MSU Diversity Council

September 22, 2022

1:30-3:00 pm

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Ariel Donohue- Chair,

Senior Diversity and Inclusion Officer

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Royce Smith-Academic Deans representative

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Marianne Brough- Division of Student Success

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Barbara do Amaral- Diversity and Inclusion Student Commons

 

TBA– Student Diversity Representative

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Nicky Lowry- All Staff Council

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Steven Davis- Academic Diversity Partner- CLS

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Jen Allen- Bobcat Athletics

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Brennan Reeves- Office of International Programs

 

Jennifer Thomson- Faculty Senate

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Mary Greene- Graduate Partnerships

 

Frances Bronstein- Associated Students of MSU

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Nika Stoop- Gender Equity Alliance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Participants

 

 

 

  1. Welcome and introductions
  2. Approval of minutes from May 22 meeting
    Approved
  3. Persistence and completion rates- using a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens
    • What groups are we not capturing when we only look at institutional demographics? How do we consider the full range of identities existing within the community? Potential Data opportunities with NavMSU.
    • Connection with the Gender Equity Alliance as they are looking at other identities than just sex/gender.
    • Diversity Council members discussed wanting to understand not just numbers but student experiences and needs.
    • Leading more with stories, including joy and success stories
    • Want to know more about:
      • Scholarship requirements can be limiting for students who need to work to pay for education. Need to learn more about which scholarships have the 15 credit minimum. Desire to hear from students who drop out and what their needs were.
      • Hearing from the OPA about what data are available and opportunities to gather more.
      • Hearing from Durward, Carina and the retention task force about how Diversity Council can help to align with institutional strategies and apply it within our contexts.
      • Hearing from Tony Campeau what we should know about SEM/student success conversations.
  4. Diversity Council priorities for 2022-2023
    • Helping students feel heard – collaborating with the student diversity council
    • Graduate School – persistence and completion rates. Diversity Council could help to look at this issue more broadly and identifying solutions that will benefit students.
    • Opportunities to grow diversity within graduate student population
    • Focus on practical issues/barriers that we can address
    • Student wellness center – providing input on signage/materials. Invite folks involved to advise.
    • Supporting the MSUASC DEI subcommittee on defining their purpose and guiding them to align their efforts with university goals.
  5. Public Comment
    • Office of International Programs is aiming to grow international student enrollment significantly
    • Gender Equity Alliance has a subgroup developing guidelines around safe and inclusive field work. They will be brought to Diversity Council before going out officially.
    • Brazillian ceramicist will have an exhibit in the College of Arts and Architecture. Would be great to host our next meeting there.
    • DISC and OSE hired a student director for diversity and inclusion who will run the student diversity council this year.
    • Discussion of what leadership to action looks like
  6. Upcoming Diversity Events: see https://www.montana.edu/diversity/events/ 

 

Next meeting: Thursday, October 20; 1:30 – 3:00 pm; 210 Cheever