Hansen praises Northern for program review

A local state representative, the chair of the House Education Committee, had high praise for Havre’s university taking the initiative in revamping and refocusing its programs.

“I want to congratulate the university, all of you guys, on this, because you are so far leading the state, leading all other campuses,” Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, said Friday during a public forum on Montana State University-Northern’s program prioritization and review.

The forum was held to discuss and answer questions about a nine-month, six-level review of all programs at Northern, resulting in Chancellor Jim Limbaugh’s proposal to grow 19 programs, maintain 25, reduce or integrate four into other programs, and place into moratorium or eliminate 25 others, as well as identifying three possible new programs.

Limbaugh has cited a movement in the state toward performance-based funding for the university system in the effort to identify programs to grow at Northern. Part of the program review was looking at programs’ ability to recruit, retain and graduate student, although other factors also were looked at.

Hansen said Friday that the Legislature already set aside a small amount of money — $7.5 million — to be allocated to universities and colleges based on performance.

“Frankly, Northern should be in line for the biggest portion of that right now, because you have already taken those steps,” she said.

She said the state legislators — and leaders of other campuses — have taken notice of Northern’s campus-wide review, which Limbaugh has said is the first of its kind in Montana, to his knowledge.

“I just want to say thank you and keep up the good work,” Hansen said Friday. “Don’t back off now. You have made part of the tough decisions … so don’t be discouraged.

“This is good stuff, and you guys are well ahead,” Hansen added.