Four Bear Program

The purpose of the Four Bear four-year graduation program is to facilitate, through commitments made by the participating student and The University of Montana, the student's goal of graduating from UM in four years.  First-time, full-time freshmen, including students with Advanced Placement, High School Pilot Program and college credits, are eligible. 

The Four Bear graduation contract is intended for students seriously committed to completing all of their degree requirements within four years.  More information about the program will be made available during orientations.  Students sign up for the program early in their fall semester, and must certify their compliance and participation at the end of each subsequent semester.  For more information, click here.

Freshman Seminar (UNC 101)

Freshman Seminar is a two-credit course designed to prepare you for college-level discussion classes.  You'll read and watch videos on current and often-controversial topics; you'll write about, discuss, and do brief presentations on these topics.  Freshman Seminar helps you develop critical thinking skills and a sense of your identity as part of the larger University of Montana campus.  For more information, visit the Freshman Seminar web site for a message from course coordinator Dr. Mary Groom-Hall.

Learning Strategies for Higher Education (C&I 160)

The Learning Strategies for Higher Education two-credit course helps students become more proficient, successful students, and better able to juggle the demands of a formal education.  Instructors cover techniques that successfully help people manage time and stress, alleviate test anxiety, improve reading comprehension and note-taking skills, and increase vocabulary.  Because students are in the thick of the semester as they work through this course, they have the opportunity to immediately apply the skills that work best for them directly to the classes they are taking at the same time.  There is an active career-planning element to this class as well as group work.  The class meets twice a week for two elective credits.  Students receive a letter grade for this class that counts toward degree credits.  Sections are taught for both TRiO-eligible and non TRiO-eligible students.

First-Year Reading Experience

Each year during fall semester, The University of Montana sponsors the First-Year Reading Experience to bring new students together to read a selected book and discuss it at events that include campus visits by the author.  The purpose is to provide new students a common connection through a thought-provoking book.  Every year, a committee of faculty, staff and students at The University of Montana select a book from nominations submitted by the entire campus community. The program is not mandatory but it is highly encouraged to help prepare students for their academic life on campus. 

The 2012 book selection is "Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It", a collection of 11 short stories, mostly set in Montana and the American West. It was named one of the Ten Best Books of 2009 by The New York Times Book Review, along with one of the Los Angeles Times Favorite Fiction Books of the Year. It was also listed on Amazon.com’s Top Ten Story Collections of 2009. The book's author, Maiele Meloy, will visit campus in October to pseak about her book.