University of Montana--Missoula

The University of Montana-Missoula's Faculty Senate serves to promote faculty involvement in the governance of the University. The Senate reviews, debates, and votes on issues pertaining to the academic and faculty welfare of The University of Montana (UM) in consultation and cooperation with the President and University administration. Faculty members contribute to UM governance by participating in the Senate and specific committees.

The first faculty meeting of the University was held on September 9, 1895. All five original faculty members were present. Some of the first topics of discussion were entrance examinations, the matriculation fee, and the welcoming ceremony which was to be held Wednesday, September 11, 1895. Faculty meetings were held often in the first few years to help get the University running smoothly. As the number of faculty grew, committees were formed to share the responsibilities. On October 30, 1961 this organizing body of the faculty officially became the Faculty Senate. Officials were elected and new procedures for the Senate, including the Robert’s Rules of Order, were voted on and adopted that year.

The Sentinel was the yearbook for The University of Montana. It was published from 1904 to 1972 and for a few years in the 1980s. Sentinel yearbooks were originally published by the Junior class as a record of the preceding school year. For example, the 1906 Sentinel was actually a record of the 1904/1905 school year. After 1920, the year of the book reflected the end of the year in which it was produced. For the first 69 years of the book’s publication, each university student received one as part of their student fees. After that it was no longer mandatory and sales declined dramatically.

The 1913 Sentinel was produced by the Junior class of 1913. Although the book was called the 1913 Sentinel, it was a record of the 1912 school year. The editor-in-chief of the 1913 Sentinel was John B. Taylor and his Business Manager was Roscoe Wells. The book was begun in 1911 and first printed in May, 1912. The Junior class struggled to pay their debt for the printing of the book into 1914.