Mission Statement
Helena College University of Montana, a comprehensive two-year college, provides access to and support of lifelong educational opportunities to our diverse community.
Core Themes
- Provide access to and support for high quality educational activities and programs important to a student achieving success.
- Maintain academic excellence by requiring a high degree of integrity, quality, and reliability in all academic and non-academic programming.
- Strengthen the community by meeting regional workforce needs, strengthening employee knowledge and skills, providing a bridge to advance degrees, and serving as a facilitator for cultural enrichment.
Vision Statement
Helena College will be recognized as a responsive regional center of technical and academic education, as a partner in economic and community development, and as a diverse and accessible community of learners. Helena College University of Montana will promote excellence in education; maintain fiscal and operational integrity; and cultivate an environment of fellowship, inclusiveness, and respect.
Helena College Strategic Plan
Student Success
Direction: Helena College develops and offers instructional programs and student services that help students succeed in reaching their goals.
Priorities for action:
- Assist students in balancing life and school demands.
- Provide transition services for students from application through graduation.
- Develop and evaluate quality educational programs.
- Increase access to student resource areas for the varying student populations.
Connect with the Community
Direction: Helena College builds connections with a broad range of groups to respond to the diverse needs of the community we serve.
Priorities for action:
- Work collaboratively with business and industry, local and state governments, community organizations, and educational partners to accomplish common goals for statewide economic development.
- Create communication avenues with the surrounding community.
- Fully develop internships and service learning opportunities for students.
- Identify and incorporate community interests/ business and industry needs in future planning.
- Foster faculty, staff, and student involvement in community organizations and events.
Create Access
Direction: Helena College makes access to higher education possible for the communities we serve.
Priorities for action:
- Develop alternative delivery methods for courses and degree obtainment including distance learning, evening and weekend offerings, and collaboration with other educational institutions to enhance access to higher education.
- Lessen the financial burden of higher education through the development and marketing of scholarship opportunities.
- Improve access and services to people with disabilities.
Develop Resources
Direction: Helena College proactively develops its fiscal, capital, technological, and human resources to ensure the effective, efficient management of quality programs and services.
Priorities for action:
- Improve technological infrastructure and services including electronic mail, wireless networks, and computers.
- Develop criteria for managing enrollment to sustain the quality of our programs and services, including marketing and development.
- Develop staffing and salary structure plans.
- Expand the college’s fiscal resource base through grants, private funding, and entrepreneurial activities that support college priorities.
- Develop public/private partnerships and corporate sponsorship and in-kind donations.
- Promote legislative awareness and support.
- Support the excellence and growth of college faculty and staff members through professional development programs.
Accreditation, Certification, and Approval
Helena College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, 8060 16th Ave NE, Suite 100, Redmond, WA 98052-3981. The NWCCU is an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education.
In addition, the Automotive Technology program is certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), the Aviation Maintenance Technology program is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Practical and Registered Nursing programs are approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) has awarded accreditation to the Associate of Science Registered Nursing Program.
All educational programs offered at Helena College are approved by the Montana Board of Regents, United States Department of Education, United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Montana Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
