DATE:  May 14, 2001

TO: Board of Regents

FROM: Rick Gray, Interim Dean/CEO, Helena College of Technology

RE: Campus Report for the May 17-18, 2001 Board of Regents' Meeting

         The Practical Nursing Program won verbal approval of their accreditation status from the Montana Board of Nursing after a visitation in April. There were a few recommendations concerning articulation, library resources, and equipment needs that will be corrected and reported in the Nursing Annual Report.

         Sherry Haslip, a 1999 Associate of Science degree graduate of HCT, earned her Bachelor's of Science degree in Business and Information Technology this year at Montana Tech and was awarded top student of her graduating class.

         Nick Van Tighem, a 1998 Associate of Applied Science graduate in Construction Technology, just earned his Bachelor's of Applied Science degree from the University of Montana and has been hired by BMC West in Boise, Idaho as a trainee for a plant manager. BMC is the owner of the Intermountain Truss Companies in this region.

         The Practical Nursing, Fire and Rescue, Welding, and Diesel programs already have 100 percent placement of this year's graduates. Sixty percent of all the trades program students have jobs.

         HCT hosted the University of Montana's Presidential Advisory Council on April 19 and 20. Sixty plus people attended and several toured the technology programs and Summit Design and Manufacturing.

         Architecture and Engineering of the Department of Engineering plans to go out to bid for an architect for the HCT new classroom building in July. The legislature authorized $365,000 for planning for the facility anticipating total construction costs at $5.5 million.

         Last week 174 graduates were awarded degrees and certificates with 40 percent receiving honor student awards.

         The Construction Technology Program will be training 30 Japanese carpenters in July on the framing of a dimensional wood structured home. They will receive twelve days of instruction and weekend entertainment in the Helena area.

         Cleo Sutton will continue his work with UM-Western in teaching South African vocational education teachers in Dillon this summer. As a result of his continued involvement with grants and continuing education, Cleo was presented the Distinguished Service Award during HCT's 2001 Graduation ceremony.

         HCT and Canyon Ferry Limnological Institute received a Gear-Up grant to provide a Career Exploration camp for students from Gear-Up schools in Montana. The students will get to experience some training experiences in metals, construction, and mechanics fields on the HCT campus in July.