To the Campus Community,

I write to provide an update on academic planning, UM Summer, and Commencement. Before I share this information, I’d like to recognize all the members of our campus community who continue to bring their tireless energy to work each day. Special thanks to all front-line workers and faculty and staff who have gone above and beyond to support our students and one another over the course of the past year.

Academic planning

I have been facilitating the deans’ work on planning to meet students’ needs, attract prospective students, and invest in strong, sustainable academic programs. Last week, the Academic Planning Group (APG) met for the first time to review a working document put forth by the deans. The document is a high-level vision for UM’s academic future. Deans continue to draft college-level proposals for structural and curricular changes, which the APG will consider in the coming weeks.

You can learn more about the APG’s work on the webpage created to share information about the group’s work. The main charge to the APG is to provide input on the contents of the working document and on the potential structural and curricular changes the deans propose. APG members will conduct targeted outreach to gather a wide range of perspectives, and then deliver its input to me. I will consider the input the APG delivers and integrate it into the recommendations I submit to President Bodnar.

Importantly, our academic planning will incorporate insights from the University Design Team (UDT). While this process focuses exclusively on Academic Affairs, and the UDT is considering the University as a whole, it is vital that our academic planning be in sync with our goals as an institution. The UDT’s planning influences this process, and the results of this process will be carried forward in UM’s strategic operating rhythm.

My goal is to deliver this high-level plan to President Bodnar prior to Commencement. The President will work with the appropriate stakeholders to finalize the plan, taking into consideration new information as it becomes available. Over the summer, the deans and I will prepare to operationalize the plan. Information about our progress will be posted on the Academic Planning webpage. All curricular changes that result from this work will undergo Faculty Senate review next fall, per the usual process.

Guidelines for summer instruction in the field

The Instructional Planning Group is developing guidelines and recommendations for instruction-related summer fieldwork, on and off campus, in collaboration with UM’s Office of Risk Management, Office for Research and Creative Scholarship, and UM Summer. This information will be posted on the UM Summer website April 12 and shared with deans and chairs to distribute to faculty members so they can plan accordingly.

Commencement

Commencement ceremonies are confirmed for Saturday, May 1, 2021 in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Risk mitigation guidelines approved by the City and County will be followed.

• The 9 a.m. ceremony is confirmed for graduates of the College of Humanities and Sciences, the College of Business, and the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation.

• The 2 p.m. ceremony is confirmed for graduates of the College of Education, the College of Health, the College of the Arts and Media, Missoula College, as well as graduates of the Department of Public Administration and Policy.

Faculty members who signed up to attend Commencement should use the email from MarchingOrder to RSVP for the event. Please remember to:

• Print or save your ticket for the event and have it with you the day of Commencement in order to gain access to the ceremonies.
• Wear your regalia! Regalia is required for faculty participation in Commencement ceremonies.

Individuals without a ticket or regalia will not be allowed to participate in Commencement ceremonies.

Wanted: Commencement ceremony volunteers

The Office of the Registrar seeks UM employees to volunteer at Commencement ceremonies, taking place at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, May 1, in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Breakfast and lunch will be provided and volunteers will receive a T-shirt. If you would like to volunteer, please sign up: Volunteer for UM Commencement.

In closing

As always, I welcome your feedback and encourage you to reach out to me via my office hours or by sending me a note at officeoftheprovost@umontana.edu.

Reed Humphrey, Acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs