News and Announcements
2016
MSU Instructor Wins Online Teaching Award
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BOZEMAN— John Townsend-Mehler, an academic adviser and instructor in Montana State University’s liberal studies program, has been awarded the second annual online teaching award from MSU’s online degree completion program in liberal studies.
The Liberal Studies Online Teaching Award was established in 2015 by Tami Eitle, then director of liberal studies. It was created to acknowledge the contribution of talented instructors who contribute to the program.
“I’m honored to win this award, particularly in light of how many talented instructors we have in the program,” said Townsend-Mehler. “I’ve been teaching for a little over 10 years, and I’ve been impressed with the dedication of our online students and their ability to balance schoolwork with jobs and family. Teaching in the liberal studies online program has been a very rewarding experience.”
Townsend-Mehler teaches LS101US “Ways of Knowing – Gods and Monsters: The evolution and future of science,” LS401 “Senior Project” and other online courses, including LS301 “Warp Drives, Replicants and Light Sabers: Art and Science of Science Fiction” and LS450 “Evolution and Public Opinion. Townsend-Mehler also teaches for youth outreach programs through MSU Extended University.
Multiple students nominated Townsend-Mehler for the 2016 award, applauding the organization of his courses, the clarity of his instruction, his responsiveness to students and his passion for the material. Some students mentioned that his courses challenged them to engage with both the material and one another and to learn new material and apply it to different situations. Many said they came away from his courses with a much greater appreciation of the values of an interdisciplinary approach.
“We feel fortunate to have such an incredibly dedicated and talented instructor working in both the on-campus and online liberal studies program,” said Jordy Hendrikx, director of liberal studies.
The bachelor’s degree completion program was created in 2012 to help students with 60 or more credits (from MSU or another institution) complete their bachelor’s degree in liberal studies through online coursework. Twenty students have completed the program and earned their bachelor’s degrees since the program’s inception.
Contact: Jordy Hendrikx, director of liberal studies, (406) 994-6918, [email protected]
2014
Liberal Studies student wins prestigious Udall Scholarship
Cara Thuringer, a junior majoring in Liberal Studies (environmental studies option) and photography, is one of two MSU students named a 2014 Udall Scholar. The Udall Foundation is an independent federal agency that was established by Congress in 1992 to provide federally funded scholarships for college students intending to pursue careers related to the environment. Read more on Thuringer's achievement
2013
MSU's Joe Thiel wins Rhodes Scholarship
MSU senior Joe Thiel was selected as a 2013 Rhodes Scholar to Oxford University, where he will pursue master's degrees in public policy and the economics of development. Thiel is set to graduate from MSU in May with degrees in chemical engineering and liberal studies. Read more on Thiel's achievement
College of Letters and Science offers CORE at Night Program
The College of Letters and Science has launched a new CORE at Night program. The program offers a variety of CORE 2.0 courses on the Bozeman campus in the evenings to provide greater access to non-traditional students and those who work during the day. Read more about the CORE at Night program
2012
MSU announces online bachelor's degree completion program
Montana State University has launched a new online bachelor's degree completion program for students who have at least two years of college credits but do not yet have a four-year degree.The program, which offers a bachelor's degree in liberal studies, is designed for graduates of community colleges, tribal colleges, colleges of technology and other two-year programs. Read more on the new online bachelor's degree completion program
2011
Thiel appointed as student regent on Montana's Board of Regents
Joe Thiel, a senior double majoring in liberal studies and chemical engineering, was appointed by Governor Brian Schweitzer to be the student regent on the Montana Board of Regents. Read more on Thiel's appointment
Liberal Studies Program to offer upper-division courses to students this fall
MSU's Liberal Studies Program invites students who have completed at least 60 credits of course work to enroll in LS-301 courses (special topic seminars) being offered this fall. Each course is one credit, and will count toward upper-division requirements. Read more on the LS-301 courses
MSU students among those assisting global trade officials at Big Sky
Liberal studies student Katelynn Platt was among 43 Montana college students and faculty who were selected to assist officials attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Trade Ministerial and Small and Medium Enterprise Meeting. Approximately 90 trade ministers, senior trade officials, and Small and Medium Enterprise Ministers representing 21 economies congregated in closed sessions to hammer out policies. Between May 6 and 23, 2011, the APEC meetings, brought to Montana by senior U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, attracted approximately 2,000 visitors to the state. Read more on the APEC Trade Ministerial and Small and Medium Enterprise Meeting.
2009
Liberal Studies student Jen Poser participates in new Leadership Fellows Certificate Program
A new program at MSU challenges students to investigate leadership, through case studies, service-learning and exploring their own leadership. Called the Leadership Fellows Certificate Program, it aims to equip students with critical and ethical thinking skills so they can become positive agents of change in their communities. The Leadership Fellows Certificate Program is a collaboration between the Associated Students of MSU, the MSU Leadership Institute and University College. Read more on the new Leadership Fellows Certificate Program
2006
Student sees global connections
Chris Owens has read Kafka's "Metamorphosis" for fun. He's finishing up a double major. He's got a grade-point average high enough to require an oxygen mask and he's thinking of starting his own publication. But the favorite part of Owens' week doesn't involve mental heavy lifting so much as having fun: He's a second-grade volunteer Spanish teacher at Morning Star Elementary School. Read more on Owens achievement