:Montana State University Billings

{{Infobox university

| name = Montana State University Billings

| former_name =

| image = Msu billings seal.png

| image_size = 150

| established = {{start date and age|1927}}

| type = Public university

| academic_affiliations = Space-grant

| chancellor = Stefani Hicswa

| city = Billings

| state = Montana

| country = United States

| students = 4,092 (fall 2023){{cite web |title=College Navigator - Montana State University Billings |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=montana+state+university+billings&s=all&id=180179#enrolmt |publisher=National Center for Education Statistics}}

| undergrad = 3,765 (fall 2023)

| postgrad = 327 (fall 2023)

| administrative_staff = 626 (incl. faculty) (2017)

| campus = Downtown

| former_names = Eastern Montana Normal School (1927–1949)
Eastern Montana College of Education (1949–1965)
Eastern Montana College (1965–1994)

| sports_nickname = Yellowjackets

| mascot = Buzz the Yellowjacket

| colors = {{color box|#17336d}} {{color box|#f7c02f}}
Blue & Yellow

| website = {{URL|https://www.msubillings.edu/|msubillings.edu}}

| logo =

| athletics_affiliations = NCAA Division II – GNAC

| parent = Montana University System

}}

Montana State University Billings (or MSU Billings) is a public university in Billings, Montana, United States. It is the state's third largest university. Its campus is located on 110 acres in downtown Billings.{{cite web|url=http://www.msubillings.edu/GenInfo/aboutMSUB.htm |title=General Information |website=Msubillings.edu |access-date=2014-08-17}}{{cite gnis |id=771122 |name=Montana State University Billings}} Formerly Eastern Montana Normal School at its founding in 1927, the Normal School changed its name to Eastern Montana College of Education in 1949.{{Cite web|url=https://www.msubillings.edu/geninfo/history.htm|title=MSUB General Information |website=msubillings.edu|access-date=2019-07-18}} It was again renamed in 1965 as Eastern Montana College (EMC). It merged into the Montana University System in 1994 under its present name. Currently, the university offers over 100 specialized programs for certificates, associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees through the university's five colleges.{{cite web|title=Degrees, Programs & Minors|url=http://www.msubillings.edu/future/degrees.asp|work=Future Students|publisher=Montana State University Billings|access-date=5 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829022442/http://www.msubillings.edu/future/degrees.asp|archive-date=29 August 2012}} The five colleges of Montana State University Billings are Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Health Professions and Science, Education, and City College.

Student life

With the main campus in the downtown core of Billings many cultural, service, athletic or educational activities are within walking distance of the campus. The school is host to a mix of traditional and nontraditional students. Approximately 400 students live on campus in the residence halls.

Some of the major student organizations include:

The Associated Students of Montana State University Billings, also known as the student government. This organization is run by and for students, taking in concerns, advocating student issues and rights, and allocating funds.
Student Activities Board, the organizers of many activities from comedians to current movies on campus.
Student religious organizations including United Campus Ministry representing 7 Protestant denominations, other Christian non-denominational organizations, Baha'i, and Catholic groups.
Jacket Student Ambassadors, a student leadership organization on campus which hosts many new student orientations and tours of the campus.
The Residence Hall Association, a student run residence hall association that provides both social and educational programming for residents of Petro and Rimrock Hall.

=Major structures of the main campus=

{{multiple image

|total_width = 400

|perrow = 2

|image2 = MSUB College of Education.jpg

|caption2 = College of Education

|image1 = Downtown Billings Montana in the fall.jpg

|caption1 = Main campus sits at the base of the Rimrocks

|image3 = MSUB McMullen Hall.jpg

|caption3 = McMullen Hall{{cite news |last1=Jaschik |first1=Scott |title=Montana State–Billings' First President Supported Eugenics |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2022/03/07/montana-state%E2%80%93billings%E2%80%99-first-president-supported-eugenics |access-date=8 March 2022 |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=March 7, 2022 |language=en}}

|image4 = MSU Billings, Residence Halls, 2025.jpg

|caption4 = Petro & Rimrock Halls

}}

Parking Garage / Campus Police
Art Annex
Apsaruke Hall
Cisel Hall
Alterowitz Arena / Physical Ed Building
Avitus Group Stadium
Tennis Courts
Rimrock Hall
Petro Hall
McMullen Hall
Student Union
Library
Liberal Arts Building
Yellowstone Science & Health Building
College of Education

=Petro Hall=

Petro Hall is a 500-room residence hall completed in 1965.{{cite web|url=http://www.msubillings.edu/campus/Petro.htm |title=Campus Maps and Buildings - Petro Hall |website=Msubillings.edu |access-date=2014-08-17}} There are 8 floors, including the first floor Petro Theater and the second floor lobby. It is connected directly to the Petro Theater on the first floor, and also connected to the Student Union Building.

=Rimrock Hall=

Rimrock Hall is 300-room residence hall completed in 1962.{{cite web|url=http://www.msubillings.edu/campus/rimrock.htm |title=Campus Maps and Buildings - Rimrock Hall |website=Msubillings.edu |access-date=2014-08-17}} There are 6 floors, including the second floor lobby and the first floor Student Union Building.

=Student family housing=

The student family housing consists of contemporary two and three bedroom units located on the east end of the campus.{{cite web|url=http://www.msubillings.edu/campus/family.htm |title=Campus Maps and Buildings - Student Family Housing |website=Msubillings.edu |access-date=2014-08-17}}

Athletics

File:Billings, Montana Alterowitz Arena MSUB.JPG

The Montana State–Billings (MSUB) athletic teams are called the Yellowjackets. The university is a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) since the 2007–08 academic year. The Yellowjackets previously competed in the D-II Heartland Conference from 2005–06 to 2006–07; in the D-II Pacific West Conference (PacWest; formerly known as the Great Northwest Conference until after the 1991–92 school year) from 1982–83 to 2004–05; as an NCAA D-II Independent from 1980–81 to 1981–82; and in the Frontier Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1933–34 to 1979–80.

MSUB competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field, triathlon and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and stunt. The official MSUB song is the Fight Song. Former sports included football.

=History=

Formerly known as Eastern Montana College, MSUB athletics started back to the 1927–28 school year, the year in which the university was founded. The Yellowjackets have competed in a number of different conferences throughout the years, and prior to the 1980–81 season, the athletic department transitioned from the NAIA to competing at the NCAA Division II level.

=Baseball=

In the 2018–19 school year, the MSUB baseball team captured its fourth GNAC regular-season title in five years, won its first-ever GNAC tournament title, and advanced to the NCAA D2 West Region Championships for the first time in program history. MSUB broke numerous school and conference baseball records, including most wins in a season with 33, and most home runs in a year with 83. The baseball program captured four regular season GNAC championships over a span of five years (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019).

=Women's basketball=

The 2017–18 academic year was historic and was highlighted by an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance in women's basketball. The Yellowjackets won the West Region title for the second time in program history, matching the achievement of the 1998–99 regional champion squad. The women's team has been GNAC champions ten times since 1987.

=Softball=

The Yellowjackets won the 2015 GNAC Softball Championships and advanced all the way to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II West Region Championships. The team were also GNAC champions in 2009 and 2012.

Extensions

=City College at Montana State University Billings=

File:MSUB City College, Health Science Building, 2025.jpg

City College at MSU Billings is a two-year college that offers degrees and certifications in fields such as business, computer technology, health and safety, industry and transportation.{{cite web|url=http://www.msubillings.edu/citycollege/index.htm|title=City College|publisher=Montana State University Billings|access-date=July 17, 2019}} It was first created in 1969 as the Billings Vocational-Technical Education Center (BVTC). Its governance was passed from the Billings School District to the Montana University System (MUS) Board of Regents in 1987, and in 1994, the BVTC was officially merged with MSU Billings and renamed the College of Technology.{{cite web|title=About the College|url=http://citycollege.msubillings.edu/General_info.htm|publisher=Montana State University Billings|access-date=18 January 2013}} The name was changed to the present name in 2012 when the MUS Board of Regents voted to change the names of all the colleges of technology in the state.{{cite news|last=Pickett|first=Mary|title=College of Technology to officially become City College at MSU Billings|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/education/college-of-technology-to-officially-become-city-college-at-msu/article_3dfcb7cf-9c59-5160-805d-b5202c741983.html|access-date=18 January 2013|newspaper=Billings Gazette|date=21 October 2012}}

=Distance learning=

MSUB Online is Montana State University Billings' Online Portal, featuring a wide array of courses and complete programs of study including certificates and associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees.

Notable alumni

James F. Battin (Class of 1948), US Representative and federal judge{{cite web|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000241|title=BATTIN, James Franklin, (1925 - 1996) |publisher= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date= October 14, 2012}}
Chet Blaylock (Class of 1948), State Senator, delegate to Montana constitutional convention, Montana gubernatorial candidate{{cite web|title=Outstanding Alumni of the 1990s|url=http://www.msubillings.edu/alumni/outstanding90s.htm|publisher=Montana State University Billings|access-date=18 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203165401/http://www.msubillings.edu/alumni/outstanding90s.htm|archive-date=2013-02-03|url-status=dead}}
Edward Butcher (Class of 1965), Montana state legislator
Melony G. Griffith (Class of 1985), former member of the Maryland House of Delegates,{{cite web|title=Melony Ghee Griffith|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa02775.html|publisher=Maryland State Archives|access-date=18 January 2013}} member of the Maryland State Senate{{Cite web|url=http://www.mdsenate.com/senator-melony-griffith/|title=Senator Melony Griffith|date=2015-06-15|website=Maryland Senate Democrats|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-18}}
Kristin Korb (Class of 1992), American jazz double bassist and vocalist
Dustin Lind, director of hitting and assistant hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants
Monica Lindeen (Class of 1992), Montana House District 43, US Congress candidate '06, former Montana State Auditor{{cite web|title=Monica J. Lindeen|url=http://billingsgazette.com/elections/party/democrat/candidate_b18fe8ea-6d4f-11e1-95de-0019bb2963f4.html|publisher=Billings Gazette|access-date=18 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112231959/http://billingsgazette.com/elections/party/democrat/candidate_b18fe8ea-6d4f-11e1-95de-0019bb2963f4.html|archive-date=2012-11-12|url-status=dead}}
Judy Martz, 22nd Governor of Montana{{cite web|url= http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_montana/col2-content/main-content-list/title_martz_judy.html|title= Montana Governor Judy Martz|publisher= National Governors Association |access-date= October 14, 2012}}
Roy McPipe (Class of 1974), Drafted by the NBA in '73 and '74, played with the ABA's Utah Stars in 1975{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcpipro01.html |title=Roy McPipe|publisher= Basketball-Reference.Com |access-date= October 14, 2012}}
Kevin Red Star (Native American artist){{cite web|title=Kevin Red Star|url=http://art.mt.gov/about/councilinfo/about_redstar.asp|publisher=Montana Arts Council|access-date=5 January 2013}}
Jon Sonju (Class of 1997), former Montana state senator and representative
Bently Spang (Class of 1991), Northern Cheyenne multidisciplinary artist{{cite news |last=Rod |first=Luann |title=Bently Spang examines culture with humor in Emerson installation |url=http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/arts_and_entertainment/art/article_43bc7f70-4b65-11e0-8265-001cc4c002e0.html |access-date=19 December 2012 |newspaper=Bozeman Daily Chronicle |date=11 March 2011 |location=Bozeman, Montana}}
Susan Watters (Class of 1980), United States District Judge of the US District Court for the District of Montana, first female judge to serve in the District of Montana