March 25-26, 2004

ITEM 122-2701-R0304:  Authorization to Confer The Title of Professor Emeritus of Communication and Theatre upon Professor Victoria Tait Coffman; Montana State University-Billings

WHEREAS, Professor Coffman has completed a distinguished teaching career of 37 years, including 37 years at MSU-Billings, formerly Eastern Montana College;

WHEREAS, Professor Coffman has received accolades for her teaching including being named an MSU-Billings Distinguished Professor four times and has been saluted as an outstanding woman by the YWCA.

WHEREAS, Professor Coffman has directed 51 plays, including performances for the campus and the community at such locations as Petro Theater, Cisel Hall, the Alberta Bair Theater, Billings Studio Theater, and numerous other venues.

WHEREAS, Professor Coffman's research has been recognized nationally through the receipt of grants to support her research

WHEREAS, Professor Coffman has published her work prestigious journals including Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal, and Small Group Behavior.

WHEREAS, Professor Coffman has presented a significant number of papers at National and Regional conventions in both Theatre and Communication.

WHEREAS, Professor Coffman has served her profession as a conference planner and national focus group representative for the American Theater in Higher Education Association.

WHEREAS, Professor Coffman has served the City of Billings and the State of Montana by serving as Co-Founder of the Montana Gerontology Society, by serving on the Board of the Alberta Bair Theater, and through her numerous service projects that have helped foster theater and the performing arts.

WHEREAS, she served the college and her colleagues as a member of numerous university committees including the Faculty Awards Selection Committee, the Women's Studies Task Force, the Teacher Education Committee and a number of other college committees;

AND WHEREAS, MSU-Billings wishes to honor Professor Coffman for her outstanding service to education;

Therefore, the Board of Regents of Higher Education, on recommendation of the Chancellor of MSU-Billings, confers upon Dr. Victoria Tait Coffman the title of Professor of Communication and Theater Emeritus, with all rights, privileges, and responsibilities pertaining thereto.