As hard working, paying, studying college students who are invested in our university and our education, we all deserve to know what is going on inside Main Hall. On Wednesday January 25, President Engstrom gave his annual midterm update to address the concerns of the community, both on and off campus, that is so solidly invested in the University of Montana.
The President began the update with a progress report on UM 2020: Building a University for the Global Century, a strategy that he has been deeply involved in since his inauguration. UM 2020 is a fast paced, no nonsense plan that is being implemented within the university to enhance the effectiveness and prestige of the University of Montana, but also to meet the needs of students who, after graduation, will be tossed into a quickly morphing job market and global culture. Engstrom says that a part of this strategy would make it more difficult to get into the university, but that would also make the education at UM better geared to a world that is changing culturally, politically, and financially. A major part of this plan is implementing a four year educational supplement to classes that are already required at the University.
Within this program, freshmen, along with regular classes , would also have to take seminars focusing on the “big questions” that our world faces today. This learning would extend into sophomore year, where students would be given the opportunity in and out of the classroom to meet with professionals and leaders within their focus of study from all around the country. In their junior year, these students would be expected to apply their knowledge with some sort of experiential learning component, which could include an internship, studying abroad, or a research project.
Finally, for their senior year, these students would finish the supplement by participating in a Capstone course that would consist of re-confronting the “big questions” of their freshman year and writing a thesis to support their ideas. This four year plan is not much different than what the students of the Davidson Honors College are expected to do, and a group of this year’s freshmen are the first group that will be working through this four year plan to study its effectiveness.
Another major part of UM 2020 is to create a more dynamic learning environment. Engstrom’s goal is to equip 100% of the classrooms on campus with appropriate multi-media technology so that faculty are able to incorporate as much technology as they need to thoroughly and effectively teach their classes.
Along with this, UM 2020 and President Engstrom are determined to have a culturally thriving campus. This year UM has around 600 Native American students, which is the most any institute of public higher education has in Montana. Every year we have a high population of international students from as many as 70 countries, and after the opening of the new Veteran’s Center, UM continues to serve student veterans both in and out of the classroom. Engstrom is determined to continue having a vibrant and diverse campus life, and he believes that the implementation of UM 2020 will ensure this.
Within the past few weeks, UM has been struggling with the allegations of sexual assaults that occurred on December 5 and December 6, 2011 that have brought other cases of assault into the light. Engstrom assured us that the university did as it was supposed to do under the circumstances, but that five investigations run solely by the university are being lead into all of the cases that have been brought to their attention.
Engstrom said that the university is legally, under Title IX, and ethically obligated to look into the assaults, and said that, “All action will be taken under the student conduct code, and, if applicable, the student athlete conduct code, if and when any evidence is found.” He aims to stop all incidents of sexual assault on campus with education through the incoming student orientations and with SARC education and events like the “Men Can Stop Rape” group that will visit campus.
“Students need to know, [student] athletes need to know, sexual assault has no place on this campus, and if you are a sexual assaulter you have no place on this campus,” said Engstrom.
After the midterm address, it is clear that the University of Montana has plenty of forward momentum to continue to move in a positive direction with the education of its students and the role UM plays both in Missoula and in the rest of Montana. However, if UM and President Engstrom would like the university to continue moving forward in a global century, all members of our campus needs to be kept safe.