Campus Milestones

“The Spirit of Teaching is with us.”
Dr. L.B. McMullen, 1929 Rimrock

1980
Bachelor of Science in Human Services degree authorized; Art Annex and Physical Plant buildings acquired as part of campus; Athletics programs move from NAIA National Affiliation to NCAA Division II National Affiliation.

1981
William Johnstone appointed interim seventh President.

1982
Dr. Bruce Carpenter appointed seventh President.

1983
School of Liberal Arts re-named School of Arts and Sciences; KEMC becomes full-fledged public radio station.

1984
Men’s volleyball program begins.

1986
Semester system authorized.

1988
Poly Building acquired as part of the campus.

1991
Fall term marks implementation of semester system; School of education becomes School of Education and Human Services.

1994
Montana University System Restructure Implementation. Name changed to Montana State University-Billings; Dr. Ronald P. Sexton named acting Chancellor, the first Chancellor in the history of Montana State University-Billings; Schools named as College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education and Human Services; and College of Business . Billings Vocational Technical Center merged into Montana State University-Billings and named the fourth college, the College of Technology .

1995
Dr. Ronald P. Sexton, following a national search, appointed Chancellor.

1996
Men’s and women’s soccer programs begin.

1997
College of Business relocated to Professional Building across Poly Drive; Center For Continuing Education and Summer Sessions, becomes our fifth college and named College of Professional Studies and Life Long Learning; New programs approved—Bachelor and Master of Arts in Health Administration, Master in Information Processing and Communication, Bachelor in Health Promotion, Bachelor in Music Performance, Associate of Applied Science in Hospitality Management, Associate of Applied Science and Certificate Program in Paramedic, Associate of Applied Science in Process Plant Technology, Bachelor of Applied Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies, Bachelor of Arts and Minor in Environmental Studies.

1998
Parking garage and skywalk completed; New Programs approved – Bachelor of Science in Public Relations, Master of Science in Sports Management.

1999
On-line courses began; Peaks to Plains Park opens; first family housing units completed; New Programs approved – Master of Science in Psychology, Master of Science in Public Relations, Associate of Applied Science in Practical Nursing.

2000
Completion of the addition to the College of Education and Human Services building; women’s softball program begins; New Programs approved – Associate of Applied Science in Automobile Collision Repair & Refinishing Technology, Associate of Applied Science in Computer Systems Technology, Associate of Applied Science in Diesel Technology, Minor in Business Geographic Information Systems.

2001
New program approved – Associate of Science Program of Study in Fire Science; Academic Center opens; Cenex Stadium, home of the Lady Yellowjacket softball team, opened; William R. Lowe Child Care and Enrichment Center opened.

2002
New programs approved – Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance, Master of Science in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, AAS in Computer Desktop and Network Support, Master of Science in Athletic Training; $3 million renovation in the Liberal Arts Building; largest charitable donation to the university made by the Sam E. and Judith McDonald Family - $1.4 million; College of Education received a very successful accreditation review achieving perfect scores at the graduate and undergraduate levels – the first time in our school’s history – from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (N.C.A.T.E.)

2003
New program approved – Masters in Public Administration; College of Education received the National Award for Best Practice in Support of Teacher Education from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (A.A.C.T.E.).

2004
New programs approved – Minor in International Studies, Minor in Finance, Minor in Marketing, Minor in Accounting, Minor in Information Systems, AAS in Application Development; Establishment of the College of Allied Health Professions – our sixth college; $1 million renovation completed at the College of Technology; Kelly Gatzemeier, a senior Marketing student and Adrienne Mayer, a senior Accounting student authored the business plan that netted the pair a first place win at the 15^th Annual John Ruffatto Montana Business Plan Competition at The University of Montana; Jacquelyn Weitz, senior Piano Performance student, was in the Netherlands where she was chosen as one of 30 students from across the globe – the only student from the United States – to compete in the Young Artists’ Competition of the Netherlands; Reno Charette, Director of the Big Horn Teacher Projects at MSU Billings, was named “Indian Educator of the Year” by the Montana Indian Education Association; MSU Billings Outreach office opened in Red Lodge, Montana; Fulbright Scholars – Dr. Matthew Benaquista, Dr. Ernesto Randolfi, Dr. Brian Dillon and Dr. Jeffrey Sanders.

2005
New programs approved – Bachelor of Science in Biology, Environmental Sciences Option, Biology Medical Laboratory Science Option; Men’s baseball program begins; Reno Charette, Director of the Big Horn Teachers Projects at MSU Billings selected as the Montana director of Indian Affairs by Governor Brian Schweitzer; Montana legislature approved $9 million in funding for the construction of a new academic building at the College of Technology.

2006
New programs approved – AAS in Construction Technology, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in General Science, AAS in Medical Coding; a record number, 9,000, students served in online enrollments; record year in grant receipts totaling $8.5 million; major improvements made to the soccer field at the College of Technology campus; Fulbright Scholar – Dr. Susan Barfield; Chancellor Ronald Sexton received the 2006 Distinguished Leadership Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).