Responsive Engagement 2022-2023

Math problem-solving camps to be offered this summer at Montana State for middle and high school students

Montana middle school and high school students passionate about advanced math are invited to attend the Mathematics Circle Summer Camp hosted by the Science Math Resource Center at Montana State University. Participants will immerse themselves in math problem-solving challenges, tour innovative university labs and engage in fun science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, activities.

New Montana State program helps student teachers form connections with rural communities

To help encourage students to consider completing their student teaching in rural areas, Reuer and others developed the rural student teaching pod, where MSU pre-service teachers go as a group to an area in rural Montana for a 15-week student teaching experience. Participating students receive a stipend, support from peers and rural school partners, and additional mentorship from a retired teacher. The pod is part of the Rural Pathways program, which is run by Reuer and Joe Hicks, assistant dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Development. The Rural Pathways program is part of the MSU Center for Research on Rural Education, and it is supported by the ASPIRE grant from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.

Bobcat Pounce race set for April 29 at Montana State

All are invited to participate in an upcoming 5-kilometer race to help fund scholarships for students in Montana State University’s College of Education, Health and Human Development.

The Bobcat Pounce: 5K Run, Walk, Stroll will be held on campus starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29. The race starting and ending point and check-in tables will be located on the green space south of Norm Asbjornson Hall and east of the MSU parking garage.

Joe Hicks, assistant dean in the college and one of the event’s organizers, said all proceeds from the annual event help fund student scholarships. This year it will support:

• Nancy Hopkins Memorial Scholarship (for education undergraduate students)
• Betsy Palmer Fund (for education graduate students)
• Dr. Rosemary Newman Memorial Scholarship (for health and human development students)

Montana State researchers, collaborators launch projects to help combat stress for farmers and ranchers

Survey results have shown Montana State University researchers that farmers and ranchers throughout Montana and the West experience, on average, a medium level of stress, which could impact their sleep, physical health, mental health and/or relationships, according to Michelle Grocke, health and wellness specialist with MSU Extension and assistant professor in the MSU Department of Health and Human Development. 

Grocke and her collaborators have launched several projects to help combat this stress. These efforts include a website that provides resources, a program that provides mini-grants for people across the Western U.S. who want to improve the mental wellness of those in their agricultural communities and a project that provides free telehealth counseling services to any Montanan working in agriculture.

MSU receives nearly $1.5 million to support student parents, strengthen early childhood education profession

Montana State University students who are parents will receive more support for child care thanks to a four-year grant worth nearly $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Education.

The grant provides $1.465 million for MSU’s Child Care Access Means Parents in School, or CCAMPIS, project. It aims to support student parents and their children, as well as strengthen the early childhood educator and caregiver profession.