Former names
|
Montana State Normal College, Montana State Teachers College, Western Montana College |
---|---|
Type | Public |
Established | 1893 |
Chancellor | Beth Weatherby |
Provost | Deborah Hedeen |
Vice-Chancellor | Susan Briggs |
Students | 1469 |
Location |
Dillon, Montana, United States 45°12′30″N 112°38′18″W / 45.20833°N 112.63833°WCoordinates: 45°12′30″N 112°38′18″W / 45.20833°N 112.63833°W |
Colors |
Red, White, Black |
Athletics |
Frontier Conference NAIA |
Nickname | Bulldogs |
Affiliations | The University of Montana |
Website | www.umwestern.edu |
Red, White, Black
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.
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."
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:
The University of Montana Western has an assortment of buildings that are used by the campus communities for many different purposes. Each building has its own unique qualities, departments, and classrooms.