Northern hosts Montana Higher Education Consortium

Jim Potter

Montana State University-Northern

Montana State University-Northern hosted the Montana Higher Education Consortium in November. 

The consortium brings together general and special education faculty members from all teacher training programs in the State of Montana with the Montana Office of Public Instruction to talk about the current shifts and trends in education. HEC has met twice a year, spring and fall, for the past 15 years to discuss critical issues and share ideas relating to teacher training programs in Montana.

This year's consortium focused on some of the national trends for best practices with the idea that if they connect with higher education they can better prepare the next generation of teachers.  They discussed the implementation of science functionality of schools and restorative practices, which is a systematic approach to make everything focus on relationships with students, co-workers and their community.

HEC helps create a strong partnership and collaboration between faculty members at the teacher training programs. The universities and colleges in Montana benefit from the information they receive from the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

The HEC has connected and collaborated with two Offices of Special Education Programs national centers, International Resource Information System, and Collaboration for Effective Educator Development Accountability and Reform.