HAVRE, Mont. — Montana State University-Northern has been selected for approximately $2.5 million in federal funding over five years through the U.S. Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). Northern’s first-year award is $457,704. The grant funds will be used to expand student support at Northern, strengthen academic and career pathways, and help more students successfully complete their degrees and transition into the workforce.
SIP provides competitive grants to eligible universities to strengthen their institutional capacity to serve students. MSUN’s SIP project, which runs through Sept. 30, 2031, is designed to strengthen Northern’s ability to support students throughout their college experience – from choosing an academic and career path to navigating degree requirements, staying on track toward graduation and preparing for employment.
“This investment gives Northern an incredible opportunity to strengthen the entire student experience,” said Interim Chancellor Jennifer Brown. “We want every student who comes to Northern to have a clear path forward – from choosing the right major to staying on track toward graduation and ultimately building a successful career. This grant will help us make those connections stronger and more intentional at Northern.”
“When I visited MSU-Northern in August, I saw firsthand how the university is helping Montana meet its growing demand for skilled workers,” said Congressman Troy Downing. “From diesel technology to electrical and manufacturing programs, MSU-Northern is preparing students for good-paying careers while helping address workforce shortages across our state. This grant will strengthen that mission by giving students more support as they choose their academic and career paths.”
The grant will support an integrated approach to advising and student services, including new positions that strengthen first-year advising, career counseling, transfer coordination, and student success, as well as efforts to make academic planning and degree navigation clearer for students.
“Students don’t look at advising, academics, financial decisions, and career planning as separate things – they’re all just part of the college experience,” said Lindsey Brandt-Bennett, who authored the grant and serves as Northern’s vice chancellor for enrollment management. “Students should be able to understand how the courses they take fit into their degree, how that degree connects to a career and where they can turn when they need support. This grant will help us do just that.”
For transfer students and students entering Northern with dual enrollment credits, the project will focus on better coordinating pathways with two-year colleges and high schools. The goal is to reduce barriers to transfer, minimize unnecessary credits and create a more efficient path toward degree completion.
Career readiness is another key component of the grant. Northern will use labor-market and workforce-demand data to help students explore career options and understand the education, skills and credentials required for those careers. The project will give students and families better access to information about college costs, financial aid, potential earnings and how academic and career choices can affect their financial future.
Northern already works closely with employers throughout the region and offers paid cooperative internship experiences as well as apprenticeship-related instruction in the electrical and plumbing industries. The SIP project will build on that foundation by helping more students connect with employers, alumni and industry representatives through career exploration and experiential learning opportunities.
MSU-Northern serves students across a rural 13-county region of north-central Montana and offers more than 35 certificate, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. The university’s academic programs and employer partnerships play an important role in preparing graduates for high-demand careers across the state.
