University Hall and the M trail from the oval on a bright morning

Provost

Two Playbooks, Seven Shared Objectives

Starting in FY26, Academic Affairs will intentionally align with the University’s long-term strategic objectives. This shift strengthens institutional coherence and reinforces our shared purpose. We recognize that this change requires more coordination to ensure that academic priorities are clearly visible within institution-wide planning. To address this, we have taken care to identify where Academic Affairs projects align directly with the University Playbook, and where additional explanation is needed to show the relevance of institutionally sponsored efforts to the academic mission.

The section that follows uses the exact language of the FY26 University Playbook to show how projects directly support the goals of Academic Affairs. Projects are categorized in three ways:

  • University projects that are led or sponsored by members of Academic Affairs are labeled and bolded.
  • Academic Affairs projects unique to this playbook are labeled and bolded.
  • UM Playbook Projects that are not directly under the leadership or sponsorship of Academic Affairs but are deeply connected to our work are noted and contextualized.

FY25 Objectives

  • University Project: Cultivate excellence in teaching, learning, and assessment through evidence-based practices in foundational math and writing courses.
    • Purpose:To equip faculty with adaptable, evidence-based teaching strategies for gateway courses so that we strengthen student success, boost academic confidence, and improve degree completion.
    University Project: Drive the design and implementation of an undergraduate advising model that responds to current and future student needs and expectations.
    • Purpose:To streamline advising processes for the advising community so that we increase efficiency and effectiveness for students.
    • Academic Affairs Context: Academic Affairs is working with the Office for Student Success to centralize the management of professional advising services across campus, in coordination with the colleges. This approach ensures that students are placed with trained advisors familiar with the best practices of the disciplinary cohorts they support. The next phase of this work will focus on developing a Faculty Mentorship Framework that connects students with faculty in their fields to deepen academic engagement, clarify pathways, and support career exploration. This effort is designed to ensure that professional advising and faculty mentorship reflect the distinct mission and advising culture of each unit.
    University Project: Refine the strategic approach to graduate enrollment.
    • Purpose:To enhance outreach and experiences for graduate students so that we optimize their support and sustain UM’s R1 status.
    • Academic Affairs Context: Academic Portfolio Review of graduate programs and the Graduate Assistantship (GA) Reallocation Process will be launched to evaluate program health and reallocate GA funding per Faculty Senate procedure and recent changes in Financial Aid eligibility reporting requirements related new federal accountability measures based on student outcomes.
  • University Project: Expand and deepen alumni, faculty, staff, and community co-curricular partnerships in support of students’ access to networks and mentorships.
    • Purpose: To develop and strengthen alumni partnerships so that we support students' career readiness through mentorship and industry connections.
    University Project: Continue to work with faculty across disciplines to integrate career readiness into the curriculum and co-curriculum.
    • Purpose: To embed career readiness in academic curricula so that students connect learning to future opportunities and departments can measure and enhance impact.
    University Project: Adapt the academic program portfolio review process with a lens on curricular relevance.
    • Purpose: To align academic programs with evolving student and societal needs so that programs remain forward-facing, mission-aligned, and strategically sustainable.
    Academic Affairs Project: Align program assessment and review frameworks.
    • Purpose:To integrate recently revised program learning outcomes, assessment practices, and program review so that departments can clearly articulate the purpose and value of each academic offering, demonstrate its relevance to students’ future opportunities, and support continuous improvement through transparent, faculty-led assessment.
  • University Project: Build capacity to establish and sustain a cross-campus effort to model civil dialogue, practice civic and democratic engagement, and promote leadership development.
    • Purpose: To secure funding for student leadership development and civic engagement so that we elevate UM’s role in developing active, community-driven citizens.
    University Project: Develop and test an explanatory framework that describes our holistic approach to undergraduate education.
    • Purpose:To develop an explanatory framework so that we clearly articulate the value of a UM undergraduate education and intentionally design the student experience.
    • Academic Affairs Context: Academic Affairs is leading the development of Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs) that will integrate with this framework. These outcomes will clarify what every UM undergraduate should be able to do—regardless of major—and will guide revisions to program review, and assessment practices. This work is also linked to our proposed Integrated Marketing & Recruitment Strategy, which will better articulate the value and distinctiveness of a UM education to prospective students, families, and community partners.
  • University Project: Establish UM as the regional leader in online education, including the development of a structure to maintain academic integrity in a digital
    • Purpose:To establish UM as a regional leader in online education for current and future students so that we broaden access to flexible, high-quality academic programs.
    University Project: Develop a comprehensive and financially sustainable noncredit training portfolio.
    • Purpose:To develop a sustainable noncredit training portfolio for diverse learners so that we expand access, meet workforce needs, increase revenue, and strengthen community engagement.
    University Project: Improve access to academic pathways and strengthen partnerships and industry collaborations.
    • Purpose:To increase access to academic pathways and strengthen industry partnerships so that we support students' career success and build a strong talent pipeline.
    University Project: Adapt our systems and processes to support a wider range of learners.
    • Purpose:To adapt UM systems for diverse learners so that all students experience a streamlined and supportive educational journey.
  • University Project: Collaborate with partners to address health needs across Montana, with a particular focus on mental and behavioral health.
    • Purpose:To apply UM's expertise and educational programs in mental and behavioral health so that we support coalition building across the State's mental and behavioral health workforce.
    University Project: Leverage the UM Impact and Interfolio platforms to support faculty collaboration and showcase faculty scholarly and creative activities.
    • Purpose:To capture and showcase research and creative scholarship activities so that we facilitate faculty connections across disciplines and amplify our impact in Montana and across the globe.
    Academic Affairs Project: Co-create immersive, culturally centered XR learning experiences with Blackfeet Eco Knowledge.
    • Purpose:To collaboratively develop immersive, Indigenous-led learning environments that amplify Blackfoot cultural knowledge, expand interdisciplinary research capacity, and embed culturally rich XR experiences into UM curricula—enhancing educational access and visibility for all learners (Native and non-Native) while strengthening UM’s position as a partner in community-driven innovation.
    University Project: Develop an engagement strategy with state, federal, and private partners to enhance UM excellence in key research areas: AI/machine learning, human performance, cyber, biotech, health outcomes, forest and fire management, water prediction and management, and autonomous systems.
    • Purpose:To match UM strengths with immediate funding opportunities and urgent needs so that we support collaboration between researchers and external partners to positively impact local, regional, and global communities.
    • Academic Affairs Context: We must ensure academic programs are aligned with emerging research areas. Through the Academic Portfolio Review process, we assess the capacity, strategic fit, and enduring value of all programs to be responsive to societal and student needs. These efforts are designed to ensure that teaching, learning, and scholarship remain mutually reinforced.
    University Project: Improve research support systems, processes, and services.
    • Project:To optimize research administration for principal investigators and research support staff so that we effectively and efficiently support research on campus.
    • Academic Affairs Context: In FY26, we will partner with ORCS and college deans to better align research expectations with faculty roles, support pre-award proposal development, and ensure that graduate research programs are well-integrated into broader research planning. This is especially important as federal funding rules shift, and as UM continues to build on its R1 designation.
  • University Project: Shape the UM narrative and empower external partners to promote UM’s brand, accomplishments, and impact through community engagement in Montana.
    • Purpose:To expand UM’s network of storytellers and brand champions so that we deepen affinity and confidence in UM’s impact across Montana.
    • Academic Affairs Context: In FY 26, deans will work with MarCom and Enrollment to develop accessible, compelling narratives about how academic programs prepare students for meaningful careers and civic engagement. These stories will draw from student outcomes data, community partnerships, and faculty scholarships to demonstrate the public value of UM education and help alumni, donors, and community members become authentic advocates for the institution.
    University Project: Build Griz pride in UM as a hub for community and statewide arts and athletics engagement.
    • Purpose:To expand, coordinate, and maximize UM’s arts and athletics offerings and facilities so that we strengthen community engagement and vitality, foster economic growth, grow revenue, and enhance UM's reputation.
    • Academic Affairs Context: Programs in the performing and visual arts, media arts, creative writing, and entertainment and sport management are key contributors to UM’s cultural and athletic presence across the state.
  • University Project: Implement sector-wide Academic Unit Operating procedures.
    • Purpose:To develop and adopt clear, consistent procedures that operationalize the Academic Unit Operations Policy so that departments and colleges can plan workloads, manage enrollments, and make academic decisions with transparency, fairness, and alignment to institutional standards.
    Academic Affairs Project: Complete full implementation of Faculty Activity Reporting in Interfolio.
    • Purpose:To support the campus-wide adoption of Faculty Activity Reporting (FAR) in Interfolio so that faculty can more easily document their teaching, research, and service contributions in their IPRs, and academic leadership can use consistent data to support workload equity, resource planning, and institutional reporting.
    University Project: Identify, prioritize, and begin to address internal processes that need improvement and that most impact the employee experience.
    • Purpose:To improve cumbersome processes for campus employees so that we reduce bureaucracy and focus on meaningful, value-added work.
    • Academic Affairs Context: The Academic Unit Operating Policy aligned with the implementation of Faculty Activity Reporting (FAR), is intended to make faculty contributions more visible and planning more efficient across the institution.