University of Montana/Missoula College/ Bitterroot College

Action Plan
Recommendations Action Plan Next Steps Person Responsible Implementation Date

Recommendation 1: Senior level point of contact.

Identify point person for UM

Ensure consistent communication between AIMA Council, primary senior points of contact, and the President’s Native American Advisory Council

Kelly Webster, Chief of Staff

Kimber McKay, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

Brad Hall, Tribal Outreach Specialist

July 1, 2022
Recommendation 2: Department points of contact. Identify the positions that should be included.

Re-confirm points of contact within each unit (see Person Responsible Column)

Create and hire into a new Financial Aid position dedicated to Native student support

Create and hire a coordinator for the Indigenous First Year Experience, housed in American Indian Student Servics

Kimber McKay, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

Sarah Swager, Vice Provost for Student Success

Salena Hill, Inclusive Excellence

Emily Williamson, Financial Aid (will be joined by new financial aid hire)

Sandy Curtis and Jon Nugent, Residential Life

John Massena, Admissions (targeted hiring of Indigenous students in Admissions to support tribal engagement)  

Jeff Adams, Curry Health Center

Marcie Briggs, Human Resources

Nathan Domitrovich, Advising 

Ruth Williams, Business Services/Human Resources

July 1, 2022

Recommendation 3: Data collection and dissemination to evaluate Native American student success

Assess data on Native American student success by major (and non-declared majors)

Identify gateway courses and high DFW rate courses; analyze why Native American students stop out or leave before degree-attainment

Utilize Banner and the EAB dashboard for data analysis

 

Complete creation of UM’s Equity Dashboard and set a regular cadence of data pulls and analysis

 

Launch and complete DFW project and engage with campus-based dashboard users in training and continuous dashboard improvement efforts

Equity Dashboard and data analysis: 

  • Pope Ashworth, Director of Institutional Research; 
  • Brian Reed, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success

DFW project

  • Brian Reed, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success
  • Brian French Executive Director of the Office for Students Success
  • Brad Hall, Tribal Outreach Specialist
July 1, 2022

Recommendation 4:
Professional development.

Promote Indian Education for All (IEFA) by expanding common American Indian cultural awareness & under-standing training and professional development through the IEFA Model for all faculty and staff

Provide additional and supplemental trainings that build on the IEFA module and focus topics on building instructional/student support/and research capacity

Pursue trauma-informed and equity-minded practices

Revisit distribution and uptake of OCHE course to all faculty/staff and determine adjustments to the process

 

Identify continuing and new presenters for faculty and staff trainings – both specifically focused on supporting Native students and more generally on supporting underrepresented students

 

Hire Director of Equity, Empowerment, and Prevention

OCHE Trainings and other professional development opportunities:  

  • Jasmine Zink Laine, Director of the Office of Organizational Learning and Development 
  • Kimber McKay, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
  • Brian Reed, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success
July 1, 2022

Recommendation 5: Dissemination of professional development.

Include information and training sessions at New Faculty Orientation, DiverseU, and Advising Training

Gain continuous feedback as to what training needs are to promote the meaningful integration of Indian Education for All (IEFA)

Advertise self-serve professional development opportunities through deans, chairs, unit directors

Initiate plans for diversity & cultural understanding incentives in hiring, tenure, & promotion

Integrate into existing meetings/orientations, e.g., new faculty orientation

Jasmine Zink-Laine, Director of the Office of Organizational Learning and Development 

Ali Pepper, Director of Equity, Empowerment, and Prevention

Annie Belcourt, Salena Hill, Twila Old Coyote, Brad Hall (New Faculty Orientation leaders)

July 1, 2022

Other Recommendations

 

 

 

 

Targeted Student and Family Support

Provide enhanced support for Native American families during the transition to college

Launch AIG website with connections to community resources

Middle school and early high school engagement during fall community visits

Native Griz Preview Days

Build out “moving camp” for family involvement during orientation and include targeted spring community visits on prospective and incoming students

Brad Hall, Tribal Outreach Specialist

Michelle Guzman, Director of American Indian Student Services

August 2022

First Year Support

Develop the Indigenous First Year Experience program

Hire coordinator

Select student mentors and other on-campus partnerships to optimize supports for first-time AI/AN freshman

Finalize the implementation plan and curriculum

Michelle Guzman, Director of American Indian Student Services

Brad Hall, Tribal Outreach Specialist

Aaron Thomas, Professor of Chemistry

Nathan Domitrovich, Director of the Undergraduate Advising Center

President’s Native American Advisory Council (PNAAC), sub-committee

August 2022

Alumni Engagement

Gather on-campus AI/AN UM alumni and re-engage with existing Native Griz alumni affinity group

Meet and plan with UM alumni stakeholders 

Develop strategy to identify AI/AN alumni 

Leanne Meyer, Director of the Alumni Association

September 2022