DATE:  14 March 2002

TO:  Board of Regents

FROM:  G. M. Dennison, President, The University of Montana

RE:  Campus Report for the March 2002 Board of Regents' Meeting

         The University of Montana received four national and seven regional awards for marketing. The National Marketing Report selected Gus Chambers television piece, "Seekers and Learners," for a gold award, and the Montanan, Research View, and Vision each received a silver award. In addition, at the CASE District Eight annual meeting in Portland, seven University Relations employees received regional awards--Brenda Day, Mike Egler, Todd Goodrich, Joan Melcher, Rita Munzenrider, Cary Shimek, and Patia Stephens. These accolades from CASE District Eight represent the highest number of awards given in a single year to any unit of the Montana University System.

         The Center for Leadership Developmentselected Madeline Mussman, a senior majoring in Sociology, for the Outstanding Student Leader Award for Fall Semester. Active in AmeriCorps working with Habitat for Humanity, Ms. Mussman also serves as an International Student Association board member, UM Advocates orientation leader and campus tour guide, student peer for new international students, volunteer at a local soup kitchen, and worker on environmental improvement projects.

         The Center for Leadership Development recently held its annual Leadership Conference for approximately 90 student leaders. The Conference featured a motivational keynote speaker, a business etiquette lunch facilitated by Mark LoParco, UM-M Dining Services Director, and several workshops on marketing, team building, problem solving, time management, building a resume', and effective meeting facilitation.

         The University of Montana-Missoula reached its highest spring semester enrollment ever, with a head count of 12,414 students for Spring Semester 2002. The head count reflects an increase of 470 students from Spring Semester 2001.

         President George M. Dennison and Bill Johnston, UM Lobbyist, have hosted Legislative luncheons around the State in several key sites: Butte, Dillon, Great Falls, Hamilton, Kalispell, and Missoula. They will visit Helena on 28 March 2002, followed by Billings on 3 April 2002, with others to follow in Eastern Montana.

         On 8 March 2002, The University of Montana, Missoula Associated Technology Roundtable (MATR), and Economic Development Action Group (EDAG) sponsored an Economic Development Roundtable on the UM-M campus. Topics included economic development and education, and plans are underway to hold mini-roundtables for specific industries such as health care, manufacturing, and transportation in the next few weeks.

         The University of Montana-Missoula ranks 19th nationally on the list of colleges and universities with 38 alumni currently serving in the Peace Corps. UM-M outpaces larger schools, including the University of Florida, New York University, the University of Missouri-Columbia, Texas A&M University, the University of Maryland, and the University of Georgia.