New leaders at Montana universities face budget challenges as enrollments rise - Charles S. Johnson, Missoulian

As students begin another school year, it’s a time of leadership changes and ongoing budget challenges on the campuses of the Montana University System. Its three campuses with the most students either have hired or are in the process of finding new chief executive officers to replace longtime leaders. With declining tax revenues, the university system anticipates another tight two-year budget from the 2011 Legislature. “The biggest challenge facing the university system is to serve the highest all-time enrollment and to serve it well with fewer resources than we’ve had in the past,” Stearns said. The system saw the equivalent of 38,900 full-time students enrolled in the 2009-10 school year – a record 6 percent increase. Officials expect a 5 percent hike this year.