MUSings
Monday
September 21, 2020
GUEST COLUMN
Travis Anderson
Director, Montana GEAR UP
This week, Montana GEAR UP will join thousands of students, families, educators, community partners and college access professionals across the country to celebrate National GEAR UP Week.
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs is a U.S. Department of Education initiative focused on increasing the college and career readiness of low-income students across the nation.
Montana has been a part of this important national work since GEAR UP partnerships began in 1999, and the program now serves approximately 5,000 middle and high school students in 19 schools across the state. We now in our fourth consecutive grant and are halfway through a 7-year, $24.5 million grant that is funded at $3.5 million for the current fiscal year.
Traditionally, our work focuses on providing college access opportunities at the local level including access to dual-enrollment and credit recovery opportunities; tutoring support; summer bridge programs and cultural activities with a focus on college readiness.
At the state level, GEAR-UP provides K-12 schools with funding to administer the ACT test to all high school juniors at no cost to the student.
Additionally, Montana GEAR UP partners with Montana Educational Talent Search to create OCHE’s College Access Team, whose activities include College Application Week coming up September 28 through October 2. High schools across the state will provide students with opportunities to learn about Montana colleges and universities and give high school seniors the opportunity to submit a college application during the school day. Last year, more than 4,600 seniors filled out a college application, and we expect even greater numbers this year
The College Access Team also focuses on financial literacy with events such as FAFSA Kickoff Week October 5-9, when students receive support with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – one of the most important college preparation steps a student can take. Approximately 90 percent of high school seniors who complete the FAFSA go on to enroll post-secondary education, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.
The College Access Team also organizes Decision Day, previously called College Signing Day, which encourages students to celebrate their post-high school plans. This year marked the event’s first online celebration in partnership with ReachHigherMontana, which gave students the opportunity to virtuallly celebrate their plans and goals with their peers across the state.
The emphasis on college access has only intensified during the current COVID-19 pandemic and we have embraced that challenge.
GEAR UP has worked diligently to meet the rapidly changing needs of our students in a volatile and ever-shifting landscape. First, we have partnered with several campuses to provide First Year Services to support students in their transition from high school to a college campus. Second, we partnered with the Student Success Agency, a national organization that connects students with mentors, tutors and advisors, to provide personalized, near-peer mentoring opportunities for students in Montana high schools that participate in GEAR UP. Finally, we’re finalizing efforts to provide quality online tutoring services for our students.
Our overarching goal is to reinforce academic ability, provide necessary support and set students up for success. While it can be challenging to predict the shape of events at the end of next week, and nearly impossible to predict what next year will bring, providing students with the tools to be successful in their college and career choices is as relevant now as ever.
I look forward to the dedicated work the Montana GEAR UP team is doing to make college a reality for our students and appreciate your collective recognition of National GEAR UP Week! #GEARUPWorks
Subscribe to MUSings at: https://mailchi.mp/montana.edu/musings
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Montana University System News
$2.2 million awarded to workforce development
and remote training programs
 HELENA — Governor Steve Bullock and Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian on September 11 announced just over $2.2 million in funding to be distributed to 19 projects supporting workforce development and remote education delivery for Montanans.
Examples of projects include an education initiative to address teacher shortages across Montana, a remote information technology program and a pilot respiratory therapy program. All projects funded by the initiative will be based at one or more two-year institutions across the state of Montana.
“Quality, accessible education is vital to our communities and by enabling more Montanans to pursue college and technical education training, we can ensure that even small towns across our state never lack opportunities,” said Governor Bullock. “I look forward to this partnership in recruiting the new, innovative learners who will help us strengthen Montana.”
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Montana University System News
Only 10 days left to participate in the 2020 Census
Outreach efforts focus on students who live off campus
 HELENA — Did you know that for each person who completes the Census, the state of MT receives $20,000 over the next decade?
Our state’s share of federal dollars helps provide student aid such as Pell grants and federal student loans, programs that are essential to expanding access to higher education for all Montanans.
While students who live on campus have been reported, many who live off campus have not. Please help us encourage students to self-report before the Sept. 30 deadline at my2020census.gov
Questions? Visit the Montana University System Census FAQ
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University of Montana
UM receives largest single research award in its history
MISSOULA — The National Institutes of Health has awarded the University of Montana a five-year, $33.4 million award for the development and clinical trials of opioid vaccines. It is the largest such award in University history.
The award was funded through the NIH HEAL Initiative, a national effort to speed scientific solutions to the national opioid health crisis. It includes funding for two Phase One clinical trials of opioid vaccines developed by UM’s Center for Translational Medicine in collaboration with Inimmune Corp. (Dr. Kendal Ryter and Dr. David Burkhart) and the University of Minnesota (Dr. Marco Pravetoni).
The UM vaccine research team has spent more than two decades working to improve vaccines through the use of adjuvants – components added to vaccines to improve the immune response – and novel delivery systems to ensure vaccines are safely and efficiently delivered to the right cells.
Dr. Jay Evans, principal investigator on this award and director of UM’s Center for Translational Medicine, said this is a great opportunity for UM and Missoula to make an impact on a local and global health crisis.
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Montana State University
Three artists selected to display work in
MSU's American Indian Hall
 BOZEMAN — Three artists have been selected to display major pieces of their work in Montana State University’s American Indian Hall, which is slated to be completed next fall.
Artists Bently Spang, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe who lives in Billings, Robert Martinez, a Northern Arapaho who lives in Riverton, Wyoming, and Stacia Goodman of Minneapolis were selected by a committee of eight members. The committee was composed of representatives from across MSU’s campus as well as members from Montana’s Native community.
Robert Martinez, a Northern Arapaho artist from Riverton, Wyoming, will install his bright portraits of Native students in MSU's new American Indian Hall. Martinez is one of three artists selected to display work in the building that will open in fall 2021.
Walter Fleming, chair of the Department of Native American Studies, said the committee distributed a call for artists for the building, which will open next year. Twenty-six artists responded to a request for proposals with projects that would represent the university’s desire to make the American Indian Hall reflective of Native culture as well as the building’s major themes of water, fire, earth and air.
“The major themes reflect the natural elements that many indigenous cultures revere,” Fleming said. He said each one of the artists are significant in their potential to engage visitors to the American Indian Hall and to generate deeper thought.
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MSU-Northern
Course design workshops help faculty succeed
HAVRE — Throughout July and August, MSU-Northern’s Office of Teaching and Learning Excellence (OTLE) organized a series of course design workshops to help MSUN instructors prepare for fall teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic.
 The workshop was offered six times throughout the summer and was attended by 51 faculty instructors from across campus (including several adjunct faculty). MSU-Northern used a portion of the CARES Act funding it received to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic to provide stipends to faculty who attended.
The workshop sessions were designed to help faculty work through a number of challenges associated with Covid-19. Topics included: adapting teaching to a socially distanced classroom; developing ways for students to participate in class from home if necessary; and creating media content and electronic assignments to reduce the disease transmission risk associated with close contact and paper-based assignments.
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University of Montana Western
Student spotlight: Aryana Mitchell
 DILLON — Aryana Mitchell is a sophomore from Great Falls majoring in Elementary Education at the University of Montana Western.
A 2019 graduate of Great Falls High School, Mitchell found her career aspirations by participating in a pilot education program her senior year. Montana Western was a highly recommended school by counselors and teachers at GFHS.
After participating in X-Day, Montana Western’s spring preview event, Mitchell knew she found her college of choice. The smaller, hometown atmosphere was the perfect fit for her, she explained, as she can be shy in new situations.
Following an uncertain freshman year with all the changes and obstacles that COVID-19 brought, she welcomes this new school year and is staying positive. She understands that routines will look different, but is adjusting and making the best of the situation.
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Montana Tech
DayOne fundraiser generates nearly $200,000, 726 gifts
 BUTTE — Montana Tech (then the Montana State School of Mines) opened its doors to its first 39 students on September 11, 1900 with one building (Main Hall) and two degrees (Mining Engineering and Electrical Engineering). It was the institution's DayOne.
Now, 120 years later, Tech boasts two growing campuses and more than 60 degrees.
To celebrate Montana Tech's history and our growth, the university held its fourth annual two-day digital fundraising event, DayOne, September 10-11, bringing together the Montana Tech community to share what is happening on its campuses and raise funds for our students, departments and programs in focused areas. This year's event raised nearly $200,000, with 726 gifts.
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Great Falls College MSU
Great Falls College MSU breaks
ground on Dental Clinic expansion
 GREAT FALLS — Great Falls College MSU broke ground earlier this month on an expanded public dental clinic that will completed by the start of the 2021-2022 school year.
The facility will allow Great Falls College to admit 25 dental hygiene students instead of 18 each year into the two-year program, which will help with the hygienist shortage across the state.
“This is an exciting time for Great Falls College MSU. The dental hygiene program is the only one in the State of Montana, and we are proud to expand our capacity in a time of such uncertainty," said CEO/Dean Dr. Susan Wolff. "Our dental hygiene and dental assisting students will learn and practice in a state-of-the-art facility using technologies similar to the work environment in which they will work upon graduation. The program was started in 2002 and has outgrown its space.”
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Montana State University Billings
MSU Billings to host fall 2020 Math Circle
 BILLINGS — Montana State University Billings has announced fall 2020 dates of Math Circle sessions for students in the fourth-to-eighth grades, parents and teachers.
The MSUB Math Circle is an outreach program that engages participants in interactive math activities to spark curiosity in the subject. This is the fourth year of Math Circle which is facilitated by MSU Billings math faculty and students.
“Through Math Circle, we hope to introduce the beauty and breadth of mathematics by presenting a variety of topics to students in a fun and discovery oriented format,” shares organizer, Dr. Tien Chih. “We will focus on creativity, discovery, communal learning and open ended thinking.”
Parents and teachers are welcome to attend the online sessions.
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Missoula College
Missoula College: Students share online learning tips
 MISSOULA — This week’s pro-tip for online learning is brought to you by McKinley Biddulph, who is working on her Associates of Applied Science degree.
McKinley recommends using a planner in combination with a phone calendar and referencing it regularly. This is helpful for her because she’s a visual learner.
“It’s easy to be like, ‘OK, I did my Zoom meeting and now I can do whatever I want to do for the day,’ so I give myself two hours to work on stuff for that class,” McKinley said.
Explore Missoula College on Facebook
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Gallatin College
Gallatin College continues to serve
community 10 years later
 BOZEMAN — Ever think about a career in healthcare? Now more than ever, there is a need for good healthcare professionals and the Medical Assistant Program at Gallatin College is great program to get started.
In just one year (two short semesters) you could earn a Certificate of Applied Science-Medical Assistant. Students will learn to work in ambulatory medical settings such as physicians’ offices, clinics and surgical centers. The program is also a great starting point for further education into other medical professions!
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Highlands College
Highlands College Automotive Program
offers training for a fast-growing field
 BUTTE — Why the automotive industry? There are many of opportunities available in this rapidly expanding field, which is a much broader field than most realize.
The automotive field needs technicians who are good with computers, automotive scan tools, automotive lab scopes and electrical meters in addition to people who are good with hand tools.
Why now? There is an ever-growing shortage of automotive technicians nationwide. This is a growing concern that is projected to get worse as older mechanics presently make up the majority of the workforce.
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Flathead Valley Community College
FVCC offers courses that lead to careers
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