University of Montana President Seth Bodnar takes the reins - KEILA SZPALLER, Missoulian

Enrollment has fallen since 2010, although positive indicators appeared this fall, such as an uptick in freshman admissions. Budget challenges remain. A process to set academic and administrative priorities — to determine which programs to cut and which to beef up — consumed a lot of time and energy this school year, but the work is far from complete. Bodnar is also going to lead in a time of challenge for institutions of higher learning across the country and increased skepticism by the public. A Pew Research Center survey last summer showed that 58 percent of Republican and Republican-leaning independents believed colleges and universities have a negative effect on the country. http://missoulian.com/news/local/university-of-montana-president-seth-bodnar-takes-the-reins/article_e160f88e-24b8-5777-8902-fa9aaedd34ad.html