MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA.

• Author: Bodnar, Seth
• Position: LETTER

The University of Montana is excited to turn our calendars to 2022, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership with Montana's businesses in the new year.

Last year marked a significant change in how we work with local businesses to solve the most pressing issue facing our economy--workforce shortages. By partnering with employers and industry associations, UM's economic and workforce development partner, AccelerateMT, is rapidly developing short-term training and education solutions to help employers enhance and retain their workforce, as well as build a pipeline of employees to meet emerging needs.

Here at UM, we are proud that AccelerateMT serves the entire state, working closely with every institution in the Montana University System, as well as with other partners, to develop rapid training solutions.

For example, through pioneering industry partnerships such as Aim Higher --a 15-week course in coordination with ATG Cognizant--UM is proving to be our state s workforce development engine. In fact, our combined efforts allowed ATG-Cognizant to hire more than 100 well-trained employees right here in western Montana.

But workforce...