Forgive me, but what does PLS stand for?
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Enrollment Up Again
- Thread starter HookedonGriz
- Start date
The overall growth under bodnar was minimal, if not non existent. In fact, 4 year undergrad enrollment declined!!! There **slight** grad school enrollment growth, and missoula college. Other than that, we were absolutely awful under bodnar. And its wild that more people dont see this reality. How does he get a free pass?!??
HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
Presidential Leadership Scholarship
I’ve said this in a couple other threads, but the primary reason Bodnar was brought in was to stabilize the University. He absolutely did that. His only job was to get us back on track. Do I wish he would’ve had a more growth mindset? Of course I do, and in some ways he did, but now the table is set for somebody to take over whose primary objective is that! The latest update from Clayton Christian implies that there’s lot of interest from candidates from several R1 universities! That’s good news as most of those schools have soared in enrollment and growth. I’m confident they’re gonna get this right as they should have a lot more attractive candidate pool this time! Just gotta nail this hire and UM can start turning things around!
i think a lot of egrizzers thought it was a great idea to hire somebody with a business background, but limited academic experience, and no university administration experience. i was skeptical but kept an open mind. they don't want to admit they were wrong, so when i've tried to point out the teeny tiny increases, and that the r1 designation was the result of many, many years of building research at the university. as far as i know none of the people who received really big grants were exactly spring chickens, and had been around the u before bodnar ever showed up. i don't even know who his research vp has been this whole time, which shows how little emphasis was made to publicize research successes. anybody here know who it is, and their background?
bodnar has been pretty much a failure, in my book. the university didn't hire him to 'straighten the place out', as some claim he has, he was hired with the hope of solid leadership and big gains in enrollment, by advertising, etc... i don't know that he was really that great at ge, either, given that the department he was in charge of was cut by the company right after he left. i don't really have an opinion on the guy as a person, but obviously i don't think he did a good job.
read my post above. he wasn't hired as a place holder, and the only stabilization the university needed was to have a non-interim president. that's not why the board of regents would make a somewhat risky hire of a university president.
HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
I had conversations with some young people that had interaction with both schools when coming out of high school and they overwhelmingly gave similar replies. UM seems old and boring while MSU seems new and exciting. The curb appeal is much different. MSU does a much better job at numerous levels representing the school and community.
This is the story and hasnt changed for 15 years. Gotta get it right! This president hire is immensely important and I hope hes empowered to thrive.
mousegriz1
Well-known member
So.....UM is like most of your posts....and MSU more like this one?
I agree, its been very underwhelming, and the corporate experience... you are spot on. There is nothing Inspiring about his corporate experience at GE. GE used to be a great american company, but it has struggled for years. The token "business and corporate experience " label that bodnar came with was not of substance. And the achievements at UM have resembled that.
GriznMN
Well-known member
Fix the problems or whither away and die:
1. Degrees (i.e. Engineering and Aviation) - ROI and Desired Program of Study
2. Internships - Career Outcomes and Job Placement - Connect with graduates
3. Affordability - Cost of Tuition and cost of on/off campus housing - build off campus housing or encourage the City of Missoula to encourage off campus housing development
4. Location and Campus Feel - UM should excel over others
5. Safety and Student Life - Quality of Student Life Programming and On/Off Campus Safety - Loyola University in Chicago is a great model for Off Campus Safety
1. Degrees (i.e. Engineering and Aviation) - ROI and Desired Program of Study
2. Internships - Career Outcomes and Job Placement - Connect with graduates
3. Affordability - Cost of Tuition and cost of on/off campus housing - build off campus housing or encourage the City of Missoula to encourage off campus housing development
4. Location and Campus Feel - UM should excel over others
5. Safety and Student Life - Quality of Student Life Programming and On/Off Campus Safety - Loyola University in Chicago is a great model for Off Campus Safety
GriznMN
Well-known member
Why do you think he stepped down?
wbtfg
Well-known member
Are PLS apps traditionally a strong indicator of overall apps and freshman enrollment?
For a political run at Steve Daines for one of our US senate seats, is the word
Blgs Griz Fan
Well-known member
Nice try.
GriznMN
Well-known member
That was the "reason" given.
noncasualobserver
Well-known member
It is good news, but getting interest from R1s is commonplace. Lots of R1 applicants for the MSU President as well. Department Heads, Deans, Provosts and even "Dean of Fiscal whatever" from R1s apply for President positions often. If they get the UM job, they build creds, then re-enter as Deans of Texas A&M, Michigan, etc. for massive raises. I think that's a good thing because they better crush it in the position they landed to make that happen.
No matter what, my assumption is that UM's going to get a very good President. BOR, OCHE and The Commish know how important this is and it's a perfect position for a motivated person to show massive impact.
UM copying or adding niche engineering degrees, diluting classes at MSU & MT Tech? It's possible, but you're literally asking Montana taxpayers to pony up 10s of millions because an alumni base wants more students. Fiscal idiocy from a MUS perspective. The cost will be astronomical, new curriculum, entire new College, staff who will get much better pay and (if they're a licensed engineer) aren't going to join a faculty union. Any guesses at how long it would take to actually get students to attend and grow a new college?
I like what N Taber wrote: embrace what Missoula is: funky, iconic, hipster, great outdoor opportunities and stable at the same time. It's authentic, not made up. Embrace the grad school growth, it's awesome and grossly underappreciated (shame on all of you who don't think it's awesome! MSU would love to have what you have in a grad school), focus on the excellent existing STEM: computer science, pre-med, pre-vet and double down on liberal arts. Many tech execs have liberal arts degrees: promote and own that. The last great President of Boeing was a UM grad. The MeatEater guy is a UM grad, isn't he? Don't compare it to the sun/trendiness/growing tech sector of MSU: it screams insecurity. Everyone wants to think their college town is better than the other and we all "talk to parents and students" and get the story from those single or maybe up to 10 samples, which don't mean anything. I see HS classmates who were rabid about UM, now showing up to MSU games wearing blue and gold to be with their kids, who had no interest in UM. I know several, I give them tons of shit, and it still doesn't mean squat, it's not relevant data on UM's future.
Frankly and judgementally: we from over the hill for the last 35+ years have been wondering what UM's identity is: a good old boy network of pensioners driving maroon sedans, a liberal arts colony...it hasn't been clear.
Now is the time.
Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but I remember hearing last summer that UM was looking at adding a med school on campus. Is that actually a thing? I know they’ve added several health related programs like OT and PA over the last year or so. I think that would be big if UM added a med school!
catgrizfan
Well-known member
I have degrees from both schools, and my experience at each school was similar in many ways, but there is some nuance that UM really needs to sell. Both schools are great for outdoorsy activities, but everything is so crowded around Bozeman. Fishing, hiking, and skiing are great there if you have an aversion to solitude. Much better around Missoula. The school experience was much better at UM. The UM campus is 100x better in so many ways. The professors at both schools are good, but I had more professors at UM who stressed critical thinking and problem solving. They pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to grow. I benefit from this more than the more technical education I received at MSU. It has been said on here many times before (because it is true), but now more than ever companies are looking for individuals capable of critical analysis and original thought.
Missoula is a town with a great vibe. Lots to do. Better restaurants, farmers markets, concerts, and community events. Downtown is amazing and walkable. Bozeman is a shit hole. Everyone knows it but, “Look! Mountains!!!” Smh. Sports game atmospheres are better at UM…by a wide margin. Housing costs are lower in Missoula. UM needs to sell all of these amazing points. They need to tell a story that highlights these advantages. MSU sells its brand by positioning itself as elite. UM needs to get back to truly believing they are, and selling themselves and the town as elite. I remember when UM recruited me 25 years ago, I was told it was the Harvard of the West at least 100 times. That mattered to me. There is no reason for enrollment to not be at least on par with MSU. It is objectively mystifying.
Missoula is a town with a great vibe. Lots to do. Better restaurants, farmers markets, concerts, and community events. Downtown is amazing and walkable. Bozeman is a shit hole. Everyone knows it but, “Look! Mountains!!!” Smh. Sports game atmospheres are better at UM…by a wide margin. Housing costs are lower in Missoula. UM needs to sell all of these amazing points. They need to tell a story that highlights these advantages. MSU sells its brand by positioning itself as elite. UM needs to get back to truly believing they are, and selling themselves and the town as elite. I remember when UM recruited me 25 years ago, I was told it was the Harvard of the West at least 100 times. That mattered to me. There is no reason for enrollment to not be at least on par with MSU. It is objectively mystifying.
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