Eyes on Montana Higher Education Workforce

The National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL’s) Higher Education Task Force met for a Summit in Washington, D.C. on December 15 and 16 to examine the state and federal relationship between our individual states’ higher education and area labor markets. Task force members were encouraged to invite representatives from their local higher education communities to participate in roundtable discussions. Topics included aiding institutions and elected policymakers to promote the success rates of students who will ultimately make up our workforce, and optimizing values for education with career opportunities.

Chancellor Greg Kegel, MSU-Northern in Havre was invited by Senator Becky Beard (MT SD38, Elliston), to participate in this Summit. Together, they joined roundtable discussions that allowed participants to share state-specific education and workforce challenges. They also evaluated best practices and pathways toward success going forward. Included in these discussions were ideas to make higher education more affordable for students and taxpayers, to help improve success rates, and to minimize student debt.

In Montana, it remains a high priority to incorporate immediate and long-term labor force opportunities in the agricultural sector. “MSU-Northern has always placed a high value on preparing graduates to meet the workforce needs of Montana and the region. I am grateful to Senator Becky Beard for the invitation to attend the NCSL Higher Education Summit—it was an honor to be included in these important conversations. This summit provided an important opportunity for educators and policymakers from across the country to come together and address shared challenges in higher education—from workforce alignment to affordability and student outcomes. These national conversations directly inform how we continue to deliver practical, high-value education for our students,” said MSU-Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel.

This NCSL Higher Education Task Force is a one-of-a-kind forum to bring together ideas promoting higher education in the U.S. Members will engage in a follow-up in mid-May 2026 to review the detailed summary of discussions, including trends and priorities.

For additional information, Chancellor Kegel can be reached at kegel@msun.edu. Senator Becky Beard can be reached at becky.beard@legmt.gov.