March 1-3, 2006

ITEM 130-1014-R0306   Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies Upon Thomas Roy; The University of Montana-Missoula

THAT:   Upon the occasion of the retirement of Professor Tom Royfrom the faculty of The University of Montana after 31 years of dedicated service, the faculty recommends that the title of Professor Emeritus be conferred upon him by the Board of Regents of the Montana University System.

EXPLANATION:   Thomas Roy received his M.A. from the University of Chicago, taught at Montana State University, and joined the faculty of The University of Montana in September 1974, as an assistant professor in Social Work. He first taught in the Environmental Studies Program (EVST) in 1981, when he instructed a course required of all entering graduate students. In 1984, with half of his line moved to EVST he assumed the role of Program Director, a position he maintained until August 2005. He was promoted to Associate Professor and received tenure in 1978; he was promoted to Full Professor in 1983. In 2000, his appointment became full-time in EVST. Throughout his career, Roy excelled in teaching, mentoring, fundraising and service to the university.

The faculty of the Environmental Studies Program very strongly support Tom Roy's appointment to Emeritus Professor based on his long record of teaching excellence, outstanding student mentoring, and service to the unit, university, and community.  Honored with a Pantzer Award for service; the point person for raising millions of dollars for the University, including the Kittredge Visiting Writer Endowment and several student fellowships; and acknowledged for his community service with the naming of a Missoula Youth Home in his honor, Professor Roy has been regarded consistently by students as one of the most desirable committee chairs on the faculty. His work at the university and in the community has been recognized with numerous other awards, including the Academic Administrator Award (1991), the Faculty Service Award (1994), and the Tom Boone Town and Gown Award (2004). Roy has the ability to work across many disciplines and provided hundreds of students with solid direction that led to their ultimate success not only in the academy, but also in the community following graduation.

The Environmental Studies Program is pleased to recommend Professor Thomas Roy for Emeritus status.