Current State and Efforts

We are at a watershed moment in UM's history as an aspiring university of choice for Native students. Since 2018, our Native student enrollment and retention rate have been on an upward trajectory.

Several factors contribute to this success:

The Payne Family Native American Center is at the heart of the UM campus and serves as a visible and supportive hub for our robust, diverse Native community. Although the center has never formalized a written vision or mission, it is generally understood that the purpose of the building is to provide a centralized space for Native student access to Native-focused academic programming and a community of support that fosters Native student success and excellence.
The Payne Family Native American Center is home to vitally important programs and activities that support Native student success such as the Native American Studies Department, the Elouise Cobell Land and Culture Institute, American Indian Student Services, and Kyiyo.
In 2018, President Bodnar formed a President's Native American Advisory Council (PNAAC), a group of Native faculty, staff, and students, who advise on efforts to ensure Native student success at UM.
In 2019 and in response to guidance from tribal college presidents and the PNAAC, UM hired a Tribal Outreach Specialist who has visited and engaged with tribal middle schools, high schools, Colleges, and Universities across Montana. He has listened to our partners, identified some of our challenges, and re-envisioned the transitional support structures needed for students.