Branch Center and DEI

Branch Center

At the University Center one of our core values is Diversity. The Branch Center is the space for student diversity and inclusion at the University of Montana.The Branch center is a space dedicated to promoting respectful and collaborative dialogue, programming, and resources, in an effort to foster understanding, support, and inclusion for underrepresented students.

The Branch Center is dedicated to Dr. Theresa Branch, former vice president of Student Affairs, who wanted to create a place on campus which celebrated diversity. Branch served from 2003 to 2016 as the first female African-American in the position.

Branch Center Handbook & Facility Guidelines

Branch Center Smudge Space

The Smudge Space is a designated space (UM Policy #1016) for the UM campus community to smudge. Smudging is a traditional practice used by Indigenous people for prayer or to cleanse a person or place by burning sacred plants. The UM campus community is invited to use this space and provides smudging items for use.

Student Group Events

Interested with the Branch Center? Check out Griz Hub and search one or all of the following organizations: Branch Center, Black Student Union, Kyiyo, LAMBDA, LGBTQ Resource Center, Latiné Student Union, Pacific Islander Club, UTOPIA, or Gender Equity Resource Center.

DEI Events

DiverseU

Diversity at The University of Montana is an essential component of academic excellence and DiverseU provides an opportunity to contribute to the diversity efforts at UM. This is a campus-wide series of events focused on topics of diversity and promoting civil discourse. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members discuss, present, perform, and exhibit art throughout the event. The DiverseU experience gives you an even broader platform to share your ideas, research, and art in a flexible format. We are accepting workshop and research presentations, poetry and short story readings, discussion topics, art pieces, lectures, vignettes, dances, and more.