Published Dec. 4, 2024

Dear MSU Community,

Let the celebrations begin! As we conclude the fall semester of a truly tremendous year at Montana State University, I'd like to say how grateful I am, personally, for everyone who is part of our university community -- our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends -- for their gifts and talents that enrich our daily lives.

We are proud that, this fall, 17,144 students enrolled at your university, the largest number in MSU's history. For perspective, MSU is now the first university in the state to have crossed the 16,000 and the 17,000 student mark. Apart from headcount, though, our four-year graduation rate also hit a record high, and we saw a record high rate of students staying in school to complete their degrees. Records like these are worth celebrating because they speak to our commitment to the land-grant mission of access to all and the strengthening of democracy through education. 

MSU also set a new record for research expenditures -- the competitive and sponsored funding put toward the discovery of new knowledge. At $258 million, the total exceeded the prior year by 12% and marked six consecutive years of record-setting research growth at the state's largest university. The majority of those research dollars come from federal grants won by our talented faculty and staff stacking their proposals against other universities in the nation. For perspective, MSU is the largest research enterprise in the state, and our total expenditures exceed the research expenditures of all other institutions of higher education in Montana - public and private - combined.

We celebrated exciting new beginnings this year, including the opening in August of our beautiful Student Wellness Center. The innovative building is a single, convenient location for all of our student health, well-being and recreation services. It proudly proclaims that Montana State University cares about whole-student health and that we have designed an environment where wellness is not an afterthought but a priority.

This semester, we were also honored to continue our Crossing Boundaries Speaker Series, welcoming speakers to campus who have gone on remarkable journeys to cross seemingly impassible boundaries. The series began this year with acclaimed Cheyenne and Arapaho author Tommy Orange, who delivered MSU's First Year Student Convocation lecture. Next was a talk by beloved novelist Isabel Allende, and the annual series concluded with a lecture by Margot Lee Shetterly, author of "Hidden Figures," the amazing narrative about the first African American women who worked in NASA and helped put a man on the moon. As always, the best part of these lectures was observing the interaction between the speakers and our students - listening and learning from their ideas and perspectives.

Our Bobcat student-athletes are amazing! We have been delighted to cheer on our football, basketball, volleyball, track and field, cross-country, skiing, tennis, golf and rodeo athletes, as well as all those who play on our club teams. The Spirit of the West marching band and the Spirit Squad add tremendous spirit to each game. And here we are! As we gear up for an FCS playoff game this Saturday, Dec. 7, at Bobcat Stadium, let's especially recognize our undefeated Bobcat football team, which won the Big Sky Championship, beat the Griz in the Brawl of the Wild and are well-positioned for a long and exciting postseason. Go, 'Cats, Go!

Please join us this afternoon for our annual holiday open house at 3:30 p.m., to be followed at 5:30 p.m. by another favorite celebration, Lights on Montana Hall. Then, this Friday, we'll come together for one of the great joys in the life of our university, fall commencement. Along with celebrating the many achievements of our graduates, we'll bestow an honorary doctorate on Paul E. Funk II, a retired four-star U.S. Army General and MSU alumnus whose life has been defined by service. Please join us for this notable event!

Thank you for your support of Montana State University. With hearts full of gratitude, we wish you a meaningful, joyful holiday season and a peaceful new year.

In Blue and Gold,

Waded Cruzado

Waded Cruzado
President, Montana State University