Dear Governor Bullock,
We, a group of your supporters here in Missoula, are writing to inform you of the deteriorating situation at the University of Montana. Since 2012, when you were a candidate for the governorship of the Treasure State, we have supported you and your policies, particularly your strong commitment to higher education. We have, however, grown increasingly concerned about the direction and the long-term future of our beloved university, the University of Montana, which serves as an invaluable educational and economic engine and resource for the city of Missoula and the entire state of Montana.
For the past four years, under Dr. Royce Engstrom’s leadership, the University of Montana has suffered tremendously; we have lost several thousand students and tens of millions of dollars in revenue. The morale of the staff, students, and faculty at the University is at an all-time low. An atmosphere of fear and intimidation has forced many among the staff to express their anger and opposition to the present administration through anonymous letters and online comments and messages.
Last week, Dr. Engstrom announced that 201 staff and academic positions will be cut. He also stated that these cuts will continue over the next few years. As many in Missoula would tell you, the Engstrom administration has been nothing but an unmitigated disaster, ushering in a reign of public embarrassment, enrollment decline, and financial meltdown. We believe that it is incumbent upon you as our governor, to take a closer look into the situation unfolding at the University of Montana. In doing so, we respectfully ask that you do not seek out solely the few individuals attached to the office of Commissioner of Higher Education and the Montana Board of Regents, who have unfortunately decided to ignore the obvious signs of deterioration and decline, signs which we observe, experience, and confront on a daily basis. To illustrate the anger and outrage of hundreds of members of the university and the greater Missoula community, we have attached a petition, signed by over 1,000 people. The written forms can be provided upon request, and you may find additional electronic signatures and comments by visiting the link below. We humbly ask for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Missoula Advocates for the University of Montana
