Montana University System
College Access
News & Updates
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February 6, 2020 | Issue 1
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The Montana University System partners with Reach Higher
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Help us spread the word!
We’re excited to share with you
ReachHigherMontana.org – the online gateway to the Montana University System. From career planning to financial aid, the site has everything students and their parents need to chart their course for life after high school.
Calendars, planning guides and other tools help students and their families plan smart and stay organized. Students can calculate how much they’ll need to earn to live the lifestyle they want. Parents can calculate tuition and fees and find strategies to minimize debt. Families can explore their student’s post-high school options, including two-year programs, apprenticeships, certificate programs and military service.
ReacherHigherMontana.org is a joint project of the Montana University System and Reach Higher Montana to promote college access for all Montanans. Please help spread the word by sharing the link –
ReachHigherMontana.org – with your students and their families.
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Meet our College Access Champions
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K-12 College Access Champion
Jeremy MacDonald, Box Elder Schools Superintendent
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Jeremy J. MacDonald is the superintendent at Box Elder School District in Box Elder, Montana. Superintendent MacDonald is currently in his third year as superintendent after serving three years as junior high/high school principal. He has completed administrative internships to obtain Principal and Superintendent Licenses through the University of Montana and has a Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University. He also has Bachelor’s Degrees in Elementary Education and Native American Studies from the University of Montana. Superintendent MacDonald is in his 18 year of being an educator. He worked at Rocky Boy Elementary for five years, teaching 5th grade for four years, and serving one year as the Dean of Students. Prior to that he was a teacher in the Cartwright School District in Phoenix, Arizona, teaching six years of 3rd grade and one year of 5th grade at Sunset Elementary.
Superintendent MacDonald is currently a board member for Stone Child College and a member of the National Indian Education Study Technical Review Panel, a branch of the National Assessment of Educational Progress. He was recognized in 2013 by the University of Montana Native American Studies Department with a Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2000, he became part of the inaugural class of Gates Millennium Scholars after a nomination from UM professor, Dr. Henrietta Mann. He also serves on the Montana Technical Advisory Committee on Assessment, the Montana State University Northern’s Education Advisory Board, and is vice-chair of the Hi-Line Region of the Montana Association of School Superintendents.
Superintendent MacDonald is an advocate for educational opportunity, particularly for the American Indian youth of his community. Using his background, experiences and education, he works to provide a positive example within the community, working with students, families, colleagues and the community to open doors through education. He believes education is a key component of finding solutions to overcome challenges and develop the potential of the students and educators he works with.
Why is education important to you and your community?
The community of Box Elder and the larger Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation is home to many people who understand the importance education plays in providing opportunity to overcome the challenges in our local area. Working with educators, families and the larger community most of our goals are similar and we are working toward promoting success for our students locally and in the larger society. Many of us feel an educated population is a solution to addressing the challenges in front of us.
How do you motivate your students to go to college?
There are a number of ways we try to motivate students to go to college. Probably the biggest motivator is our staff who share their experiences and instill confidence in our students that they can be successful in college. Our staff promotes enrolling and attending college and chaperones college visits to both campuses in and out of state. We have had alumni come back to the school and share their experiences to ease concerns and share success stories. We highlight our recent grads and the things they accomplish in conversations with our current students.
What is the best thing about your school?
The best thing about Box Elder School District is the caring staff and the amazing students. Our staff emphasizes developing strong connections with our students and our students are responding in a positive way knowing the people here care about them as individuals. We have students with so much potential and they understand we are working to help them develop their skills and set big goals in life!
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Post-Secondary College Access Champion
Dr. Tricia Seifert, MSU Associate Professor and Crash Course game developer
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Dr. Tricia Seifert is a professor at MSU in the education department, iGraduate recipient, and developer of Crash Course, an interactive game that helps students prepare for the real life experience of college. She has received several awards honoring her research and lectures. Dr. Seifert obtained a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University, a Master's Degree in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State University and a Ph.D. in Counseling Rehabilitation and Student Development from the University of Iowa.
Dr. Seifert is passionate about helping students thrive in higher education. Having talked with students who mentioned that it was only in moments of crisis that they learned of student support programs and services, she resolved to come up with a better way to share the vast resources that exist on college and university campuses. She knew that this ‘better way’ didn’t include another lecture at orientation, but rather an engaging, interactive way of learning. Enter the world of games. Dr. Seifert worked with a team to develop Crash Course and its success in engaging students has been amazing.
Why is education important to you and your community?
Education is valuable as it provides a space for students to learn about people, problems and possibilities. As a student from a rural town, I saw the world literally as a result of my education. From my experience in 4-H to a study abroad year in Germany with AFS, educational opportunities gave me the chance to learn about how people live similarly and differently to those in my home town, how communities around the world respond to issues and challenges, and how people bring their creative energy together to glimpse the possible and make their small part of the world a better place to live.
How do you ensure success on your campus?
Each person on a college campus plays a unique and important role to ensure and support student success. Students often don’t know about the many resources and opportunities on a college campus. If students are struggling in a class, they may not know about SmartyCats tutoring in Renne Library. They may not know about the myriad of scholarships or ways to practice what they are learning in the classroom in a real-world situation. As Department Head in Education, I instituted a weekly communication email with our students, the
Monday Minutes
. Once a week, students know that all the pertinent information from the Department will be shared in a single email. At a time when students’ inboxes are overflowing with spam and junk email, our students have come to expect and rely on this weekly email for all the important info.
Why should high school students consider college?
The evidence is clear that students will need some qualification beyond a high school diploma. This may be a vocational certificate in a trade, or may be a two-year degree in an occupational field. It may be a bachelor's or graduate degree offered at one of Montana’s excellent universities. In fact, if I would give any advice, it is that our world needs lifelong learners. There is no way high school can prepare you for life in an ever-changing world. Staying curious and committing to learning through a lifetime is the best investment one can make.
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Montana's rate of high school seniors completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
is down 6.5% from last year (formyourfuture.org). Completing the FAFSA is an important step in getting to college. One of the most common mistakes happens when reporting net worth. Here are some tips:
- college savings accounts are reported, but retirement accounts are not
- The value of the home you live in is not included, but any rental property is reported in net worth.
- Cash, checking and savings account balances are not included in net worth.
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Did you know that 90% of students who complete the FAFSA go on to enroll in college immediately after graduation? Want to see how your school or district is doing in FAFSA completion? You can check it out
here! Studentaid.gov updates the data regularly by state, district and school.
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Horatio Alger CTE Scholarship
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The Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation is offering the Horatio Alger CTE Scholarship once again. The scholarship is available to those who are committed to completing a career or technical program and demonstate financial need. To learn more....
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TRIO Achievement Grant Scholarship
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In order to earn the Montana TRIO Achievement Grant students, must be Pell Grant-eligible and complete the Montana University System College Prep Curriculum while maintaining at least a 2.0 GPA. The grant may be used to cover a student’s cost of attendance at any U.S. accredited college or university that awards an associate’s degree or higher. Students enrolled in a Montana TRIO Upward Bound or TRIO Talent Search Program may complete an application for review.
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Scholarship Toolkit Available, February 19, 2020
College Greenlight's Scholarship Marathon, February 29, 2020 learn more
here
College Signing Week, May 4-8, 2020
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Montana University System| www.mus.edu
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