July 12-13, 2001

ITEM 112-2002-R0701   Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Letters and Science upon Dr. Rex Dahl; Montana State University-Bozeman

THAT:     Upon the occasion of the retirement of Dr. Rex Dahl from Montana State University, the Board of Regents wishes to express its appreciation for his service to the University, the Montana University System, and the people of the State of Montana.

EXPLANATION: Dr. Dahl came to MSU in 1972 after earning degrees from The University of Utah and Michigan State University as well as teaching one year at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. During his 29 years at MSU, Dr. Dahl spent one year as Interim Director of the Summer Session (1977-78), three years as the Assistant Dean of the College of Letters and Science (1987-1990), and 9 years as Head of the Department of Modern Languages and Literature (1990-1999). During his tenure as Head, the department expanded its Japanese program and began participating in the instruction of Arabic.

Dr. Dahl has taught courses ranging from elementary and intermediate German, upper division literature, culture and civilization, composition, conversation and grammar courses. In 1986, Professor Dahl received the Burlington Northern Foundation Faculty Achievement Award for Outstanding Teaching at Montana State University. In 1986, Dr. Dahl was chosen to be a Master Teacher in conjunction with a Title II federal grant for the improvement of teaching among language teachers in the State of South Dakota. In June of 1987, Professor Dahl received the Mortar Board Professor of the Month award for outstanding teaching. He was also instrumental in developing methodologies for the employment of interactive video techniques into foreign language pedagogy (Goethe Institute Conferences). Dr. Dahl has published articles on German literature, the use of technology in the teaching of foreign languages, the interpretation of German culture by means of the political caricature, and the development of non-verbal cultural literacy in the language learner. He received a grant from the Montana Committee for the Humanities (1976) for a project entitled "Foreign Ethnic Influences in the State of Montana" and the production of a movie to document these influences entitled: "Remember."

In addition to his teaching and research, Professor Dahl has also served the university community on a variety of important committees, numerous search and doctoral candidate committees. He served as Vice President of the Montana Association of Language Teachers (1976-77) and Vice President of the Montana Chapter of The American Association of Teachers of German (1976-78). He was Business Manager of the Proceedings, the journal of The Pacific Northwest Council on Foreign Languages (1975-78). To sum up, Professor Dahl embodies the highest standards of the profession and has truly earned the rank of Emeritus.

For these and many other contributions to the University, State and Nation, the Board of Regents of Higher Education is pleased to confer upon Dr. Dahl the title of Professor Emeritus of Letters and Science at Montana State University.