Northern brings back secondary education

Montana State University-Northern is bringing its secondary education program out of moratorium after two years.

The program was taken out during former chancellor James Limbaugh’s term in 2013 and was brought back to begin the upcoming fall semester.

According to Director of University Relations Jim Potter, the program was put into moratorium because the graduation rates for general science were very low.

“We have listened to the community leaders and school representatives from across the Hi-Line with regard to secondary education,” Potter said in the press release. “ … We believe it is in the best interest of Montana, the Hi-Line and MSU-Northern to bring several of our secondary education programs back.”

Carol Reifschneider, the interim dean of the College of Education, Arts and Sciences and Nursing, will be3 the head of the program when it is brought back for students to sign up for the next semester.

“These are the degrees that our students as well as school districts in the region are looking for and we are confident that the education they are receiving is at the highest standard,” Reifschneider said in the press release.

Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel said the move will complement what the university is already doing.

“We have very strong elementary and graduate education programs in place,” he said in a press release. “Secondary education is the perfect complement to those programs.”