July 11-12, 2002

ITEM 116-2001-R0702   Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Business upon Robert L. Swinth; Montana State University-Bozeman

THAT:  Upon the occasion of the retirement Robert L. Swinth from the faculty of 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:  Robert L. Swinth received baccalaureate, master's and doctorate degrees from Stanford University, completing his Ph.D. program in organizational psychology in 1964. After holding faculty positions at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (1963-1967) and the University of Kansas (1967-1979), Dr. Swinth joined the Montana State University College of Business faculty as Full Professor of Management in 1979. During his 21 years at MSU, Professor Swinth made significant contributions to teaching, research and service.

Dr. Swinth's numerous improvements and innovations in the business curriculum include the development of coursework in business ethics, business policy and strategy and the award-wining freshman seminar in business. He also chaired the committee that created the innovative senior seminar. Both the freshman and senior seminars feature unique requirements including written and oral communication, critical business decision making and service learning. He has also successfully published a number of pedagogical innovations in refereed business education journals regarding case-based teaching, community involvement and service learning, and teaching business ethics.

Professor Swinth was a productive scholar publishing over 60 articles, proceedings, monographs and book chapters. His research into problem solving and decision making was published in the highest tier academic journals. Recently his scholarly work has turned to local problems and issues including strategic development of emergent technologies such as biofilm engineering and the preservation of national environmental treasures such as the cutthroat trout population in Yellowstone Lake. His research has appeared in a variety of academic outlets including Industrial Management Review, Occupational Psychology, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Kansas Business Review, Journal of Marketing Research, Management Science, Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, Decision Sciences, Journal of Business Administration, Journal of Management Education, Journal of Pediatric Psychology, International Journal of Management, Journal of Cooperative Education, Psychological Reports, Journal of Community Development, and the Family Business Review.

During his 21 year tenure at MSU, Dr. Swinth was active in academic and campus pursuits serving the college and the institution. His long service as both member and chair of the college promotion and tenure committee was exemplary. At the university level he provided service in many capacities including membership on the university promotion and tenure committee, the water initiative and the convocations committee.

For these and other contributions, the Board of Regents of Higher Education is pleased to confer Robert L. Swinth the rank of Professor Emeritus of Business at Montana State University and wishes him well for many years in the future.