State edict means Northern staff works 5 days a week

Though Montana State University-Northern students will continue with a modified schedule this summer, the university's staff will have to return to the same schedule as every government employee, 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. Monday through Friday.

Northern's Chancellor Jim Limbaugh said that new Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian told all of the Montana college campuses that they have to follow laws mandating hours for executive branch offices.

"We were told that our being closed violates a law, " Limbaugh said. "Is it unsettling to folks because the original plan was to have a three-day...