UM Strategy

Objective 3 Project Reports

• Student wellbeing

  The project

  Create a model for student wellbeing that is coordinated and aligned across the programmatic agencies on campus

  Project Lead:  John Nugent
  Executive Sponsor:  Leslie Webb

  What we’re trying to accomplish

  This project is creating a shared framework that clarifies and coordinates the student experience at UM, aligning wellbeing, belonging, leadership, and engagement across Student Affairs and campus partners. The framework will provide common language and structure to reduce fragmentation and support a more integrated, student-centered campus experience.

  Why it matters

  This project is creating a shared framework that clarifies and coordinates the student experience at UM, aligning wellbeing, belonging, leadership, and engagement across Student Affairs and campus partners. The framework will provide common language and structure to reduce fragmentation and support a more integrated, student-centered campus experience.

  Progress

  The project has completed a comprehensive campus life inventory and gap analysis, engaging more than a dozen offices, partners, and student groups through meetings and surveys. With foundational research complete, the team is beginning framework development and preparing to deliver strategic recommendations that align student wellbeing efforts across campus.

• Leadership, service, civil dialogue

  The project

  Build capacity to establish and sustain a cross-campus effort to model civil dialogue, practice civic and democratic engagement, and promote leadership development

  Project Leads:  Michael Rohd, Megan Stark, Gillian Glaes, and Liz Barrs
  Executive Sponsor:  Kelly Webster

  What we’re trying to accomplish

  This project is strengthening UM’s capacity to develop service-minded leaders by advancing civil dialogue, civic engagement, and leadership development through two connected efforts: hosting the annual Democracy Summit and clarifying a distinct, campus-wide commitment to leadership and service. Together, these efforts aim to better connect, elevate, and sustain UM’s existing strengths in leadership, service, and democratic engagement.

  Why it matters

  At a time of increasing social isolation and polarization, UM has a responsibility—and a unique opportunity—to help students build skills in civil dialogue, community leadership, and service. This work reinforces UM’s identity as Montana’s leader in civic engagement, strengthens students’ sense of purpose and belonging, and aligns closely with The Montana Way and UM’s public mission.

  Progress

  Planning for the third annual Democracy Summit is well underway, with dates set, a theme established, a website launched, and strong early commitments from academic departments, student programs, and community organizations. We received over 50 proposals for the event. In parallel, the team has begun interviewing campus leaders to inventory leadership and service efforts, uncovering both the depth of existing work and the opportunity to better coordinate and tell UM’s leadership and service story.

• The Montana Way holistic approach to undergraduate education

  The project

  Develop and test an explanatory framework that describes our holistic approach to undergraduate education

  Project Leads:  Jenny Lavey and Drew Riley
  Executive Sponsor:  Brad Goan

  What we’re trying to accomplish

  This project is developing and testing The Montana Way, an explanatory framework that clearly articulates UM’s holistic approach to undergraduate education, integrating career support, wellbeing, leadership, and service. The framework provides a shared language and structure for communicating the value and distinctiveness of a UM education to students, families, employees, and external audiences.

  Why it matters

  Amid declining public trust in higher education, UM needs a clear, compelling value proposition that connects learning to outcomes students and families care about. The Montana Way strengthens recruitment, reinforces institutional identity, and elevates wellbeing, leadership, and career preparation as defining elements of a UM undergraduate experience.

  Progress

  The Montana Way has been established as UM’s emerging undergraduate education framework, with core language finalized and widely integrated into enrollment marketing, executive communications, campus visits, and broadcast advertising. A new suite of digital, print, and video content has launched. Admissions is actively deploying the messaging framework in a surround-sound approach for prospective students in digital, print,  building installments, email, and events. Additionally, The Montana Way framework is being adapted into the University’s licensing and trademark portfolio, in commercial product. This is a joint venture with Grizzly Athletics, representing a messaging framework that is uniquely celebrated in both UM’s athletic and institutional audiences.

  More from the project leads

  This work takes time, though the early adaptation in prospective-student facing is yielding positive results. We are refining the framework as it parallels and uplifts UM’s home brand, Montana Made, and UM’s ethos of inclusive prosperity. As we continue this work, it will require deep collaboration and connection across campus to discover, promote, and uplift the existing strengths in each respective pillar. The big idea: in a few years, the entirety of campus speaks fluently and confidently about The Montana Way.