Letter from the Chancellor
Winter 2003

Another year has come and gone and once again I am impressed by the faithful support of MSU Northern's alumni and friends. This issue of Aurora Borealis is dedicated to honoring all of those individuals who have helped us to meet our financial obligations.

During the past year we completed a strategic Master Plan, which was a follow up to a feasibility study conducted in 2001. This plan provides the framework for our comprehensive long range planning process, which will evaluate all programs, facilities and student life changes.

Our Admissions department developed a New Student Advising Center to ensure that all new and transfer students have a successful beginning at Northern. We improved residence life by wiring MacKenzie Hall with a high speed fiber optic Internet service, cable TV and telephones.

Our education department completed the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher
Education (NCATE) program review and met all seven academic standards. We expect final NCATE approval in late March of this year. We also completed the five year interim visit from the Northwest Association of Commission on Colleges and received commendations for our planning effort and distance programs.

The 2001 Montana Legislature authorized $2 million dollars to help us build an Applied Technology Center on the MSU Northern campus. However, this Legislative appropriation came with a condition, MSU Northern had to raise $2 million in order to keep the money appropriated by the State. The institution is within reach of that goal. That's where you can help us. Your contribution to this important new building will help to insure that MSU Northern continues to be a leader in technical education in the State.

Recently, I sent out a letter to our constituency introducing everyone to the project and asking them for their help. We have had a good response to that letter but still need more contributions to put us over the top. Please help us make that new facility a reality.

Sincerely,

Alex Capdeville
Chancellor
 

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