Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan
Inclusive Excellence
At the University of Montana, inclusive excellence is not just a strategic goal we choose to continually pursue but also an ongoing moral imperative, an ethical obligation, and a matter of institutional survival. As a public-serving institution committed to access and equal opportunity, UM must continually design itself to foster inclusive prosperity for all, a goal that is inextricably linked to our aspiration to be a flagship for the future.
UM’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan
UM’S Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan aims to identify the equity gaps unique to our institution, to flag the policies and practices that contribute to these gaps, and to implement new policies and practices that will bridge them. Accomplishing this requires that we embrace the twin perspectives of the way things are and the way things could be.
UM’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan
UM’S Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan (DEI Plan) grows out of the thoughtful and multi-year efforts of UM staff, faculty, administrators, and students. The plan aims to identify the equity gaps unique to our institution, to flag the policies and practices that contribute to these gaps, and to implement new policies and practices that will bridge them.
Accomplishing this requires that we embrace the twin perspectives of the way things are and the way things could be.
Ongoing Planning and Action
This iteration of UM’s DEI Plan represents our informed ideas at this moment, ideas that will benefit from additional voices, further research, and expert assessment. We will therefore revise the plan over time as we learn and include new perspectives and understandings in its design.
Organized by UM’s Five Priorities for Action, the plan outlines key institutional objectives, strategies, and actions. While some of the identified actions in this plan will be immediately feasible, others will take more time, capacity, and financial resources to implement. By naming the actions that will take more time to accomplish, we hold ourselves accountable to the direction we want to head.
Visibility and Integration
Action is possible only if equity-minded individuals use the authority afforded them to ensure progress and accountability by virtue of institutional practices rather than through the individual goodwill of a few. To ensure visibility and full integration into institutional efforts, the DEI Plan both informs and reflects UM’s annually updated playbook of institutional priorities. Review and updating of the DEI Plan are integrated into UM’s operating rhythm, ensuring we guard against overdependence on the goodwill of individual people and vulnerability to leadership changes.
UM's DEI Plan
PRIORITY FOR ACTION #1: PLACE STUDENT SUCCESS AT THE CENTER OF ALL WE DO
OBJECTIVE 1.1: RETAIN AND SUPPORT A DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION THROUGH STRATEGIC PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT
- Strategy 1.1.1: Develop a holistic and comprehensive Student Success retention plan, informed by unit-level annual assessment results that inform promising interventions to promote underrepresented and historically underserved student persistence . (Owners: Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; Associate Vice Provost for Student Success; Associated Dean of the Graduate School)
- Strategy 1.1.2: Conduct annual assessments to identify areas for improvement and to inform Student Success retention plan; ensure data is disaggregated to allow for a deeper understanding of differences in outcomes for underrepresented and underserved students. (Owners: Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; Associate Vice Provost for Student Success)
- Strategy 1.1.3: Maintain an updated Excellence in Native American Education Plan and develop a regular mechanism for tracking progress. (Owners: Tribal Outreach Specialist; Vice Provost for Academic Affairs)
- Strategy 1.1.4: Review all student-facing policies and/or procedures through a DEI lens. (Owners: Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; Associate Legal Counsel)
- Strategy 1.1.5: Review student-facing forms for gender identity inclusiveness. (Owners: Vice President for Enrollment; Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life)
OBJECTIVE 1.2: RETAIN AND SUPPORT A DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION THROUGH ENHANCED TRAINING AND CLEAR REPORTING OPTIONS
- Strategy 1.2.1: Establish and continually support an Office of Inclusive Excellence for Student Success. (Owners: Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; Associate Vice Provost for Student Success; Director of Branch Center)
- Strategy 1.2.2: Develop and deliver diversity, discrimination, and harassment training for students, faculty, and staff . (Owners: Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; Associate Vice Provost for Student Success)
- Strategy 1.2.3: Provide easily accessed processes for students and employees to report grievances and discrimination. (Owners: Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; Associate Vice President for Conflict, Resolution, and Policy; Director of Equal Opportunity/Title IX; ADA Team; Community Standards)
- Strategy 1.2.4: Create a name change case management system and process for all students (and employees) . (Owners: Chief Information Officer; Vice President for Operations and Finance; Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services)
OBJECTIVE 1.3: RETAIN AND SUPPORT A DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION THROUGH TARGETED ACHIEVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND HARDSHIP MITIGATION EFFORTS
- Strategy 1.3.1: Provide timely access to resources that address students’ basic needs . (Owners: Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; ASUM)
- Strategy 1.3.2: Build programming to ensure underrepresented students are connected to internship opportunities and career success activities (ElevateU); increase underrepresented student participation in career ready activities and programs. (Owners: Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; Associate Vice Provost for Student Success)
- Strategy 1.3.3: Promote existing cultural leave policy for students . (Owners: Faculty Senate; Provost; Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life)
- Strategy 1.3.4: Increase participation of underrepresented students in UM’s hallmark academic programs (e.g., graduate programs, GLI, DHC, S.E.A. Change, Wildlife Biology, etc.). (Owners: Vice President for Enrollment)
- Strategy 1.3.5:Increase access to scholarship and waiver opportunities among underrepresented student populations (see PFA 5). (Owners: Vice President for Enrollment; Vice President for Marketing and Communications; CEO of UM Foundation)
OBJECTIVE 1.4: RETAIN AND SUPPORT A DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION THROUGH INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY-BUILDING AND IDENTITY-BASED RESOURCES
- Strategy 1.4.1: Ensure student transition, orientation, and onboarding programs are designed with students from underrepresented and underserved populations in mind. (Owners: Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; Associate Vice Provost for Student Success)
- Strategy 1.4.2: Invite students into conversations about gender equity through the S.E.A. Change Initiative programming. (Owners: Director of S.E.A. Change Initiative; Director of W.E.L.L.; Dean of DHC)
- Strategy 1.4.3: Increase financial support for student-facing diversity and inclusion efforts and annual events. (Owners: CEO of UM Foundation; Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; Dean of the Graduate School; Chief of Staff)
- Strategy 1.4.4: Centralize and distribute information regarding campus/community resources and services related to DEI. (Owners: Chief of Staff; Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; Tribal Outreach Specialist)
- Strategy 1.4.5: Provide visible and dedicated space on campus for multicultural and underrepresented students and student organizations . (Owners: Vice President for Operations and Finance; Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life)
PRIORITY FOR ACTION #2: DRIVE EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN TEACHING, LEARNING, AND RESEARCH
OBJECTIVE 2.1: ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN TEACHING PRACTICES, CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, AND UNIVERSITY CITIZENSHIP
- Strategy 2.1.1: Offer faculty, staff, and graduate students professional development opportunities and other resources focused on inclusive and equitable teaching practices. (Owners: Provost; Vice Provost for Academic Affairs)
- Strategy 2.1.2: Encourage and support faculty efforts to design curricula to be inclusive of cross-cultural/BIPOC and LGBTQ authors/thinkers, and non-western ways of knowing. (Owners: Faculty Senate)
- Strategy 2.1.3: Embed DEI criteria into Unit Standards. (Owners: Vice Provost for Academic Affairs; Deans; Unit Standards Committee; Academic Departments)
- Strategy 2.1.4: In course proposal process, promote equitable teaching practices resources and encourage a commitment to equitable teaching. (Owners: Vice Provost for Academic Affairs; Faculty Senate/ASCRC)
OBJECTIVE 2.2: ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION THROUGH RESEARCH AND CREATIVE SCHOLARSHIP
- Strategy 2.2.1: Support research and creative scholarship that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. (Owners: Provost; Vice President for Research and Creative Scholarship; Academic Departments; Deans)
- Strategy 2.2.2: Identify DEI-related support for grant-writing and aid those seeking support. (Owners: Vice President for Research and Creative Scholarship; Research Development Office)
- Strategy 2.2.3: Provide resources to promote UM research in tribal settings that is equitable, culturally sensitive, and subject to tribal review and input as paramount in recognizing tribal sovereignty. (Owners: Vice President for Research and Creative Scholarship)
PRIORITY FOR ACTION #3: EMBODY THE PRINCIPLE OF "MISSION FIRST, PEOPLE ALWAYS"
OBJECTIVE 3.1: INCREASE DIVERSITY OF EMPLOYEE POPULATION THROUGH STRATEGIC RECRUITMENT, HIRING, AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITY
- Strategy 3.1.1: Implement an updated Affirmative Action Plan to inform our employee recruitment and retention practices. (Owners: Vice President for People and Culture; Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services)
- Strategy 3.1.2: Consider diversity and inclusion as factors in designing role descriptions and in recruitment and hiring practices. (Owners: Vice President for People and Culture; Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services)
- Strategy 3.1.3: Embed diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations, when appropriate, into employee (non-faculty) performance review process. (Owners: Vice President for People and Culture; Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services)
OBJECTIVE 3.2: RETAIN A DIVERSE EMPLOYEE POPULATION BY CREATING A CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND SUPPORTIVE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT
- Strategy 3.2.1: Conduct assessments to identify areas for improvement regarding employee experience and campus climate. (Owners: Vice President for People and Culture; Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services; Deputy Chief of Staff)
- Strategy 3.2.2: Establish an expectation for all employees that we are an institution committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and that all employees have a role to play in this commitment. (Owners: Vice President for People and Culture; Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services; Deputy Chief of Staff)
- Strategy 3.2.3: Develop, deliver, and strongly encourage diversity, discrimination, and harassment training for all employees, including an emphasis on how to foster inclusive, equitable educational environments. (Owners: Vice President for People and Culture; Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services)
- Strategy 3.2.4: Develop a central and living repository of self-education materials on anti-bias, anti-racism, and equitable practices. (Owners: Chief of Staff)
- Strategy 3.2.5: Increase financial support for and visibility of diversity and inclusion efforts and annual events (see PFA 1). (Owners: President; Chief of Staff; CEO of the UM Foundation; Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life)
- Strategy 3.2.6: Provide confidential and easily accessed systems for employee reporting, support, and personnel actions. (Owners: Vice President for People and Culture; Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services; Associate Vice President for Conflict, Resolution, & Policy)
- Strategy 3.2.7: Review institutional policies and procedures through a DEI lens. (Owners: Associate Legal Counsel)
PRIORITY FOR ACTION #4: PARTNER WITH PLACE
OBJECTIVE 4.1: INCREASE ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN THE REGION
- Strategy 4.1.1: Advertise and where appropriate expand online, 2+2, 4+1, and graduate programs to increase access in rural areas reaching students who may be first-generation, non-traditional and of low socio-economic status . (Owners: Provost; Vice Provost for Academic Affairs; Vice Provost for Educational Initiatives and Innovation)
OBJECTIVE 4.2: DEEPEN, STRENGTHEN, AND ELEVATE PREEXISTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH REGIONAL INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
- Strategy 4.2.1: Expand and publicly express UM’s interdependence with tribal communities and Montana’s Indigenous peoples. (Owners: President; Chief of Staff; Tribal Relations Specialist; Vice President for Marketing and Communications)
- Strategy 4.2.2: Create meaningful and action-based engagement with Tribal College Presidents through the Council of Presidents. (Owners: President; Chief of Staff; Tribal Relations Specialist)
OBJECTIVE 4.3: PARTNER WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEI-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS TO CONNECT AND SUPPORT UNDERREPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS WITHIN AND BETWEEN UM AND IN THE COMMUNITY
- Strategy 4.3.1: Partner with diverse community organizations to develop a sense of place for underrepresented students attending UM. (Owners: Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; Associate Vice Provost for Student Success)
- Strategy 4.3.2: Engage local and statewide youth in conversations about gender equity and intersectionality through the S.E.A. Change Initiative (see PFA 1) and the Women’s Leadership Initiative. (Owners: Chief of Staff; Director of the S.E.A. Change Initiative)
OBJECTIVE 4.4: PARTNER WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS
- Strategy 4.4.1: Engage with employers to support pathways for underrepresented students to connect with experiential learning opportunities and build career skills, employment networks, and enhanced academic learning. (Owners: Vice Provost for Student Success and Campus Life; Associate Vice Provost for Student Success)
PRIORITY FOR ACTION #5: PROUDLY TELL THE UM STORY
OBJECTIVE 5.1: TELL THE UM STORY TO RECRUIT UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS THROUGH STRATEGIC OUTREACH AND MARKETING
- Strategy 5.1.1: Integrate into UM’s strategic enrollment plan efforts to recruit historically underrepresented students. (Owners: Vice President for Enrollment)
OBJECTIVE 5.2: TELL THE UM STORY TO RECRUIT UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS BY CULTIVATING, ELEVATING, AND CELEBRATING UM'S DIVERSITY
- Strategy 5.2.1: Ensure physical representations of diversity on the UM campus and in digital mapping projects. (Owners: Vice President for Marketing and Communications; Chief Information Officer)
- Strategy 5.2.2: Accurately describe and depict images of the diversity of the institution in admissions material and in all marketing and media. (Owners: Vice President for Marketing and Communications)
- Strategy 5.2.3: Develop web content specifically devoted to diversity. (Owners: Chief of Staff; Director of Branch Center; Tribal Relations Specialist)
OBJECTIVE 5.3: RECRUIT UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS THROUGH TARGETED BARRIER MITIGATION
- Strategy 5.3.1: Actively push out Financial Aid verification resources. (Owners: Vice President for Enrollment; Director of Financial Aid)
- Strategy 5.3.2: Increase access to scholarship and waiver opportunities among underrepresented student populations . (Owners: Vice President for Enrollment; CEO of the UM Foundation)