UM President Bodnar Presents His State of the University Address

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - One of the hallmarks of UM’s homecoming activities is the presentation of the ‘State of the University’ address by President Seth Bodnar.

I spoke to the president just after the ceremony for a few of the most important messages in his address.

UM President Bodnar Delivers His 'State of the University Address'

“Our university has terrific momentum,” began President Bodnar. “It's a great time to be a Griz. Our enrollment is on the rise. In fact, this year we saw the largest year-over-year enrollment increase in 15 years. We're serving more Montanans. We're serving more first-generation students, and we’re serving more Pell-eligible students. We're serving more veterans and more Native Americans. In fact, our Native American enrollment has increased by 45 percent, the highest on record."

READ MORE: University of Montana 2024 Enrollment: Largest Leap in 15 Years

Not only are more students coming to UM, Bodnar said more are graduating, and doing so with distinction.

Bodnar Said UM's Graduation Rate is the Highest Ever

“Our four-year graduation rate has increased by a third over the past few years, in fact, today it’s the highest it's ever been,” he said. “Our students are achieving at levels of national and international distinction; people like Colter Stevenson from Amsterdam Montana, who received last November a Rhodes scholarship, the first Rhodes Scholar we’ve had in 30 years.”

I asked President Bodnar what the university is doing to attract more students than ever before.

“Our efforts to better tell the UM story, to make people aware of the world-class education that's available right here in Missoula, Montana,” he said. “I think it's also due to our efforts to make a UM education more accessible. Things like the Grizzly Promise Program that we launched a couple of years ago, that promises to any Montanan that comes from a family that makes $50,000 or less, that you can come to our university tuition free.”

Bodnar Invites Families to Look Into the Grizzly Promise Program

He also emphasized the impact of UM on the entire state.

“To a Montanan, I would emphasize that it's a true blessing to have this university here in our state because Montanans get access to this education at a tuition price that is about 30% lower than the average of our fellow public universities in the western region,” he said. “So you have a world-class education right at your fingertips that is more affordable than nearly any institution in the West, especially for a Montana resident.”

For a list of UM Homecoming activities click here.