All members of the University of Montana (UM) community – no matter their backgrounds, hometowns, life experiences, religious beliefs, abilities, or political views – should experience a UM learning and working environment that cultivates belonging and robust intellectual growth. Committed to fostering inclusive prosperity across Montana and beyond, we believe we are a stronger educational institution when we meaningfully include and remain curious about a broad swath of perspectives and experiences.
As a public-serving institution whose student body reflects the-hard working population of Montana and the diverse identities they represent, we believe that building a sense of belonging for all and providing exposure to a range of perspectives is a precondition for the type of learning that prepares our graduates for a complex, pluralistic society.
As members of the University of Montana community, we aspire to:
- Respect the dignity and rights of all persons.
- Practice honesty, trustworthiness, and academic integrity.
- Promote justice, learning, individual success, and service.
- Act as good stewards of institutional resources.
- Respect the natural environment.
Land Acknowledgment
The Séliš-Ql̓ispé Cultural Committee created the following language, "The University of Montana acknowledges that we are in the aboriginal territories of the Salish and Kalispel people. Today, we honor the path they have always shown us in caring for this place for the generations to come."
The campus community is encouraged use this statement on syllabi, on public websites, and at public events, and to be deliberate in thinking about how to translate the acknowledgment into action.
Photos of Salish tipis on the land the University of Montana now occupies are available via the Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections, which provide a visual representation of the verbal statement.