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Incoming President Says UM Faces Significant Challenges

University of Montana President Seth Bodnar.
University of Montana
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University of Montana President Seth Bodnar

The University of Montana’s new president says UM is facing a defining moment. Seth Bodnar describes the university’s budgeting and enrollment challenges as ‘significant’.

UM’s enrollment has steadily declined since its all-time high of over 15,000 in the spring of 2011. Last fall there were just shy of 12,000 total students. University officials touted a 2 percent bump in freshmen enrollment last fall and they’re eager to build on that modest progress. Bodnar, now in his second week in Main Hall, says the path forward is fraught with challenge, but adds he’s confident UM’s best days are ahead of it.

Bodner spoke with MTPR's Edward O'Brien.

O’Brien first landed at Montana Public Radio three decades ago as a news intern while attending the University of Montana School of Journalism. His first career job out of school was covering the 1995 Montana Legislature. When the session wrapped up, O’Brien was fortunate enough to land a full-time position at the station as a general assignment reporter. Feel free to drop him a line at edward.obrien@umt.edu.
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