The University of Montana Western (UMW) is a public university located in Dillon, Montana, United States. It is affiliated with The University of Montana and is part of the Montana University System. The school was founded in 1893 as Montana State Normal School. The college was founded as a center for training teachers. It was formerly known as Western Montana College before becoming part of the Montana University System in 2000. Enrollment as of Fall 2016 was 1,501 students.
History
It was founded as the Montana State Normal School in 1893, to train teachers according to a model used by other states. Education was considered highly important for the state. It was expanded with increased programs and had a four-year curriculum; the addition of other subjects and departments led to its being renamed as Western Montana College. It became part of the Montana University System in 2000, and is titled University of Montana Western.
The first term of the Montana State Normal School began on September 6, 1897 with courses in elementary education for all grades below high school which took two years to complete, a one year professional course for all teachers with two years of prior experience, an English-Scientific course which gave students a four-year diploma, a four-year Latin course, and a graduate course. The first-course catalog had this statement along with an explanation of the necessity of teachers:
"On September 6th the Montana State Normal School will be organized for its first year's work. A well-equipped building has been provided; a faculty of thoroughly qualified teachers has been employed and courses of study adapted to the needs of those preparing to teach have been arranged. The citizens of Dillon have made every effort to secure good accommodations for the students. The State Normal will open under the most favorable conditions for a high grade of work. The most satisfactory results may be promised all who enter upon any of its courses of study."
Western's Interaction with the Dillon Community
The University of Montana Western strives to involve the Dillon community in their events that they hold on and off campus. Some of the events that UMW holds for the community include:
- Monday Movie Night- Big Sky Cinema holds movies for the college community on Monday's for $3.00
- Dances with Words- The English Department hosts a public reading from a notable author each block during the academic year.
- Community Outreach Event- The campus holds a BBQ for the community members in Dillon to say thank you
- Halloween Carnival- Student Senate and the RA's on campus hold a kid's carnival on Halloween with games and prizes and Trick or Treating in the dorms
- Terra Verda Earth Day Cleanup- The Terra Verde club and the community team up on Earth Day and clean up the town of Dillon
- Easter egg Hunt- The Football team sponsors an annual Easter egg hunt after one of their spring scrimmages
- Concerts and Plays- The Southwest Montana Arts Council puts on different types of plays and concerts inviting community members and students to attend
- Rodeo Banquet- The rodeo team holds their annual banquet inviting the community members to attend. There is dinner, drinks, live music and an auction.
- Sporting Events- Western offers many different types of sporting events for the community to come watch
Buildings on Campus
The University of Montana Western has an assortment of buildings that are used by the campus communities for many different purposes.
Main Hall is the first and most well-known of the buildings on campus. It hosts courses such as Theater, Education, Art, Band, Choir, and English classes. It also houses the Advising office, the Provosts office, Dean of Faculty, Division of Out Reach, Elderhostel, Field Experience, the Beir Auditorium, the Small Auditorium, the Ideal Classroom, Trio, Montana Western Art Gallery and Museum, and various professors offices.
Roe House is home to the administration. The main offices housed here are the Chancellor's office, the Foundation office, Marketing, Media Relations, and the Alumni office.
Mathews Residence Hall is home to many students during the school year. This hall also holds the Cafeteria/Kitchen, the Heritage Room, the Lewis and Clark Room, and Conference and Events Services.
The Business and Technology building holds an assortment of various fields of study. It is host to the Youth challenge courses, Business courses, and a small gym used for various activities for students.
The Short Center is connected to the Library and hosts the Admissions office, Business office, Financial Aid office, The Registrars office, Mail-room, Campus Operator, Traffic Control, and Veteran Educational Benefits.
The Carson Library does just not hold an assortment of reading material it also has audio files and other offices. The Learning Assistance Center and Career services are located in the building to help students with their studies.
The Student Union Building, more commonly known as the SUB, is a hangout filled with student-oriented facilities. The Campus Bookstore, KDWG the radio station, The Bark' n' Bite, Associated Students of UMW, And Veteran and Military Exchange (VMX).
The STC, Swysgood Technology Center, is Commonly known for its large computer labs. However, it contains a large conference hall, smaller conference rooms, Information Technology Services, ITS Help Desk, and the AU office. The basement of the STC connects with the Library and contains The Cup (a small cafe), and Printing and Graphics.
Block Hall is home to the Science and Mathematics educational studies on campus. It houses Professor offices, well-stocked labs, and Campus Stores.
The Facilities services buildings houses the staff that keeps the campus running. It holds a few different offices that keep the School in tip top shape such as the Motor Pool Desk, Facilities Service, and Campus Security.
The Heating Plant/Biomes Boiler is a unique building that is featured on UMW campus. It uses an innovative system to heat the majority of the buildings on campus.
The Curious Minds Early Childhood Educational building is currently not in use but often younger children still play in the backyard playground.
Family Housing is a dorm system for the students that have special needs or for families that depend on the student who is going to school.
Jordan Residence hall is two floors that connect to the larger JDC grouping.
Davis Residence hall is a dorm as well as the office building for Residence Life and Birch Creek Center.
Centenial Residence hall is a couple of floors reserved for students dorm rooms.
Clark Residence hall is specifically attributed to the Youth Challenge program.
The Bulldog Athletic and Recreation Center more commonly known as the (BARC) houses most of the Athletic Department and has two large gymnasiums called the Keltz Arena and Straugh Gymnasium. It also holds a very intact Athletic Training Center that all students are able to use.
The Chancellor's residence resides in the far corner of the Campus.
The Dean of Students building holds a few different services that are free to use if you are enrolled. Counseling, Dean of Students, Disability Services, Health Services, Student Affairs, and the Wellness office are all ready and willing to help students with whatever problems they encounter.
La Cense Center of Equine studies is the building in charge of the equine department located on and off campus in the campus Stables.
The South Campus Housing has recently been renovated into the home base for the Veterinary Program.
The Emerick Art Studio is dedicated to the larger projects of the Art Program housing a window display and classrooms.
The Campus Community Garden is a large area with small greenhouses and many rows of gardening land. This garden has community plots as well as provides some vegetation to the campus cafeteria.
Certificate programs
Early Childhood Certificate
Farrier Science Certificate
Small Animal Grooming Certificate
Academic Programs
Biology
Business and Technology
Education
English
Environmental Sciences
Equine Studies
Fine Arts
Health and Human Performance
History, Philosophy and Social Science
Mathematics
Honors
Department Heads and Faculty
Michael Morrow- Biology
- Biology Faculty
Fred Chilson- Business
- Business Faculty
Vikki Howard- Education
- Education Faculty
Bethany Blankenship- English
- English Faculty
Steve Mock- Environmental Science
- Environmental Science Faculty
Rob Thomas- Environmental Science
- Environmental Science Faculty
Lola Else- Equine Studies
- Equine Studies Faculty
Brent McCabe- Fine Arts
- Fine Arts Faculty
Janelle Handlos- Health and Human Performance
Aaron Weinacht- History, Philosophy and Social Science
- History, Philosophy and Social Science Faculty
Eric Wright- Mathematics
- Mathematics Faculty
Athletics
The University of Montana-Western (UMW) bulldogs are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), competing in the Frontier Conference.
Men's Sports
- Basketball
- Roster
- Schedule/Results
- The University of Montana-Western Men's Basketball team's assistant coach is Matt Strickland. In the 2016-17 season they made their third consecutive appearance at NAIA national tournament in Kansas City, MO.
- Football (American)
- The Bulldogs football team is coached by Ryan Norse. The defensive coordinator is Rob Goode. Nick Brown, Chase Colvin, and Dane Vanderpan fill out the staff.
- Roster
- Schedule/Results
- Cross country
- In 2015, The University of Montana-Western introduced Cross Country to its Athletics Department. The Men's and Women's Cross Country team is coached by Dylan Zitzer.
- Roster
- Schedule/Results
Women's Sports
- Basketball
- Roster
- Schedule/Results
- The UMW Lady Bulldogs are coached by Lindsay Woolley and assisted by Tony Nakashima. In the 2016-17 season, the Lady Bulldogs won their first NAIA national tournament game in over ten years, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
- Volleyball
- The Women's Volleyball team is coached by Brent Lewis and assisted by Kaprice Bray.
- Roster
- Schedule/Results
- Cheerleading
- The Cheer squad at the University of Montana-Western is coached by Megan Woolley.
- Roster
- Cross country
- Roster
- Schedule/Results
- Rodeo
- The University of Montana-Western Rodeo team is coached by Iola "Olie" Else.
- Roster
- Schedule/Results
Athletic Training
- The University of Montana-Western athletic health care team provides service to nearly 300 student-athletes under the direction of UMW Team Physician Dr. Nick DiGiovine from Montana Orthopaedics. Physician Assistant Brandon Bayers from St. James Healthcare also sees patients in the Kendall Clinic throughout the week. This comprehensive healthcare delivery team provides world-class care for the student-athletes at UMW.
- Head Athletic Trainer: Kaleb Birney
- Associate Athletic Trainers: Mary Placzkowski, Elizabeth Davis
Notable people
Brandon Brown - (Basketball) Professional Career includes playing overseas in Australia, Brazil, Cyprus, and Poland.
Bethany Blankenship, Ph.D.- Professor of English. Current Department Chair. Primary architect of Stretch English, a course in college composition that extends over two blocks.
Larry Brazil, M.A. - Professor of Fine Arts. The Montana Theater Educator of the year for the 2002-2003 academic year; the Myrna Loye Center’s Arts Educator of the Year in 1997; and received an honorable mention for Teen Ink Magazine’s Educator of the Year in 2001-2002.
Shane Borrowman, Ph.D. - Department Chair from July 2012 through April 2016.
Julie Bullard, Ph.D. â€" Professor of Early Childhood Education. Carnegie Foundation's 2011 Montana Professor of the Year.
Sarah Glasgow, Ph.D. â€" Professor of Political Science. Carnegie Foundation's 2013 Montana Professor of the Year.
Mark Krank, Ph.D. - Professor of Psychology. Dr. Krank conducted the analysis of a large data set on Experience One scheduling when Montana Western implemented the program on a pilot basis from 2002-2004.
Deborah McCabe, M.Ed. - Professor of Education. Director of unique Rural Fridays Program.
Eva Mastandrea, M.F.A - Professor of Fine Arts. Serves as the chair of the Mary Baker Emerick Trust which allocates scholarship funds for Montana Western art students.
Michael Morrow, Ph.D. â€" Professor of Biology. Carnegie Foundation's 2012 Montana Professor of the Year. Awarded two National Institutes of Health grants through the IDeA Network for Biomedical Research program.The last three winners of the undergraduate poster competition at the Montana Academy of Sciences have come from Morrow's lab.
Delena Norris-Tull, Ph. D. â€" Professor of Education. Carnegie Foundation's 2010 Montana Professor of the Year. Norris-Tull is currently serving as chair of the Montana Western Department of Education. She also serves on the board of RESA4U, a regional service agency providing professional development to teachers in southwest Montana.
Marlene Stonelake, M.Ed. - Professor of Education. Implemented the Teacher Education Program (TEP) portfolio, which is a significant part of the teacher education program at Montana Western.
Robert C. Thomas, Ph. D. â€" Professor of Geology. 2009 U.S. Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Judy A. Ulrich, Ph.D. - Professor of Fine Arts. She currently serves on The Montana Arts Council, a position appointed by the governor, which is one of 50 state arts councils.
O. Alan Weltzien, Ph. D. - Professor of English. Dr. Weltzien has received two Fulbright Fellowships and one University of Montana Faculty Exchange Award.
Marcus Williams- Currently the president of his own firm, 1st Class Athletes, a national full-service athlete management and marketing company he started in Portland, Ore.
Craig Zaspel, Ph.D. - Professor of Environmental Sciences. His research in magnetism has far reaching applications in the field of cancer research.
The Associated Students of the University of Montana Western
The Associated Students of the University of Montana Western (ASUMW) are represented by the Student Senate. Student Senate is responsible for Student Advocacy, Student Activities, and Administration of its office and funding.
The Student Senate offices are located in the basement of the Student Union. You can reach the Student Senate Office Manager, Keeley Fitzgerald, at 406-683-7211 or email her at keeley.fitzgerald@umwestern.edu.
All meetings occur in the Senate Conference Room in the basement of the Student Union Building Monday evenings beginning at 6:00Â p.m. Meetings are open to the public. To be put on the agenda, please e-mail asumwpres@umwestern.edu by the preceding Friday at 5 PM, any requests after will be automatically added to the next Monday's meeting.
The Associated Students of the University of Montana Western serves as the voice for the students, by leading the campus in the direction of the students, UMW reflects the inspiration, drive, and character of the student body. Cole Snider, current ASUMW president says that Western's student senate "enhances the UMW experience while also promoting student involvement, and leadership."
The Student Senate advises administration on issues and policies concerning UMW’s students and also looks over and allocates all student activity fees. As a member of the ASUMW, they give recommendations to the Montana Board of Regents concerning our student’s collective education.
The Student Senate includes:
• President: Cole Snider
• Vice President: Jes Tews
• Senators
•Biology Seat: Dennara Gaub
•Business Seat: Chad Funk
•Education Seat: Treygan Olson
•English Seat: Jose Letcher
•Environmental Science Seat: Kelsie Field
•Equine Studies Seat: Camas Neville
•Fine Art Seat: Matthew Sekerak
•HPSS Seat: Nate Eury
•General Seat: Lauren Rideg
•General Seat: Sydney Nash
•General Seat: Samantha Hubbard
•General Seat: Wyatt Sarrazin
• Head of Activities: Tia Seymanski
• Head of Intramurals: Marcus Monaco
• Faculty Advisor: Dr. John Hajduk
• Officer Manager: Keeley Fitzgerald
Clubs
- Anime Club
- Art Club
- Biology Club
- Business Club
- Catholic Campus Ministries
- Chi Alpha
- Collegiate Stockgrowers
- Draft Horse Driving Club
- UMW Drama Gargoyles
- Education Club
- Equestrian Club
- Honors Club
- Horseman's Club
- Industrial Technology Club
- Kappa Sigma
- Large Animal Rescue
- Log Dawgs
- Music Club
- Paranormal Investigators
- Peaks Club
- Rodeo Club
- Rugby Club
- Ski and Snowboard Club
- Social Club
- Terra Verde
- Twisted Ink Creative Writing Club
- Vaulting Club
- Vet Science Club
- Western Gaming Alliance
- Wrestling Club
- Young Farmers and Ranchers
- Young Life
Radio Station - "90.9 The Dawg"
KDWG (90.9 FM, "90.9 The Dawg") is a radio station licensed to serve Dillon, Montana. It is located on campus and provides educational and alternative programming to the University of Montana Western and the surrounding Beaverhead Valley. Since KDWG is a free-form variety station, it plays a broad range of programming including talk, sports, and a wide spectrum of music (some of the most popularly played genres: country, pop, classic rock, christian/gospel, and oldies). Students, faculty, and community members generate some of the stations content; however, the station itself is run by UMW students. For this reason, the station is a strong meeting place between campus and community.
- Listen to KDWG.
- Visit the station's Facebook page.
- Visit the station's Twitter page.
History of KDWG
- In the fall of 1998, the students at the University of Montana Western (then Western Montana College) voted to implement a fee to fund a student-operated radio station. KDWG filed for their FCC application on May 13, 1999. Approval by the FCC was granted on November 28, 2000. The staff of KDWG proceeded to construct studio facilities, develop programming, and train on-air DJs.
- The station was assigned the KDWG call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on December 4, 2000.
- The station's first broadcast aired on January 17, 2001.
References
External links
- The University of Montana Western website
- The University of Montana Western athletics website