Northern, regents look at criminal justice program
Zach White
Montana State University-Northern could see a new program in the near future.
Northern officials are going to finish out this week in Helena, with other leaders from the Montana University System, at a Board of Regents meeting on Thursday and Friday.
One of the primary concerns for MSU’s Havre campus is the creation of a criminal justice program, including a major and a minor.
According to Rosalyn Templeton, Northern's provost, it has taken a while to get to this point, gaining approval from the Bozeman mothership, the commissioner of higher education, a meeting of administrative officials from colleges all over the state and another meeting with a mixed group of people throughout the college system, from regents to students.
That last meeting raised a question about possible effects on another criminal justice program at the MSU-Billings campus, but the provost said that Northern asked Billings if there were any objections but heard nothing back.
This week’s regent’s meeting is another chance to take a look any and all contingencies and to get everything in order to gain approval of the plan at the next regent’s meeting in May.
Templeton said she felt good going into the meeting, as Northern has letters of approval for the plan from community and tribal colleges across the state, including local tribal schools and the Flathead and Blackfeet community colleges.
These schools have two-year associate degree programs in criminal justice, and they support the program and are interested in transferring students for a final two years at Northern to complete the Bachelor’s of Science degree.
The provost said the program would also be for students in counseling or some related field that feel they could benefit from a criminal justice minor.
Before any decision is made, the regents can raise their concerns or ask for additional information at this week’s meeting. Northern would then provide responses in advance of May’s meeting, where a decision could be made.
Montana State University-Northern could see a new program in the near future.
Northern officials are going to finish out this week in Helena, with other leaders from the Montana University System, at a Board of Regents meeting on Thursday and Friday.
One of the primary concerns for MSU’s Havre campus is the creation of a criminal justice program, including a major and a minor.
According to Rosalyn Templeton, Northern's provost, it has taken a while to get to this point, gaining approval from the Bozeman mothership, the commissioner of higher education, a meeting of administrative officials from colleges all over the state and another meeting with a mixed group of people throughout the college system, from regents to students.
That last meeting raised a question about possible effects on another criminal justice program at the MSU-Billings campus, but the provost said that Northern asked Billings if there were any objections but heard nothing back.
This week’s regent’s meeting is another chance to take a look any and all contingencies and to get everything in order to gain approval of the plan at the next regent’s meeting in May.
Templeton said she felt good going into the meeting, as Northern has letters of approval for the plan from community and tribal colleges across the state, including local tribal schools and the Flathead and Blackfeet community colleges.
These schools have two-year associate degree programs in criminal justice, and they support the program and are interested in transferring students for a final two years at Northern to complete the Bachelor’s of Science degree.
The provost said the program would also be for students in counseling or some related field that feel they could benefit from a criminal justice minor.
Before any decision is made, the regents can raise their concerns or ask for additional information at this week’s meeting. Northern would then provide responses in advance of May’s meeting, where a decision could be made.
