Education
Education
Montana Tech Showing Enrollment Growth in First-time Students and Transfers
The fall semester is in full swing at Montana Technological University. The university was excited to host a robust orientation schedule and an in-person and virtual career fair along with homecoming and family weekends. Montana Tech also launched an ambassador program this fall and has 16 students serving as Prospectors. This name embraces Montana Tech's mining heritage and the students' role in working with prospective students. Prospectors lead campus tours, host events, participate in campus events, and periodically take over social media channels.
The university welcomed a large group of new students to campus in August. This year's incoming class of undergraduate students totals 530. This increase of more than 8% over the previous year pleases university leaders. "With national trends showing a decline in college enrollment, the strong growth of our incoming class represents a real win for the university," noted Leslie Dickerson, Executive Director of Admissions & Enrollment.
The number of students living on campus is also up over 11% this fall, with a total of 361 students living in the new Living & Learning Center and the university's Prospector and Centennial Halls.
"For the past two years, Montana Tech has placed a campus-wide effort on recruitment, retention, and telling our story," noted Les Cook, Chancellor at Montana Tech. "Our faculty and staff have worked very hard to connect with more students than ever before, and our efforts are beginning to pay off as we showcase all that is Montana Tech. With a high return on investment, strong retention, and low debt, we remain confident that more students will choose to become Orediggers."
Although the university's overall headcount is up less than 1%, at 2,339, Montana Tech officials are happy with the growth. On Tech's North campus, the largest undergraduate discipline is Nursing (233), followed by Mechanical Engineering (206), and Business/Business & Information Technology (176). The Industrial Hygiene program continues to be the largest graduate program with a distance education track of 90 students. Montana Tech is also the choice for 20 doctoral students enrolled in either Earth Sciences and Engineering or Materials Science.
"It is so exciting to see programs in the College of Letters, Sciences & Professional Studies (CLSPS) continue to grow, especially in Biological Sciences, Business/Business & Information Technology, Exercise and Health Sciences, Nursing, and the graduate program in Ecological Restoration," said Michele Hardy, Dean of CLSPS. "Program growth in CLSPS speaks to the quality of the faculty and our strengths in preparing students for their chosen careers once they leave Montana Tech."
The university's Highlands campus trades and workforce development programs are increasing with 155 students enrolled in seven programs, including Automotive Technology, Civil Engineering Technology, Construction Technology - Carpentry, Metals Fabrication, Pre-Apprenticeship Line, Precision Machining Technology, and Welding. Highlands largest majors include Associate of Science (75), Radiologic Technology (63), and Construction Technology-Construction (43). "I am optimistic about the future of Highlands College," noted Interim Dean of Highlands, Karen VanDaveer. "Over the past year, faculty, staff, and administration at Highlands worked together to evaluate and adjust curriculum in trades education. Our goal is to provide our students with the education and experience necessary to succeed in a trades career. Our focus on building relationships with both the community and industry partners has resulted in offering courses and programs which support workforce development and make a positive impact on our community, state, and beyond."
Additionally, Montana Tech continues to see increased enrollment of high school students through dual credit. Currently, 339 students are taking 1,331 student credit hours. Dual credit allows students the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school at a rate of 50% of two-year college resident tuition with the first two courses, or up to six credits tuition-free (1 2 FREE). The One-Two-Free Montana University System Dual Enrollment Program brings access to college credit-bearing courses to ALL Montana students.
Chancellor Cook added, "I am pleased with our upward direction and look forward to the future as we transform the student experience on our campus." Montana Tech opened a newly renovated dining hall and welcomed Sodexo Dining to campus this fall. The next initiative for the university is opening the high-tech Lesar Family Nursing Simulation Center, which is currently under construction. Opening for the spring 2022 semester, the simulation center will be a high-tech facility for the nursing department. Within its 5,000 square feet located on the first floor of the Science and Engineering Building, the center will offer four simulation suites with the ability to flex space to hospital, home, or office settings, debriefing rooms, and telehealth rooms. In addition, the center will include a nurse's station and medication room.
The university welcomed a large group of new students to campus in August. This year's incoming class of undergraduate students totals 530. This increase of more than 8% over the previous year pleases university leaders. "With national trends showing a decline in college enrollment, the strong growth of our incoming class represents a real win for the university," noted Leslie Dickerson, Executive Director of Admissions & Enrollment.
The number of students living on campus is also up over 11% this fall, with a total of 361 students living in the new Living & Learning Center and the university's Prospector and Centennial Halls.
"For the past two years, Montana Tech has placed a campus-wide effort on recruitment, retention, and telling our story," noted Les Cook, Chancellor at Montana Tech. "Our faculty and staff have worked very hard to connect with more students than ever before, and our efforts are beginning to pay off as we showcase all that is Montana Tech. With a high return on investment, strong retention, and low debt, we remain confident that more students will choose to become Orediggers."
Although the university's overall headcount is up less than 1%, at 2,339, Montana Tech officials are happy with the growth. On Tech's North campus, the largest undergraduate discipline is Nursing (233), followed by Mechanical Engineering (206), and Business/Business & Information Technology (176). The Industrial Hygiene program continues to be the largest graduate program with a distance education track of 90 students. Montana Tech is also the choice for 20 doctoral students enrolled in either Earth Sciences and Engineering or Materials Science.
"It is so exciting to see programs in the College of Letters, Sciences & Professional Studies (CLSPS) continue to grow, especially in Biological Sciences, Business/Business & Information Technology, Exercise and Health Sciences, Nursing, and the graduate program in Ecological Restoration," said Michele Hardy, Dean of CLSPS. "Program growth in CLSPS speaks to the quality of the faculty and our strengths in preparing students for their chosen careers once they leave Montana Tech."
The university's Highlands campus trades and workforce development programs are increasing with 155 students enrolled in seven programs, including Automotive Technology, Civil Engineering Technology, Construction Technology - Carpentry, Metals Fabrication, Pre-Apprenticeship Line, Precision Machining Technology, and Welding. Highlands largest majors include Associate of Science (75), Radiologic Technology (63), and Construction Technology-Construction (43). "I am optimistic about the future of Highlands College," noted Interim Dean of Highlands, Karen VanDaveer. "Over the past year, faculty, staff, and administration at Highlands worked together to evaluate and adjust curriculum in trades education. Our goal is to provide our students with the education and experience necessary to succeed in a trades career. Our focus on building relationships with both the community and industry partners has resulted in offering courses and programs which support workforce development and make a positive impact on our community, state, and beyond."
Additionally, Montana Tech continues to see increased enrollment of high school students through dual credit. Currently, 339 students are taking 1,331 student credit hours. Dual credit allows students the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school at a rate of 50% of two-year college resident tuition with the first two courses, or up to six credits tuition-free (1 2 FREE). The One-Two-Free Montana University System Dual Enrollment Program brings access to college credit-bearing courses to ALL Montana students.
Chancellor Cook added, "I am pleased with our upward direction and look forward to the future as we transform the student experience on our campus." Montana Tech opened a newly renovated dining hall and welcomed Sodexo Dining to campus this fall. The next initiative for the university is opening the high-tech Lesar Family Nursing Simulation Center, which is currently under construction. Opening for the spring 2022 semester, the simulation center will be a high-tech facility for the nursing department. Within its 5,000 square feet located on the first floor of the Science and Engineering Building, the center will offer four simulation suites with the ability to flex space to hospital, home, or office settings, debriefing rooms, and telehealth rooms. In addition, the center will include a nurse's station and medication room.
