University of Montana President Royce Engstrom at City Club Missoula

Royce Engstrom http://www.umt.edu/president/ has been The University of Montana’s 17th president for only two months, but he’s already found that many Montanans see the university as the heart of Montana and feel personal connections with it, he told the audience at City Club Missoula’s http://www.cityclubmissoula.org December forum.

"It’s been a real delight to go out and talk about The University of Montana around the state and around the country," he said.

The University of Montana is key to the competitiveness and development of our state and the country, Engstrom said. That’s not just economically, but also in the social and cultural senses. It means that the stewards of the university have a responsibility to safeguard it as a place of opportunity, a place where there is free exchange of ideas and a place of vitality.

With that in mind, UM’s 10-year program features a series of strategies for training tomorrow’s leaders.

Student success and the rate of graduation must increase. More than half of UM students don’t complete their degrees. The United States ranks 12th in the world in the percentage of young people we educate. UM’s strategies include intensifying efforts at advising and tutoring.

Two-year education is more important than ever, and Engstrom plans to continue increasing the effectiveness and responsiveness of the two-year component. Today, 80 former employees of the Smurfit-Stone mill, which closed a year ago, are students at UM’s College of Technology. But they study in a building designed for 700 that now educates a student body of 2,400 students. A new building is a must.

Undergraduate education for the 21st century is a continual goal. UM is good at advising and at helping students choose majors. But there’s more. When students are still at the freshman level, they need to hear and discuss the big issues: How will we continue to feed the world’s population? How will we meet the challenges of conflict and peace? How we will address and shepherd our environment?

Students also need an off-campus, beyond-the-classroom opportunity, Engstrom said. "Capstone" experiences can involve internships and travel and learning first-hand from experts.

Graduate programs will receive close attention. Do we have the programs needed for today? Engstrom asked. Are we working in the growth areas of the graduate world?

Research and creative scholarship generate the products and services of tomorrow. Last year, UM generated $68 million in research expenditures. UM’s programs include some of national distinction, such as wildlife biology and creative writing.

Engstrom will turn his energies to building one of the most effective learning environments in the country, he said. That means attracting the best faculty and staff; nurturing the underlying infrastructure, from buildings to Internet connectivity; and maintaining the exciting climate on campus.

In the upcoming session, the Montana Legislature will hear three key messages from UM, Engstrom said. Keep the base level of funding healthy. Maintain the ability to compete for the best people. Help us fund a new College of Technology.

"It’s a pretty exciting time at The University of Montana," Engstrom said. "I couldn’t be prouder of having this job."