the trip.

The event introduces Montana high school students to the UM campus and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures department. Students will attend classes focusing on cultural and academic subjects, including history, music, dance, cinema and art.

The classes will feature nine UM foreign language programs: Chinese, French, German, Greek, Latin, Persian, Russian, Spanish and Japanese. In addition, students will receive an introduction to the University's computer and language lab resources and study-abroad opportunities, as well as the Office of International Programs.

The highlight of the event is a luncheon where students and teachers eat international cuisine and meet members of the MCLL faculty and UM administration.

Junior Jody McLeod scored a career-high 19 points and Sacramento State missed a potential game-tying 3-point shot at the buzzer Feb. 17. But the Montana women's basketball team survived the scare, defeating the Hornets 57-54 at Dahlberg Arena.

On Feb. 19 the Lady Griz weren't as lucky. Northern Arizona had four players in double figures and went on a late 6-0 run that snapped a 48-48 tie, ending Montana's 23-game regular-season Big Sky Conference winning streak 61-55.

Junior Jody McLeod had her fourth double-double in the last seven games with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Lady Griz dropped to 16-7 overall with the loss, 9-1 in league play.

The Lady Griz are on the road for the final time this regular season. They faced Eastern Washington last night in Cheney, Wash., and will take on the Portland State Vikings Saturday.

Montana has a half-game lead over Weber State in the Big Sky Conference standings in the race for the regular-season title and post-season tournament hosting rights.

The Montana Grizzlies got stung by the hot shooting of Sacramento State as two Hornets scored 25 points apiece in Montana's 80-83 loss Feb. 18 at the Hornets Nest.

The men's basketball team dropped to 6-5 in the Big Sky Conference and 12-12 overall. The Griz are now just a half-game ahead of the Hornets, clinging to third place. One more win, however, will guarantee the Griz a spot in the six-team, post-season tournament.

Sac State did what it's always done well -- defend. The Hornets forced the Griz into 23 turnovers. Montana, which could still finish anywhere from second to seventh, can lock up a slot with one win in its final three games. A home sweep of Eastern Washington Feb. 24 and Portland State Feb. 26 would guarantee the Griz a first-round home game.

Saturday's game tips off at 7:05 p.m. in UM's Adams Center.