There is a growing concern among the faculty of the Montana University System about the direction higher education in this state is taking. Some indication of this concern can be seen in our last issue where both Arthur Coffin in his editorial, On The Restructuring of the Montana University System, and Jeffrey Gritzner in his article, Sophistry and Scholarship, expressed doubts about what new technologies in the classroom will do for the real quality of higher education in this state. And, in this issue, 0. Alan Weltzien in Information or Knowledge? sharply questions "The Montana Learner Imperative" (now rechristened "Montana Academic Forum") in which the Commissioner of Higher Education calls for "a new approach to the future of the Montana University System." (The full text of both documents was printed in our last issue, Fall 1996.) According to Commissioner Crofts, this new approach will "implement an unwavering commitment to the learner" as he foresees a "higher education revolution" centered on "the systematic use of information technology" and the accompanying "reallocation [of] resources to implement this learner orientation and full use of information technology."
To achieve a clearer focus on the issues and to give more complete voice to the pro and con arguments, The Montana Professor plans to include in future issues contributions from our readers on the topic. Since the debate over the matter is likely to endure for some time, we will not devote an entire issue to it (as we did on C-30) but rather this will be a recurrent theme in as many issues as are required. Possible topics include the problems or possibilities posed by distance learning, the increasing emphasis on the integration of information technology in the classroom and what all this means for traditional pedagogy. Also of interest might be contributions relating the experience of other institutions with successful and/or unsuccessful programs. Are we on the cusp of a true revolution, as some have argued, or is this simply the latest fad which will quietly pass? What might be the future of the professoriate in light of these new directions?
Associate Editor Keith Edgerton (History, MSU-Billings) will serve as the editor for this theme. Letters, commentaries, and articles are all welcome. For guidelines on preparation of manuscripts see the inside back cover of this or any recent issue. Professor Edgerton welcomes any expressions of interest. Contact:
Dr. Keith Edgerton
History Department
Montana State University-Billings
Billings, MT 59101
Phone:(406) 657-2895
Fax: (406) 657-2187
E-Mail: hist-edger@vino.emcmt.edu