Forums Invite Comment On Higher Education
 

Montana University System leaders will be in Missoula Thursday, Oct. 11, and in Hamilton Friday, Oct. 12, seeking the public's input on issues regarding the future of higher education in the state.

Montana's Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns and Regent Clayton Christian will attend open forums at the following times and locations:

• 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11: Russell/Lewis Room, DoubleTree Hotel, 100 Madison St., Missoula.
• 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, University Center Theater, third floor of the University Center at UM in Missoula.
• 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 12: Bitterroot Inn and Conference Center, 139 Bitterroot Plaza Dr., Hamilton.

Forums will be held at locations throughout the state to make it more convenient for the public to give advice about action and funding recommendations for 2009, Stearns said. The Montana Board of Regents will decide on those recommendations early in 2008 and present them to the governor and the Legislature.

"The MUS forums are opportunities for the Regents to do a reality check with Montanans about the board's priorities for affordability, economic development, efficiency and quality," Stearns said. "To ask the public for its opinions on these subjects next fall during the election cycle is almost too late in the process. The time for public response and advice is now."

For more information, call the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education at 406-444-6570.

 

 Students Taking Record Number Of Credits
 

UM students are taking more credit hours this semester than ever before, and that's good news for a number of reasons, President Dennison said.

Although about 100 fewer students are attending UM this year compared to fall 2006, they are taking more classes. Full-time equivalents broke the 12,000 mark for the first time -- registering 12,049 to be exact, compared to 11,716 a year ago, an increase of 333.

An FTE represents 15 undergraduate or 12 graduate semester credits. Dennison said the significant FTE increase provides good reason for optimism because UM officials have long been concerned about a decline in student credit loads.

In an effort to promote cost-savings and success toward graduation, University and student leaders have encouraged students to take advantage of the so-called "flat spot" -- the fact that it costs the same to take 21 credits as it does to take 12. Studies have shown that students who take heavier course loads have a greater chance of graduating.

"This means that students have heard what we have been saying and they are acting on their understanding," Dennison said. "That is good news for them and for the University."

This fall marks the first time since the late 1980s that UM has seen a decline in student head count. A total of 13,858 students are attending Missoula campuses this fall, compared to 13,961 in 2006, when UM posted its all-time record enrollment. Of this year's number, 1,532 are enrolled at the College of Technology.

 

 U.S. Comptroller General To Speak
 

The next installment of the President's Lecture Series will be presented by Comptroller General of the United States David Walker.

Walker will speak at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, in the University Theatre. His lecture is titled "Keeping America Great."

On March 7, 2007, Walker told Steve Kroft of CBS News "60 Minutes" that "the most serious threat to the United States is not someone hiding in a cave in Afghanistan or Pakistan, but our own fiscal irresponsibility." Walker will describe the "fiscal cancer" that, in his judgment, threatens the survival of the American republic and talk about his disillusionment with elected officials who are unwilling to face the grim consequences of their policies.

He also will give a seminar with the same title earlier that day from 3:40 to 5 p.m. in Gallagher Business Building Room 123. Both events are free and open to the public.

President's Lecture Series 

 UM Lands Grant To Help Reservation Schools
 

UM has been awarded a $3 million grant to help boost the quality of teacher education at reservation schools across Big Sky Country. The three-year U.S. Department of Education grant will fund Project LETTERS, which stands for Literacy Education and Teacher Training for Excellent Reservation Schools.

The project architects are Jan La Bonty and Marian McKenna -- two professors of literacy studies in UM's Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education. They said Project LETTERS will recruit, support and prepare highly qualified teachers in reading and literacy, as well as provide extra course work in American Indian studies and technology.

In addition, the project will develop teacher mentoring systems within those reservation schools and implement a literacy curriculum that is culturally and locally responsive. And, of course, it will evaluate project results.

"This is the first grant of its type to be awarded in Montana," McKenna said.

 

 University Offers Tax Institute
 

The UM School of Law will host its 55th Annual Tax Institute Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19-20, at Missoula's DoubleTree Hotel, offering the chance to gain a thorough understanding of U.S. tax code.

Eleven esteemed speakers will present topics such as "Tax Mediation With and Without the IRS," "Getting it Right: Beneficiary Designations" and "Structuring Buy-Sell Agreements: Basic Planning and Recent Tax Developments."

The event costs $300 for registrations received by Oct. 12 and $350 thereafter. The institute is intended for attorneys, accountants, trust officers, financial planners, development officers and insurance professionals.

To register, visit the law school Web site and click on "Events." Print and mail the tax institute registration form to 2007 Tax Institute, School of Law, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812-6552. Continuing education credits are available.

School of Law 

 ASUM Offers Free, Easy Way To Share Rides
 

The ASUM Office of Transportation has joined with GoLoco.org to give UM students and employees an opportunity to share the cost of getting around.

Created by the founders of ZipCar, GoLoco uses the development application feature on Facebook to give users an innovative and easy way to save money and reduce their ecological footprints.

"We feel this is a great way for students to share rides to events such as concerts, to skiing, hiking or exploring adventures, to and from the University, and for road trips," said ASUM Office of Transportation Director Nancy Wilson. "The Facebook application provides an easy way to communicate about where they want to go, update their itineraries and split the cost of gas using a convenient PayPal feature."

There are nearly 9,000 Facebook users affiliated with UM, Wilson said.

More information about how to join GoLoco is online.

GoLoco 

 Lecture Explores Solar Energy Possibilities
 

Harry Gray, one of the top chemists in the nation, will give UM's fall 2007 Juday Lecture, "Powering the Planet with Solar Energy," on Monday, Oct. 15. The presentation will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the North Underground Lecture Hall.

Gray is a leader in the study of the role of metals in biology. He is founding director and Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry at the Beckman Institute of the California Institute of Technology.

He also will present a technical lecture, "The Currents of Life: Electron Flow through Proteins," from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 16, in the Urey Lecture Hall. Both events are free and open to the public.

 

 Grant Funds High-Tech Physical Therapy Bike
 

An $18,000 grant from the Christopher Reeve Foundation to UM's School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science is allowing wheelchair users with poor sensation or no sensation in their legs to ride a stationary reclining bicycle.

The school purchased an Ergys 2 with the grant, the same bike model Reeve rode in his rehabilitation. The bike provides functional electrical stimulation to muscles disconnected from the brain through spinal cord injuries. The stimulation moves muscles in the leg to pedal the bike.

James Laskin directs New Directions, a physical therapy gym and research arm of the school. He said the bike is a great way for patients with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, spinal meningitis, stroke and brain injuries to keep up on their lower body exercise and receive the basic benefits of exercise.

The bike is available for use by the public through the New Directions program. For more information, call Laskin at 406-243-4757.

 

 Performers Take Dance Outdoors
 

What do sidewalk paint, fruit and kiddie-pools have in common?

Each will be used in the UM dance program's annual performance of "Dancers on Location: A Site-Specific Dance Concert."

The event takes dance off the stage and into a volleyball pit as the UM Department of Drama/Dance presents "Dancing on Location!" at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, and noon Sunday, Oct. 7.

The free performances start at the UM Oval and feature five different pieces choreographed by UM Dance Program majors. This year's program includes dances at the volleyball pit, the ramps and railings outside the Skaggs Building and the outdoor amphitheater below the M Trail. Audience members will walk together to successive performance sites. Dogs are welcome.

While Charissa Oman uses a kiddie-pool in her performance and Jessica Zacharias showcases fruit, choreographer Jordan Dehline will incorporate sidewalk paint into his piece. The dance performances include live banjo and piano music, as well as spoken text.

 

 Multimedia Featured At Gallery Of Visual Arts
 

A multimedia installation by an artist exploring a variety of new genre disciplines will be exhibited Oct. 5-Nov. 9 in the UM Gallery of Visual Arts.

The show by Jarod Charzewski, assistant professor of art at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, is titled "Tides: Everglade." It opens today with an artist reception from 5 to 7 p.m. in the gallery, located on the first floor of the Social Science Building.

Charzewski uses technology, kinetic sculpture and video projections in the exhibit to examine continually evolving landscapes. In this installation he focuses on vanishing wetlands in Montana and controversial issues surrounding land use.

 

 Get Your Halloween Costumes Here
 

UM's Department of Drama Dance will hold a one-day-only Costume Closeout Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, on the first floor of the University Center.

The sale offers everything from bowling shirts and prom dresses to Western wear and specialty costumes. Items are priced as low as 25 cents.

 

 Have You Voted For Monte Today?
 

Don't forget to vote daily for Montana Grizzlies mascot, Monte, who has once again been nominated for Capital One National Mascot of the Year.

Monte landed the national champion mascot title in 2002 and 2004. This year he's competing against 11 other fuzzy and feathered mascots from universities across the country.

Monte fans will need to choose a nickname and vote for mascots in all six match-ups. One vote is allowed per day.

The winning mascot will be announced during the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, 2008.

Vote for Monte 

 UM-Helena To Host Griz Football Party
 

The Montana Grizzlies will be on the road Saturday, Oct. 27, to take on the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, but Helena-area fans can cheer the team on at home.

The UM-Helena College of Technology will host its third annual Griz Football Party at the newly expanded Donaldson Campus, located at 1115 N. Roberts St. in Helena.

The free, public event begins with a tailgate party at 1 p.m. in the new north-side parking lot, followed by kickoff at 3:05 p.m. in the Student Center, where two 10-foot screens will broadcast the game.

There will be prize drawings for Griz gear, 50-50 ticket sales, concession stands and free popcorn and soda. Halftime festivities will include a performance by the Helena High School Jazz Band and face-painting for Griz kids.

The Griz-Lumberjack rivalry has special meaning for UM-Helena Dean Daniel Bingham, who is an NAU alumnus.

The party is co-sponsored by the UM Alumni Association and the Grizzly Scholarship Association.

UM-Helena College of Technology 

 Grizzlies Whip Wildcats
 

The No. 1-ranked Montana Grizzlies defense shut out the visiting Weber State Wildcats in the second half and rebounded for an 18-10 Big Sky Conference victory last Saturday.

Held in Washington-Grizzly Stadium, the game was UM's 15th straight Homecoming win.

Quarterback Cole Bergquist was 17-of-30 for 186 yards and one interception and rushed 10 times for 39 yards. Kicker Dan Carpenter made all four of his field goal attempts, his longest sailing 47 yards.

With the win UM is 4-0 this season.

The Grizzlies return to action this weekend, hosting the Eastern Washington University Eagles Saturday. Kickoff is at 1:05 p.m.

Montana Grizzlies 

 Montana Volleyball Takes Down MSU
 

The UM volleyball team won Sept. 28 in four games at Montana State, snapping a two-match losing streak and improving the Grizzlies to 6-9 overall, 2-3 in Big Sky Conference play.

After sweeping last year's season series against MSU, Montana has won three straight against Montana State for the first time since the 1994-95 season.

The Grizzlies have another single-match week, hosting Sacramento State at 7 p.m. tonight in the West Auxiliary Gym.

Montana Grizzlies 

 Montana Soccer Loses Two In Utah
 

Utah State broke a scoreless tie in the 59th minute to lift the Aggies to a 1-0 win over the Montana Soccer team Sept. 27 in Logan, Utah.

The Grizzlies then lost 2-1 Sept. 29 at BYU. The Cougars scored goals in the 41st and 46th minute for the win. Junior midfielder Sara Campbell, who registered four of the Grizzlies' six shots, scored an unassisted goal in the 66th minute for Montana's lone goal.

UM finished its nonleague schedule with a 2-8 record.

The Grizzlies return to action Oct. 12 and 14 when they open Big Sky Conference play at Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado.

Montana Grizzlies 

 Men's Cross Country Wins In Willamette
 

The Montana men's cross country team won the 8-kilometer Gold Race at Saturday morning's Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore.

The Grizzlies' five scoring runners, each of whom recorded 8-kilometer personal bests, all placed between 23rd and 41st.

In the absence of sophomore Brett Carter -- Montana's top finisher at the Montana Open and Montana State Invitational earlier this fall -- junior Eli Hermann led the way, placing 23rd in a time of 25:00.

Montana Grizzlies