Over the past thirty years, a diverse set of Montana colleges and universities have aligned their public service and student engagement work as the Montana Campus Compact. As a key part of the national Campus Compact movement, Montana Campus Compact has, over its history, successfully supported thousands of college student volunteers to serve in communities. This campus network has trained faculty in reciprocal community-engaged teaching, leveraged millions of dollars in AmeriCorps funding for students, supported scholarships and honored the contributions of hundreds of exceptional Montana students working closely with the Governor’s Office of Community Service, Reach Higher Montana and others. Following an intentional change to the organization’s structure with long-time national partner Campus Compact, Montana’s college presidents charged staff with a community needs assessment and planning process with stakeholders.
18 Montana Higher Education Campuses Form a New Network to Support Student
Engagement
In early 2024, campus leaders from Montana’s private, state, and tribal colleges and universities engaged in a planning process to understand the intersections of their student and community needs, to better connect the two. The planning work resulted in a clear charge to launch a new campus network called the Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement. Led by campus CEOs and supported by campus staff and faculty, this statewide network’s mission is to educate college students for civic responsibility, and partner with communities to inspire, empower, and promote community service and civic engagement.
Executive Board
Chair: John Cech, President, Carroll College
Vice Chair: Stefani Hicswa, Chancellor, MSU Billings
Past Chair: Jane Karas, President, Flathead Valley Community College
Members: Seth Bodnar, President, University of Montana; Sean Chandler, President, Aaniiih
Nakoda College; Waded Cruzado, President, Montana State University; Stephanie Erdman,
Dean, Great Falls College MSU; and McCall Flynn, Executive Director, Montana Board of Public Education
"Colleges and universities in Montana are a vibrant part of our local communities,
contributing volunteers, time, energy and our physical spaces to the common good.
Whether through Service Saturdays, food drives, or long-term partnerships with schools
and nonprofits, we work hard to be part of the communities that host our institutions.
The Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement, which comprises 18 higher
education institutions in Montana, marks a fresh and vibrant re-launch and renewal of
the work started over thirty years ago by visionary Montana college presidents like
George Dennison (University of Montana) and Joe McDonald (Salish Kootenai College). "
-President John Cech, Carroll College
“Civic engagement on our campuses is as important now as it has ever been. We know
that students who are involved in their campus communities do better in their classes
and are retained and graduate at a higher rate. I am excited by the changes we are
making and look forward to the opportunities it will bring for our students.”
-Chancellor Stefani Hicswa, MSU Billings
PARTICIPATING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES:
● Aaniiih Nakoda College, Fort Belknap, President Sean Chandler
● Blackfeet Community College, Browning, President Brad Hall
● Carroll College, Helena, President John Cech
● Chief Dull Knife College, Lame Deer, President Eva Flying
● Dawson Community College, Glendive, President Chad Knudson
● Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell, President Jane Karas
● Fort Peck Community College, Poplar, President Craig Smith
● Great Falls College MSU, Great Falls, Dean Stephanie Erdman
● Helena College UM, Helena, Dean Sandra Bauman
● Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, Interim President Neva Tall Bear
● Miles Community College, Miles City, President Ron Slinger
● Montana State University, Bozeman, President Waded Cruzado
● MSU Billings, Billings, Chancellor Stefani Hicswa
● MSU-Northern, Havre, Chancellor Greg Kegel
● Montana Technological University, Butte, Chancellor Les Cook
● Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, Interim President Michael Munson
● The University of Montana, Missoula, President Seth Bodnar
● The University of Montana Western, Dillon, Chancellor Michael Reid
OUR PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES, AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
-MCNCE VISTA Program
-College Coaches AmeriCorps Program
-Centering Indigenous Knowledge webinar series
-Community Building Institute
-George M. Dennison Civic Engagement Scholarship
-Montana Athletes In Service Award
-Student Volunteer Award
-Youth Serve Montana Scholarship
-The Western Region Continuums of Service Conference
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