Student Services & Programs

Lucy Carson Library

The mission of the Lucy Carson Library is to assist library users in becoming information literate and technology literate lifelong learners and to affect positively the ways that faculty teach and the ways that students learn. The intellectual welfare of library users is the primary focus of the library. Information is not limited to the library shelves or to the hours and days that the library is open. The library offers 24-7 access to many resources. Helping people connect with and use information and technology is the goal of the library staff.

The facility offers:

• Wireless internet accessibility;
• On- and off-campus access to resources;
• Digital and print information resources in all curriculum areas
• Comfortable space and popular fiction for leisure reading;
• A robust resource sharing system;
• A library web portal to access digital resources and services;
• Information and technology literacy instruction;
• Scanning, photocopy, printing, and media assistance;
• Technology and tools to encourage creativity and to enhance course projects;
• Work and study spaces for groups;
• Quiet individual study spaces;
• Comfortable furniture;
• A food and drink friendly environment with a coffee and snack shop in the building.

An automated library collection fulfills the information needs of patrons. Through resource sharing, a dedicated technology services staff person guides patrons in locating information not available in the collection. Library and technology instruction is available for individuals, small groups, or classes. The staff tailor these information literacy presentations to faculty and student requests.

School of Outreach

The School of Outreach embodies Montana Western’s two-year mission of serving Montana citizens’ workforce development, developmental, community development, and lifelong-learning programs. Outreach programs extend beyond traditional University course offerings to provide more choices to promote workforce and professional development, and to serve community interests. Credit, non-credit, grant-funded, self-supporting, and sponsored programs are offered at locations on- and off-campus, as well as sites linked by technology. The School of Outreach publishes professional  development and personal enrichment offerings three times each year-in July, December, and April, corresponding with the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms, respectively. Outreach offerings are supplemental to campus programs.

Honors Program

The UMW Honors Program gives a limited number of curious and motivated students the opportunity to seek greater challenge through Honors Seminars. These are small, interactive, interdisciplinary classes, each based on a common theme, rich in reading, writing, and independent projects. The 15 or fewer students in each seminar get to know one another well, engage in service learning activities, and present their work to the seminar, as well as to other audiences.

Each seminar is designed to serve as a substitute for general education or major classes so that students are not slowed in their progress toward graduation. To graduate with an Honors endorsement, students take at least four seminars, with at least two seminars at the 300- or 400-level.

Students submit an Application to Graduate With Honors Endorsement form with their graduation application materials when applying to graduate from Montana Western.

Return completed Honors applications to: The Honors Program Chair, The University of Montana Western, Campus Box 75, 710 S Atlantic, Dillon MT 59725-3598.