University of Montana announces enrollment gain, with search for new president underway

MISSOULA — Enrollment is up at the University of Montana as “outstanding” candidates submit applications to be the flagship’s new president.

UM announced this week its spring enrollment is up 3% more than last spring, with 11,123 students enrolled. A news release said it’s the fifth year in a row spring enrollment jumped.

“The consecutive years of growth at UM are a testament to the aggressive steps we have taken to ensure our campus experience is robust and vibrant,” said Leslie Webb, UM vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, in a statement.

Nearly one month ago, UM President Seth Bodnar announced he was stepping down to consider another public service role — earlier reported as a possible U.S. Senate run.

Bodnar served as president for eight years, longer than the national 5.9 year average in 2022, according to the most recent survey of the American Council on Education. Stabilizing enrollment was one of the priorities when he stepped into the job.

Graduate programs, Missoula College up

There are 2,868 students enrolled in graduate programs at UM, which represents a 5% increase over last spring, UM said in a news release. Missoula College saw an 8% increase in total enrollment, reaching 2,215 students this spring.

Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian earlier said the campus had seen growth under Bodnar, momentum is important, and the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education undertook an expedited search for a new president.

In the midst of the search, programmatic changes are under consideration at UM, according to the Montana Kaimin. The campus newspaper reports cuts are proposed to the English master’s program, Irish studies, the Chinese minor, and women’s, gender and sexuality studies.

Nonetheless, UM’s “exceptional reputation” has resulted in “outstanding prospects” in the president search, said Christian in a newsletter update Thursday.

He said applicants come from numerous states and diverse backgrounds, including leaders from top research institutions in the U.S.

UM has posted a website with information about the presidential search.

“We will begin reviewing applications next week, and I am confident that this process will result in identification of a leader befitting this outstanding institution,” Christian said.

The number of applicants to date was not available Thursday from the Commissioner’s Office in time for this story.

However, in the update this week, Christian said more applications are expected “in the coming days,” and additional applications or nominations should be submitted “as soon as possible.”

Engagement with the university community on the search has been strong, with hundreds of survey responses and “invaluable” listening sessions, the update said. Survey results also were not available on Thursday in time for this story.

UM spokesperson Dave Kuntz said Thursday the campus has not felt gaps so far from the vacancy.

“The campus is eager for our next president, and we are excited that the process is moving so smoothly,” Kuntz said in an email. “To date, UM’s executive leaders have managed the day-to-day well, and the Commissioner has stepped in when needed.”

In the news release this week about enrollment, UM said 72% of its students are Montana residents, up 2% from 2025; the number of Native American students is up 3% from last spring to 772; and a record 1,240 of high school students are taking courses at UM, a 10% increase from 2025.

UM also said the number of students there who are first in their family to attend college went up 6% to 3,341, which means its proportion of first-generation students represents 30% of its total student body.

Kuntz said first-generation students thrive at UM, which has made their success a priority through academic advising, financial aid support, and orientation onboarding and peer support.

“As a public university who accepts nearly everyone who applies, we feel that UM’s role in our society and our economy is to ensure all Montanans can reach their full potential, and the growth in proportion of our first-generation students is illustrating that work,” Kuntz said.