July 8-9, 1999

THAT: The Board of Regents of Higher Education authorizes the Psychology Department to eliminate the Communication Option and the Communication Minor by Fall 2000.

EXPLANATION: In May 1999, the Psychology Department at Montana State University-Bozeman requested, and the Board of Regents approved, moratorium status for these programs. This decision was based on a history of low enrollment, and the anticipated retirement of the only remaining communication tenure-track faculty at the Bozeman campus.

Communication courses taught in the Psychology Department were designed primarily to serve our majors interested in communications. Of the current 234 psychology majors, only 12 have expressed an interest in pursing the Communication Option. The department has only 2 students in the Communication Minor program.

Montana State University-Billings has a strong program in Communications with six tenure-track faculty. This department received the 1996 Program of Excellence Award from the National Speech Communication Association. Students interested in communication are being advised to consider the MSU-Billings program. Eliminating the option and minor on the Bozeman campus will produce some cost saving benefit to the University system, and it will allow the department to use its faculty and limited resources more efficiently to serve the needs of the greater majority of our students.