MSU Diversity Council

April 21, 2022

1:30-3:00 pm

WebEx

 

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Ariel Donohue- Chair,

Senior Diversity and Inclusion Officer

 

Kristin Blackler- All Staff Council

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Marianne Brough- Division of Student Success

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Barbara do Amaral- Diversity and Inclusion Student Commons

 

Juliana Rajamohan– Student Diversity Representative

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Alison Harmon-

Academic Deans

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Bridget Kevane- Academic Diversity Partner- CLS

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Kyla Bush- Bobcat Athletics

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Brennan Reeves- Office of International Programs

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Bradford Watson- Faculty Senate

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Nika Stoop- Gender Equity Alliance

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Katie Delker - Assosicated Students of MSU

 

Vacant - Graduate Partnerships

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Participants

 

 

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Carina Beck

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Durward Sobek

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Suzanne Held

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Lisa Perry

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Vanessa Simonds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Welcome
  2. Approval of minutes from March 31 meeting
    1. Approved 
  3. Retention Action Task Force: Durward Sobek and Carina Beck

    Durward and Carina co-chair this taskforce whose charge is to investigate causes for students deciding not to continue at MSU and barriers to timely degree completion. They are working on generating immediate actions to improve retention (especially of first year students) and generating recommendations for sustaining improved retention and time-to-degree over the long-term. The task force is approaching this from an academic lens - how can academic units support student success. They welcome ideas and recommendations from Diversity Council.

  4. Building Family: Suzanne Held and Lisa Perry
    Shared the importance of mentors in helping American Indian students overcome barriers in college. They are starting a pilot program to help students find belonging, be seen, feel included, know how to navigate the institution, connect to individuals who can help students access resources, know where to go and what questions to ask. They will be looking for faculty and staff mentors this fall.
  5. PhD Indigenous and Rural Health: Vanessa Simonds and Suzanne Held 

    This PhD program will be housed in Community Health and is an interdisciplinary partnership among five colleges at MSU. The goal is to develop leaders in Montana who focus on Indigenous and/or Rural health. They have options for in-person and distance/remote learners. They have seen lots of interest from people who are working within their communities who want to create a culture of wellness. There is a practice-based track and a research track. They have 11 potential incoming students this fall.  

  6. Public Comment
    1. Thank you for creating a seat for the Gender Equity Alliance. Welcome, Nika!
    2. April 22nd – United Nations group is hosting a Sri Lankan fundraiser for infants of those struggling in Sri Lankan downturn.
    3. April 23rd at 6 pm in Romney they’ll be hosting a south Asian New Years party – food, beverage, cultural exchange
    4. May 4th - Eid Celebration to celebrate the end of Ramadan
    5. Campus visits for finalists for DISC Director position
    6. ASMSU elections update
    7. RSVP for DISC graduation celebrations will close April 29th. Multicultural Grad Celebration is May 11th and Lavender Celebration is May 12th, both 5-7 pm at the Museum of the Rockies.
  7.  Upcoming diversity events: see https://www.montana.edu/diversity/events/

Next meeting: May 19th from 1:30-3:00 pm