Specifically, he has advocated the elimination of the Board of Regents, the Commissioner of Higher Education, and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the creation of a new cabinet officer responsible for all of education in the State. Any changes of this kind will require amending the Constitution, a lengthy process at best, and one fraught with uncertainty. Therefore, I think we are well advised to attend to the tasks at hand rather than preoccupy ourselves with some new governance structure that may or may not eventuate in the future. A very imminent and special problem confronts us all in Montana at this time. If you looked around at the mountains as you walked across campus, you know what I mean.
Fire threatens to consume much of a wonderful environment.
As you know, many of our students currently serve on the fire line or will do so if the Governor finds it necessary to mobilize the National Guard. After consultation with the Deans and the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, I will notify the students involved in this critical work that we will hold their registrations and defer fee payment until 15 September. To delay their return any longer will create severe problems for the students. In addition, I ask the faculty to make special arrangements for these students to catch up in their courses when they return. We will have a list within the next couple of days to identify those involved.