About UGF

Mission

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As an expression of the teaching mission of Jesus Christ, the mission of the University of Great Falls is to provide students with the opportunity to obtain a liberal education for living and for making a living.

The University of Great Falls was founded through the collaborative efforts of the Sisters of Providence, the Ursuline Sisters, the Catholic Bishop of Great Falls and the civic community all of whom recognized societal need for higher education. Its educational mission, sponsored by the Sisters of Providence, continues to be the shared endeavor of dedicated people.

The University cooperates with both private and public institutions to attain goals consistent with its educational purpose and values.

The University continually and responsibly evaluates its operation and programs. It develops professional and career programs and continuing education courses designed in view of society’s present and future needs as well as traditional academic degrees in appropriate fields.

The University offers students a foundation for actively implementing Gospel values and the teaching of Jesus within the Catholic tradition; it serves students of all beliefs who wish to take advantage of its programs.

The faculty and staff of the University join with students in a cooperative and enthusiastic search for truth, so that students may develop:

Character have a positive impact on the world and to the communities in which they live and work, particularly by recognizing and accepting personal accountability to themselves, to society, and to God;

Competence further their ability to live full and rewarding lives by becoming competent working members of society who know the basics of their professional field and have access to future learning;

Commitment find meaning in life which enables them to participate effectively in society while transcending its limitations, by living according to their own moral and religious convictions, as well as by respecting the dignity and beliefs of other people.

Catholic Identity Statement

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As a Catholic university, we belong to a community of faith, the Roman Catholic Church, committed to live and to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God in the world. Belonging to the community of faith means, first of all, that the university shares in the sacramental unity of the community and bears witness to it in ways appropriate to a community of scholars and co-learners. It means that the university carries out the evangelical mandate to serve the community of faith and the larger community. It means that the university, by its very nature as a Catholic liberal education institution, shares in the mission given by Jesus to his disciples to teach the Good News of the Kingdom of God and of Jesus Christ to all people.

As a Catholic university, we mean to meet the challenges and prospects of the modern world with integrity and with devotion to Truth through our educational and research services. Each discipline in the university is committed to applying the best resources, research and methods to the free, open, honest pursuit of truth.

As a Catholic university, we are committed to participate in the prayer and reflection of the local and the universal Church. The University shares and celebrates the Sacramental, Eucharistic life of the community, provides opportunities for prayer and meditation, and offers appropriate pastoral services to all members of the university community.

As a Catholic university, we attend with special zeal both in action and in teaching to issues of human dignity, social and economic justice, and peace. Motivated by the spirit of the Sisters of Providence, we are committed to advocate with and to serve all who are in need.

As a Catholic university, we affirm the goodness of all creation and the necessity of grace to the pursuit of genuine happiness. We live and teach the moral and ethical commitment of the Gospel. All our members are committed to respect the dignity and integrity of every member. By conviction and commitment, we pursue the ecumenical unity of the followers of Jesus and of all humanity.

As a Providence-sponsored ministry, co-sponsors in the corporate ministries with the Sisters of Providence, we believe that Providence is God’s love for each of us and all creation, and the source of our desire to serve one another. Our leadership is guided by the Providence Values: respect for the sanctity of life and the inherent dignity of every human being, the search for justice for those we serve, compassion for the whole person, the embodiment of charity, simplicity, humility, forthrightness and integrity and a demonstration of excellence by providing quality services and continuously seeking improvement.

Providence Leadership Covenant

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We believe that PROVIDENCE is God's love for each of us and all creation, and the source of our desire to serve one another. The Providence-sponsored ministries are expressions of God's love through EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES. These ministries provide environments that nurture spirituality of and among our clients, patients, students, employees, volunteers, and other associates.

As Providence leaders, we CO-SPONSOR the corporate ministries with the Sisters of Providence. In accepting this role, our leadership is guided by PROVIDENCE VALUES and teachings of the Catholic Church. This Covenant is the pact we make with one another, and our community colleagues, to lead in the Providence tradition as sponsors of these ministries.

We RESPECT the sanctity of life and the inherent dignity of every human being. As expressions of our respect, we communicate openly, are receptive to the contributions of others, and manage in ways that build our co-workers' confidence and capabilities. We respect the conscience of each individual and do not discriminate.

We seek JUSTICE for those we serve, as well as for those with whom we serve. We serve all in need, advocate for the needs of society's less fortunate members, and promote social justice. We subscribe to a vision focused on the common good, and we link the Providence ministries into the larger community and social system. We work to build the common good and will not exploit a person, group, or organization.

We demonstrate COMPASSION for the whole person, regardless of personal circum-stances. We seek to understand the concerns, feelings, strengths, limitations, and learning styles of others. We listen without judging. We do not condemn others for their mistakes, but seek forgiveness for our own.

We live out CHARITY by giving of ourselves and the resources of the sponsored ministries to all in need, as well as by encouraging community volunteer efforts. We critically evaluate the commitment of resources, maintaining a careful balance between the need for fiscal stability and our bias toward the charitable Providence mission.

We act with SIMPLICITY, exhibiting humility, forthrightness and integrity. We behave based on a commitment to personal accountability and a moral conviction to do the right thing. We respond to constructive change with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn, and we seek to energize others. We prefer cooperation and teamwork to non-productive competition. We stand firm when necessary, but exhibit strength by soliciting and implementing ideas from others.

We demonstrate EXCELLENCE by providing quality services and continuously improving our knowledge, processes, and skills. We promote life-long education. We establish challenging objectives, always searching for more effective and efficient ways to achieve them. We assess the cost/benefit relationship of major initiatives, striving to anticipate the implications of major decisions on the short- and long-term effectiveness of our mission.

History

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The University of Great Falls was founded in 1932 by the Most Reverend Edwin V. O'Hara, Catholic Bishop of Great Falls, in collaboration with the Sisters of Charity of Providence and the Ursuline Sisters. Named Great Falls Junior College for Women, the two-year college was originally located in the Ursuline Academy on Central Avenue. The faculty consisted of several sisters, a few priests, and one laywoman. A year later, Great Falls Normal School was established by Sister Lucia Sullivan, S.P., and combined with the Junior College to address the need for prospective teachers in the area. In its first year, 14 women enrolled. In 1935, the registration for both the Junior College and the Normal School totaled 105 women. In 1937, the first male student enrolled, and the year following there were 19 men in attendance. There were really two schools, each operating under a different Catholic religious community. The union of the two schools was one of convenience and legality. In 1942, Great Falls Junior College for Women was discontinued because of declining enrollment. Great Falls Normal College was renamed the Great Falls College of Education. By the early 1950s it became simply the College of Great Falls under the direction of the Sisters of Providence. Classes were held in the old Columbus Hospital. In September of 1995, the College was renamed the University of Great Falls.

 

 

In 1944, the Sisters of Providence purchased land south of the city and in the 1950s plans were made to move the College of Great Falls to the new campus. The new campus opened in 1960. At that time there were eleven buildings. Faculty offices were in the north end of the Classroom Building. Administration offices were in the Library. Emilie Hall was a women’s residence hall. Priests lived in what is now the business office and a convent was housed where the St. Thomas Day Care Center, the Graduate School, and Galerie Trinitas now reside. A ballroom was located on the lower floor of the Student Center, where the Office of Admissions and Records and Financial Aid Office are today. After construction of the McLaughlin Center in 1966, intercollegiate athletics was established at the college and until 1984 the ‘Argos’ participated in both men’s and women’s basketball. In 2001, the University re-instituted men’s and women’s basketball, introduced women’s volleyball and converted Emilie Hall back into a residence hall.

 

 

 

 

The University has been involved with outreach education efforts since its founding. Over the years UGF has had a resident center on the Fort Belknap Reservation, a resident center in Lewistown, and a continuing education program at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The Telecom Distance Learning program now comprises sites in Montana and Wyoming and serves students around the world. The University of Great Falls offers several Master’s Degree programs, including an on-line Masters of Art in Teaching in partnership with Bellevue University of Nebraska. As the University moves into the twenty-first century, its future looks bright and financially secure.