RMC Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building

RMC Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building New facility carries on the tradition of excellence

INSIDE

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140 Years of Excellence

Photo credit: Paul Ruhter Photography

Dr. Morledge Science Building now open

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Photo credit: Jacob Saunders

The new Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building provides students and faculty with advanced research and teaching spaces in every discipline of the natural arts.

Photo credit: Jacob Saunders

Twylla Kirchen returns

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Doctor of Occupational Therapy program 10

Photo credit: David Gulbrandson

Herb Klindt Field and new science building 2

August 2018 | RMC Science Building

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A view of the fixtures and detailing in the new Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building.

Photo credit: Paul Ruhter Photography

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he start of classes tomorrow will mark 140 years of excellence at Rocky Mountain College. Our College was formed when three historic schools merged to become a single entity in 1947. The oldest of these schools, Montana Collegiate Institute, was founded in 1878, more than 10 years before President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed Montana the 41st state in the union.

Last year, a dramatic WILMOUTH solar eclipse coincided with our first day of classes. This year, the College takes a dramatic step forward as we open the doors of our new Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building to students and faculty for the first full academic year. This state-ofthe-art science facility is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and

commitment of our community. We thank the many partners who helped us complete this project, especially the donors who made it possible.

The Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building is one of the most advanced laboratory facilities in the region.

The new building provides our students and faculty with advanced research and teaching spaces in every discipline of the natural arts, meeting the needs of a growing student body and accelerating lab-based science instruction.

The third floor of the building will house our new Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. When completed, this program space will contain a state-of-the-art classroom, laboratory, home environment lab, conference room, and student study spaces.

Congratulations roCky Mountain College on Dr. Charles MorleDge sCienCe BuilDing!

The new OTD program complements our excellent Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program, which boasts a national reputation for the high quality of its faculty and graduates. In June, the MPAS program celebrated twenty years of bringing rigorous, hands-on, experiential training to graduate students preparing to enter the medical field. Together, these two programs will go a long way toward meeting the future health care needs of the region, especially in underserved rural areas.

The new building and program represent just one chapter in the long history of Rocky Mountain College.

We continue to write that history each day as the College creates a culture of learning by providing distinctive academic programs designed and executed by outstanding faculty. In the coming year, we look forward to

completing our latest strategic plan, which will present a bold vision for Rocky Mountain College for the next decade. We will continue to grow and work tirelessly for the success of our students, who honor us with their extraordinary accomplishments.

The College will host a public ribbon cutting ceremony and open house in the new building beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 22.

Please join us in celebrating the official opening of the Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building, a new academic year, and 140 years of excellence.

Robert Wilmouth, M.D. Rocky Mountain College President

Congratulations Rocky Mountain College on your new science Building

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140 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

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ounded in 1878, RMC is built on the unique tradition of combining a liberal arts-rooted curriculum with professions-oriented programs. As the first institution of higher education in Montana, RMC prides itself on a rich tradition of educating students to be leaders and professionals through programs focused on cultivating critical thinking, creative expressions, ethical decision making, informed

citizenship, and professional excellence.

Rocky Mountain College has roots that trace back to three separate colleges. The first was Montana Collegiate Institute in Deer Lodge, which enrolled its first class in 1878.

Shortly after classes began in Deer Lodge, Wesleyan College opened its doors in Helena.

In Billings, the current site of Rocky Mountain College, Billings Polytechnic Institute (BPI) began recruiting students from across the

country at the turn of the century. The three schools became one entity in 1947 - Billings Polytechnic Institute, which was to become Rocky Mountain College - Montana’s first and finest.

From its inception in 1878, Rocky Mountain College students have been leaders. In 1947, it was the students who petitioned to rename BPI to Rocky Mountain College. They also took it upon themselves to accelerate the expansion

Kimball Hall with Prescott Hall in the background at left. Both buildings were built mostly by student labor with sandstone from the school’s quarry. Construction was directed by a stone mason and the instructor of industrial arts.

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AUGUST 2018 | RMC Science Building

Billings Polytechnic Institute (BPI) football team in 1918. This year, the RMC Battlin’ Bears open their season with a home game against rival Carroll College under the new stadium lights on Thursday, August 23.

of the College, and they even constructed the new buildings as a way of paying for their tuition. The sandstone rocks were quarried from the Rimrocks and the campus rose from the surrounding farmland to become one of the best-rated colleges in the West.

The combination of the predecessor schools and their distinct religious traditions has resulted in affiliations with the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). RMC holds among its highest values the fair consideration of all questions in an open and Trumpet players in front of Losekamp Hall in an undated photo. The building was dedicated in 1919. non-sectarian environment.

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Opened in 1909, Eaton Hall was originally known as the Science Hall. It was a gift of several local businessmen who were involved with the formation of Billings Polytechnic Institute (BPI).

RMC’s mission and programs are built on core themes of academic excellence, transformative learning, and shared responsibility and stewardship. It is through the lens of the College’s mission and core themes that programs and student interactions are designed.

With each change, the College has grown stronger and gained momentum. Early struggles have given way to financial stability. But the story doesn’t end there.

Though RMC’s scope of influence has expanded, the need for leaders is still relevant. To fulfill the vision set forth by RMC’s founders, the College must continue to build on its history by offering an excellent education for anyone who has the ability and determination to earn a degree. Doing so requires that we provide the support and facilities that these students need and deserve.

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August 2018 | RMC Science Building

An auto mechanic class at Billings Polytechnic Institute (BPI) in the 1920s.

MORLEDGE BUILDING NOW OPEN

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he Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building was completed in spring 2018. While some students attended class in the new building last spring and over the summer term, the majority have yet to experience everything the new facility has to offer. Thanks to the generosity of more than 85 donors and families, this important laboratory facility will change lives for generations of RMC students.

“The new science laboratories have energized both the faculty and our students,” said Provost and Academic Vice President Dr. Stephen Germic.

“We look forward to building on this momentum as we pursue the next phase of our renovation projects.”

Photo credit: Paul Ruhter Photography

The north entrance of the new building featuring the dedication to Dr. Morledge, laboratories, and a Several courses have already begun student lounge area.

utilizing the new facilities, and the improvements are noticeable. “It has been very beneficial to have access to a house vacuum system,” Assistant Professor of Chemistry Ivy Fortmeyer said. “It has significantly shortened the time it takes students to isolate their products in my inorganic chemistry course. In

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general chemistry, it has given us the opportunity to explore how air pressure affects different properties within a system. Having a fume hood for each student in inorganic chemistry has also been great, because it has allowed us to do more interesting syntheses with compounds that you don’t want to be breathing in.”

“I am especially excited because the new upper division biology lab has allowed me to add a lab component to my virology lab, which was not possible previously,” said Assistant Professor of Biology Holly Basta.

“Students will now be able to grow their own cells and infect them with viruses in the The new Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building features a modern student lounge and study area.

Photo credit: Paul Ruhter Photography

Congratulations on the Dr. Charles MorleDge sCienCe BuilDing

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August 2018 | RMC Science Building

Photo credit: Paul Ruhter Photography

Every student, regardless of major, will study in the new, state-of-the-art learning environments of the new Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building.

virology lab.�

DR. CHARLES MORLEDGE

When completed, the occupational therapy laboratory on the third floor will offer suspension equipment to facilitate pediatric-based educational opportunities, as well as a variety of adult-based equipment to support hands-on learning experiences. The home environment lab will contain a fully functional kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, which will provide students with the opportunity to learn how to evaluate and treat patients in a natural/home environment.

Every student at Rocky Mountain College, regardless of major, will study in these new, state-of-the-art learning environments.

The Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building is dedicated to the memory of an important benefactor and advocate of Rocky Mountain College.

Courtesy photo

Along with his wife and children, Dr. Morledge has ensured the continued improvement of campus. Dr. Morledge is shown here with his wife, Patti.

Dr. Morledge, who died in July 2007, graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1945. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado and Montana State University. He earned an M.D. degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1952. Dr. Morledge practiced general medicine with the U.S. Public Health Service at Kiowa Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma, and with the U.S. Coast Guard in Portland, Oregon. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, Iowa.

In 1958, Dr. Morledge returned to Billings to join his father’s

medical practice, establishing the ophthalmology practice continued today by his son, Scott MorledgeHampton. Dr. Morledge was a devoted practitioner who worked tirelessly on behalf of his patients, often helping them pro bono.

Dr. Morledge and his wife, Patti, were especially fond of Rocky Mountain College, where he served on the National Advisory Council and became a trustee in 1995. Along with his wife and children, he helped ensure the continued growth and improvement of the campus.

For his many efforts in support of Rocky Mountain College, Dr. Morledge was awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters. He was inducted into the Rocky Mountain College Alumni Hall of Fame for his loyalty to and belief in Rocky Mountain College.

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KIRCHEN RETURNS TO MONTANA TO FOUND OTD PROGRAM

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wylla Kirchen, Ph.D., OTR/L, returned to Rocky Mountain College this summer, eager to launch the College’s first doctoral program-Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) — which was announced by Provost and Academic Vice President Dr. Stephen Germic in January.

“It’s such an honor and a gift to return home after so many years,” Dr. Kirchen said. “Dr. Germic and I have worked hard to develop the OTD program over the past several years, and I’m thrilled to be on campus and part of the Rocky family again.”

Dr. Kirchen attended RMC as

an undergraduate between 1987 and 1989 before completing her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. She also earned a master of science in occupational therapy from the University of North Carolina in 2001 and a Ph.D. in occupational therapy from Texas Women’s

University in 2013.

From 1989 to 1999, Dr. Kirchen served in the United States Army, and she has dedicated a great deal of her academic and professional pursuits to improving the lives of veterans.

Dr. Kirchen joins the RMC faculty after spending three years

as the director of the occupational therapy program at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

While in this position, Dr. Kirchen oversaw efforts that resulted in the program moving up 58 positions in U.S. News and World Report rankings. She received the highest honor of the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association when she was voted Educator of the Year in 2017, and she was named Distinguished Woman of the Year

by James Madison University, also in 2017.

“I feel as if everything I have done in my life, to date, has prepared me to return to Montana and implement this program,” Dr. Kirchen added. The new OTD program will require 115 credit hours to be completed over three academic years.

projected 25 percent regional growth of the occupational therapy profession between 2014 and 2024. The doctoral level program also meets the anticipated need created by the American Occupational Therapy Association’s recommendation that the doctorate become the entry-level credential for licensed occupational therapists by 2027.

Photo credit: Jacob Saunders

Dr. Twylla Kirchen returned to Rocky Mountain College this summer to lead the occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program.

She attended RMC as an undergraduate between 1987 and 1989.

“The OTD program meets a rising need for occupational therapy professionals in our region,” said Dr. Germic, referencing the

The program is currently enrolling its first cohort, scheduled to begin in spring 2019.

RMC President Dr. Robert Wilmouth has stated that the development of an OTD program is “a great step forward in Rocky’s efforts to improve the human condition in Billings and the surrounding area.”

RMC OTD PROGRAM OVERVIEW In January 2019, Rocky Mountain College will inaugurate its first ever doctorate program, as it welcomes the first class in the occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program. The OTD program will prepare students to become practitioners,

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August 2018 | RMC Science Building

educators, and researchers who promote the health, well-being, and quality of life of individuals, communities, organizations, and populations.

Occupational therapy is a rising profession,

especially within the Rocky Mountain region.

It is the goal of the OTD program to not only educate students within the program, but also to educate local constituents about the role of occupational therapy in community health.

HERB KLINDT FIELD AND THE NEW SCIENCE BUILDING

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xpectations are running high for the Battlin’ Bears first game of the 2018 football season this Thursday, August 23.

Battlin’ Bears fans are hoping for another win against conference rival Carroll College as they kick off the season with a home game.

In addition, it will be the first night game under the bright lights of the renovated stadium and the first college football game of the season in the country.

Essential to construction of the Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building was a series of enhancements to Herb Klindt Field. These upgrades were required because the new building was located on the site of the old football practice field. Field turf was a critical addition to make the adjacent stadium field durable enough to accommodate practice usage.

Photo credit: David Gulbrandson

The newly renovated Herb Klindt Field looking from the southwest. Enhancements to Herb Klindt Field were required to make room for the new Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building.

Installment of the new turf on Herb Klindt Field. Enhancements to the field included stabilization of the bowl, field replacement, the addition of stadium lights, iron fencing, and a stone entryway.

The $2 million project began with the official impACT Today, Transform Tomorrow groundbreaking ceremony on April 9, 2016, and was completed the following August.

The $2 million project began with the official impACT Today, Transform Tomorrow groundbreaking ceremony on April 9, 2016, and was completed the following August. The enhancements included stabilization of the bowl, field replacement, the addition of stadium lights, iron fencing, and a stone entryway.

These improvements now provide Battlin’ Bears athletic programs with a year-round practice facility, allow for night competitions, and reduce the risk of injury. Additionally, the upgrades allowed for increased community partnerships. For instance, Billings Central Catholic High School now hosts Friday night games on the RMC campus. The opening ceremony for the new Herb Klindt Field took place on September 10, 2016, when the Battlin’ Bears defeated Frontier Conference rival Carroll College 21-20.

RMC SCIENCE BUILDING | August 2018

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August 2018 | RMC Science Building