January 20-21, 2005

ITEM 126-2704-R0105: Authorization to Allow Montana State University-Billings to Enter into a Montana University System (MUS) Affiliation Agreement with the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, HealthONE Hospital in Denver, Colorado and Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington to Provide the Professional Clinical Laboratory Training to Students; Montana State University, Billings

THAT: The Board of Regents of Higher Education authorizes the Office of the Commissioner for Higher Education to enter into an agreement for Montana State University-Billings with the University of North Dakota, HealthONE Hospital and Sacred Heart Medical Center to provide the senior year of professional clinical laboratory training for Medical Laboratory Science students at Montana State University-Billings.

 

EXPLANATION: Both Montana State University-Bozeman and the University of Montana Missoula have established an agreement as part of the Montana University System with three clinical laboratory training centers. Both campuses currently have agreements with the University of North Dakota, HealthONE School of Medical Technology in Denver, Colorado and the Sacred Heart Medical Center School of Medical Technology in Spokane, Washington which allows each of the institutions to send students to the above mentioned institutions for three semesters of training. In this agreement they spend a summer semester at UND and then return to hospitals throughout Montana for two semesters of clinical bench training or complete their entire training at HealthONE School of Medical Technology in Denver, Colorado or the Sacred Heart Medical Center School of Medical Technology in Spokane, Washington. The credits they earn during this year of professional training contribute to a baccalaureate degree at both universities. At MSU-Billings, the credits they earn during the year of professional training will contribute to a degree in Biology.

We propose that MSU-Billings be included in the MUS affiliation agreement so that all students from both universities and MSU-Billings have an equal opportunity to participate in the training program. The training and credits from all three programs would allow students to take national examinations to become certified clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists. It will also allow both universities and MSU-Billings the opportunity to send students to each center and have a greater negotiating position to keep the cost/credit at a reasonable level. It also signifies a greater cooperation between institutions within Montana and a broader regional effort to train personnel in an important allied health profession.