DayOne 2019

This year's DayOne marks something very special for the Mining Engineering Department at Montana Tech. As one of two original degrees and the only uninterrupted program at Montana Tech, this year Mining Engineering is celebrating 120 years!

Over those 120 years the Montana Tech Mining Department is known for producing mining engineers with a particular aptitude for practical application of what they learn, our engineers have a particular knack for getting rock in the box. An important part of that preparation is hands-on learning and Montana Tech has the unique honor of being home to the Underground Mine Education Center, the only on-campus underground facility for a Mining Engineering program in the United States.

In 2010, Montana Tech acquired ownership of a parcel of land immediately west of the campus.  The parcel of land included an old silver mine called the Orphan Boy Mine.  At the same time, a significant industry gift allowed Montana Tech to initiate the development of an Underground Mine Education Center (UMEC) on the campus of Montana Tech.

The UMEC is a unique hands-on, interdisciplinary educational environment for today’s students. The center complements courses in mining engineering, geological engineering, environmental engineering, metallurgical engineering and occupational safety and health.  It also serves as a research facility utilized by students and faculty, and other organizations doing research in underground mining methods, rock mechanics, ventilation, fragmentation, and health and safety. In the last twelve months we have invested over $150,000 improving our facilities and expanding the UMEC campus with the donation of a large metal shed allowing covered storage and equipment repair space plus transportable building that includes office and lineout areas as well as a change room.

The UMEC has been primarily funded by industry gifts and donations and this is where you can help. We are asking for your investment to ensure our working area meets the expectations of our students, industry stakeholders, and research partners. Your gift will allow us to expand our utility infrastructure and progress toward completion of our surface facilities. This will improve our site instruction space and allow us to focus on providing a world class, hands-on, practical experience for our students.

Please consider making a gift today to the Underground Mine Education Center and invest in Mining Engineering students at  Montana Tech. Thank you for your support and please help us spread the word, share this project on social media, by email and tell your friends!