UM is one of three Montana institutions — Montana State University in Bozeman and MSU-Billings are the others — accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

“Employers want to see that you had good programs and structured programs,” Daniel said, “and if your degree doesn't have an accreditation behind it, how do you tell an employer that you had a meaningful schooling and you learned the critical information you needed to learn?”

In Daniel’s view, preserving these programs isn’t just good for the students. Having played the bassoon with groups on and off campus, she’s seen UM reap the benefits of its investments in the arts.

“We got to go to California, we made it to a huge competition and got to compete, so we're spreading UM's image around the country, essentially, and I think people don't realize that … we're making a huge impact and we matter.”

That sentiment proved widespread as Ramey’s letter spread on social media, and as students organized a protest and reached out to the Missoulian to voice their concerns.

“Missoula and the larger state of Montana has an amazing arts community,” Harbor said. “It’s very clear when there were concerns about the college that the arts community made their voices heard.”