closeup of a row of flags from different nations

Montana Model United Nations

Advisor and Registration Information

The Montana Model United Nations High School Conference will be held Monday, November 23, and Tuesday, November 24, 2026, at the University of Montana in Missoula.

This page contains information for advisors registering schools, requesting country assignments, preparing students, and planning their visit to campus.

Registration

Registration for the 2026 conference opens September 7.

Schools that register by September 30 will receive priority consideration for a G20 country assignment. Registering by the priority date does not guarantee that a school will receive its first-choice country.

Registration closes October 30th.

Register for the 2026 Conference

The school registration form will ask advisors to provide:

  • School and advisor contact information

  • An estimated number of participating students

  • Country preferences

  • The number of countries the school would like to represent

  • Accessibility or accommodation requests

  • Preliminary interest in the International Court of Justice

Please submit only one initial registration form per school. Advisors may update their student roster later.

Registration Fees and Payment

The 2026 conference fees are:

  • School registration fee: $100

  • Student registration fee: $40 per student

Payment and final student rosters are due November 9th.

Payment instructions and an invoice will be provided after registration. Schools needing additional documentation for purchasing or payment should contact the conference staff.

Limited financial assistance may be available. Advisors should contact us as early as possible if conference costs may prevent students from participating.

Country Assignments

Each participating school will receive one or more country assignments based on its estimated number of students, country preferences, committee availability, and the order in which registrations are received.

When selecting country preferences, advisors should consult the United Nations Member States list and provide at least three choices.

Country assignments will be distributed after the priority registration period. Although we cannot guarantee a particular assignment, we will make every effort to give schools countries that provide students with meaningful opportunities across the conference committees.

A country may not hold a seat on every committee. Before assigning students, advisors should consult the Committees and Topics page and the country-assignment materials provided by the conference.

Student Rosters

Advisors will submit a final roster identifying each student’s:

  • Full name

  • Assigned country

  • Assigned committee

  • Date of Birth

  • Participation in the International Court of Justice, if applicable

Final rosters are due November 9th.

Please review names carefully. The conference uses roster information to prepare credentials, committee lists, participation records, and conference materials.

If a student withdraws or must be replaced after the deadline, contact the conference staff as soon as possible.

International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice is a specialized simulation intended for a small number of highly prepared students.

Strong ICJ candidates are generally:

  • Juniors or seniors

  • Interested in law, international law, or legal reasoning

  • Involved in mock trial, debate, Youth Court, or related activities

  • Comfortable reading complex material and responding to questions

  • Prepared to speak and reason from evidence rather than deliver a standard country speech

Participation in the ICJ requires additional preparation. Students may serve as advocates, judges, or in another role determined by the case and simulation format.

Because space is limited, advisors should not assign students to the ICJ through the regular country-assignment process. Instead, advisors should nominate interested students using the ICJ form.

[Submit an ICJ Nomination]

Submitting a nomination does not guarantee placement. The conference staff will review nominations and contact advisors with assignments and preparation instructions.

Students selected for the ICJ should not also be assigned to another committee during the same conference session.

Committees and Topics

The 2026 conference includes six simulations:

  • General Assembly First Committee

  • General Assembly Second Committee

  • Economic and Social Council

  • United Nations Environment Assembly

  • Security Council

  • International Court of Justice

Committee topics and background guides are available on the Committees and Topics page.

Advisors should confirm that each student understands both the committee assignment and the country or role the student will represent.

Position Papers

Delegates should prepare a position paper explaining their country’s policies and proposed solutions for the committee topics.

Position papers help students:

  • Understand their country’s interests

  • Identify relevant international agreements and UN actions

  • Develop realistic policy proposals

  • Prepare for speeches and negotiations

  • Enter committee ready to participate

Position papers must be submitted by November 9th to be considered for conference awards.

 

Students should write in their own words and cite the sources used in their research. Advisors may provide feedback, but the submitted paper should reflect the student’s own preparation and analysis.

Preparing Your Students

Students do not need previous Model UN experience to participate successfully. They should, however, arrive with enough preparation to represent their assigned country and contribute to committee work.

Before the conference, every delegate should:

  1. Learn about the assigned country’s government, economy, foreign relations, and major policy priorities.

  2. Read the background guide for the assigned committee.

  3. Research the country’s position on each committee topic.

  4. Review the conference rules of procedure.

  5. Prepare several possible policy proposals.

  6. Practice giving a short opening speech.

  7. Understand the basic structure of a resolution.

  8. Be prepared to negotiate and collaborate with other delegations.

The Delegate Preparation page contains the handbook, research resources, position-paper guidance, resolution materials, rules of procedure, and speaking and negotiation resources.

Students should not attempt to memorize every procedural rule. They should understand the basic flow of committee and be willing to ask the dais for clarification.

What Students Should Bring

Each delegate should bring:

  • A laptop or tablet, if available

  • A charger

  • A printed or digital copy of the committee background guide

  • Country research and position papers

  • Notes for an opening speech

  • Draft policy ideas or resolution clauses

  • Writing materials

  • A reusable water bottle

Students should clearly label personal items. The University of Montana and Montana Model United Nations are not responsible for lost or unattended property.

Technology

Students may use laptops and tablets for research, note-taking, and resolution writing. Committee staff may limit device use if it becomes distracting or interferes with debate.

Students should download important research and conference materials before arriving. Campus internet access may be available, but delegates should not depend on continuous access during committee sessions.

Phones should remain silent and should not be used during formal debate unless permitted by the dais.

Dress and Professional Expectations

Delegates should wear professional or business-appropriate clothing that allows them to participate comfortably throughout the day.

Appropriate options may include:

  • Slacks, khakis, skirts, or dresses

  • Collared shirts, blouses, sweaters, or similar tops

  • Blazers, jackets, or cardigans

  • Professional shoes or other clean, appropriate footwear

  • Clothing connected to a student’s cultural, religious, or gender identity

Students are not required to wear a suit, tie, skirt, dress, or any other gender-specific item.

Clothing should allow students to move between rooms and participate comfortably. Students should expect November weather in Missoula and bring appropriate outerwear.

Delegates are expected to behave professionally and respectfully. Personal attacks, discriminatory language, harassment, and deliberate disruption of committee are not acceptable.

Advisor Responsibilities

Each school must have an adult advisor or approved chaperone present during the conference.

Advisors are responsible for:

  • Supervising their students

  • Maintaining emergency contact information

  • Confirming attendance and student assignments

  • Communicating schedule changes to students

  • Assisting conference staff with behavioral, medical, or logistical concerns

  • Ensuring compliance with school and district travel policies

Committee rooms are student-centered working spaces. Advisors are welcome to observe, but they should allow students to make their own speeches, negotiate independently, and respond to procedural challenges.

If an advisor has a concern about committee procedure or student treatment, the advisor should speak privately with the conference faculty advisor or a member of the Secretariat rather than interrupting committee.

 

Meals and Campus Dining

Schools are responsible for arranging and paying for student meals unless a meal is specifically included in the conference registration fee. Advisors will receive information about any conference-provided meals before the event.

Groups wishing to eat at the Lodge Dining Center must make arrangements directly with UM Campus Dining. The process depends on the size of the group.

Groups of Fewer Than 50

Groups of fewer than 50 students and adults are treated as visiting groups.

Advisors must contact the Campus Dining Guest Experience Manager at least 14 days before arrival:

Angila Kress
angila.kress@umontana.edu
406-243-6325

Please provide:

  • The school or group name

  • The advisor or group contact’s name, phone number, and email address

  • The estimated number of guests

  • The date of the visit

  • The requested meal, such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner

  • The anticipated arrival time

Cash is not accepted at the Lodge Dining Center. Groups of fewer than 50 must make one credit-card payment at the entrance upon arrival. The group will be counted and charged for the actual number of guests.

Groups must schedule their visit at least 14 days in advance to receive the group rate. Groups making arrangements less than 14 days before arrival will be charged the standard retail rate.

Groups of 50 or More

Groups of 50 or more must use the Campus Dining contract-group process.

Contact the Contract Meals Coordinator early in the planning process:

Cristin Zachariasen
cristin.zachariasen@mso.umt.edu
406-243-4899

Please provide:

  • The school or group name

  • The advisor or group contact’s name, phone number, and email address

  • The estimated number of guests

  • The date of arrival

  • The requested meals and meal times

Final guest counts are due at least 10 days before arrival.

Contract groups will be billed for the number of meals reserved or the number of guests served, whichever is greater. Payment is normally made through invoice billing or a University department charge. Groups needing to pay by cash or check must make arrangements with the Contract Meals Coordinator before billing.

The Lodge Dining Center requires a guaranteed total of at least 25 guests to open for a contracted meal. That minimum may be met by combining multiple contracted groups dining at the same time.

Dietary Allergies and Restrictions

Advisors should identify student dietary restrictions and food allergies when submitting the final conference roster. Groups eating through UM Campus Dining should also send a list of dietary allergies and restrictions directly to:

dining@mso.umt.edu

Individual questions about allergen management may be directed to:

Laura Granlund, MS, RDN, LN
Registered Dietitian
laura.granlund@mso.umt.edu
406-243-2315

Campus Dining makes reasonable efforts to identify food allergens. However, food is prepared in a shared kitchen, ingredients and product availability may change, and cross-contact is possible. Students with food allergies should exercise caution, ask questions about ingredients, and carry any required medication, including an epinephrine auto-injector.

Advisors should contact Campus Dining well before the conference if a student has a significant food allergy or requires an individual accommodation.

Accessibility and Accommodations

Montana Model United Nations is committed to making the conference accessible to participating students.

Advisors should identify requested accommodations during registration or contact the conference staff as early as possible. Requests may concern mobility, hearing, vision, learning needs, dietary needs, religious observance, or other circumstances affecting participation.

Advance notice gives us the best opportunity to coordinate appropriate support with the University of Montana.

Travel, Parking, and Lodging

The conference takes place at the University of Montana in Missoula. Detailed information about check-in, parking, bus unloading, campus locations, and committee rooms will be sent to registered schools before the conference.

Schools traveling from outside Missoula are responsible for arranging lodging and transportation.

Helpful planning resources:

Advisors should allow enough time on Monday morning for travel, parking, registration, and moving students to the opening ceremony.

Awards

Montana Model United Nations recognizes strong preparation, accurate country representation, diplomacy, collaboration, public speaking, resolution writing, and constructive participation.

Awards are not based solely on how often a student speaks. Delegates should focus on representing their assigned country, contributing to the work of the committee, and helping other students participate.

Eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria are explained on the Awards Criteria page.

Communication

Important announcements, forms, deadlines, and logistical updates will be sent to the advisor email address listed on the registration form.

Advisors should ensure that messages from Montana Model United Nations are not being filtered into a spam folder. Please notify us if the school’s primary contact changes.

Questions

Questions about registration, country assignments, preparation, accessibility, or conference logistics may be directed to:

Dominic Beccari
Montana Model United Nations
University of Montana
Dominic.Beccari@mso.umt.edu

We are happy to assist new schools, returning advisors, and students preparing for their first Model UN conference.