"It was really fun," Shook said in December 2016. "What I wanted to do was drive traffic to the web page. … So I went to the frat house for lunch, and (Hidalgo) did a great job. He even asked for money at the donor lunch, so he got the full range of experiences."

Shook also earlier told the Missoulian that UM's wider enrollment decline — roughly 36 percent of its full time equivalents since 2010 — had created budget difficulties for the College of Business. The College of Business had seen steady enrollment, he said at the time, but it also had to share in cost reductions.

Nonetheless, UM notes graduates from the College of Business have not only business skills, but "real-world acumen." The college also counts Fortune 500 executives as alumni.

"The College of Business is a place where students can go to get an education that lets them turn their passion into their job," Shook said in a statement.

Leadership in flux

Leadership positions at the Missoula flagship have been in flux in recent years.

UM hired permanent executives into its top posts last school year, with President Seth Bodnar taking the helm in January 2018 and Provost Jon Harbor stepping into the second-in-command position last August.