Dear Bobcat Parent and Family Members,

MSU's last week of classes is here. The students are buckled down and doing what it takes to make the most out of this semester. How do I know this? A good indication came in the form of campus police reports, which have been noticeably absent of alcohol and drug violation citations the past few weekends. Yes, reviewing campus police reports and meeting with campus law enforcement on a weekly basis is a part of my job as the university's Dean of Students. These reports are only one part of a set of tools my staff and I use to gauge the safety and well-being of our students. After reviewing the data, it seems that changes we have instituted are making a difference. The outcome has been fewer citations and overall incidents during the spring term.

In recent emails, I've shared links to graduation matters and topics related to end of the academic year but am providing them again, so you don't have to search for them: 

MSU finals schedule
Commencement ceremonies 
Residence Life move-out guide

For those parent and family members who have students that live off-campus: MSU has developed a new partnership with the City of Bozeman this spring to pick up large and bulky items for students. Many students do not have access to a truck or other type of vehicle that can haul an old couch or mattress away. In order to help make the off-campus move-out process easier, students can request a one-time pick up of a large or bulky item and the City of Bozeman will haul it away, free of charge.

Thanks to you and other parents who donated to the Dean of Students' excellence fund and helped us expand student safety and well-being programs, we are also able to cover the cost of this good neighbor program. Students can have their old furniture hauled away at no cost to the student, which keeps Bozeman neighborhoods tidy and welcoming.  

Finally, if you're planning to help your returning student get settled in the fall, I hope you'll join us to hear our 2019 Convocation speaker, Tara Westover, author of Educated, August 22nd. Also, Parent and Family Fall Weekend is scheduled for September 27-29th. It would be great to see you at one or both events.

Sincerely,

Matthew R. Caires

Dean of Students

P.S. Heads-up for Spokane families: the Inland NW alumni chapter is hosting a presentation May 15, on how MSU students are making an impact on homelessness by Ralph Johnson from the School of Architecture.

Bobcat Parent & Family Program
174 Strand Union Building | P.O. Box 174220 | Bozeman, MT 59717
www.montana.edu/parents | parents@montana.edu | 406-994-7359