Montana State undergraduates voice opinions to help shape next strategic plan

BOZEMAN - Tuesday afternoon marked Montana State University's first listening session to help define its next strategic plan. The first session focused on undergraduate students, who were invited to the Strand Union Building to suggest ideas they would like to see incorporated into MSU's vision for the future.

The strategic plan will serve as MSU's roadmap for the next three to five years, guiding the initiatives that will receive funding, time and attention in pursuit of the university's shared values.

MSU adopted its current plan, Choosing Promise, in 2019 and updated it in 2023. The university has met several of the goals specified in Choosing Promise, such as exceeding $200 million in annual research expenditures across all departments.

As part of creating a new strategic plan, MSU has put together a planning committee comprising faculty, staff, students and community members. That committee is scheduling events and workshops designed to gather input for the strategic plan. After their work is done, the university will review the input and draft the new strategic plan with the goal of presenting the plan during the Montana University System Board of Regents meeting on the MSU campus in November.

It is important that MSU seeks input from all areas of the university and community because MSU's impact is felt across the state at multiple campuses, MSU Extension offices and research centers, said Dean Adams, who provides leadership for the planning committee and is dean of the College of Arts and Architecture. Students are an especially important piece of the puzzle.

"Our mission comes to life through our students," he said. "They engage in discovery, apply knowledge in communities and carry MSU impacts forward into the world. Including them in our strategic planning process affirms their role not only as learners, but as collaborators in shaping MSU's next chapter."

During the undergraduate listening session, comments ranged from the need for additional housing and parking to providing hands-on learning experiences for Bobcats entering the workforce.

Another point of conversation was interdisciplinary collaboration. Students with backgrounds in art, computer science, elementary education and writing agreed that more classes or research projects connecting students across disciplines would build a stronger sense of togetherness and create a bigger impact in communities benefitting from the projects.

Marina Adelmann, who plans to graduate next year from the College of Arts and Architecture's integrated lens-based media program, said there are even opportunities for collaboration within colleges. While filmmaking, she has noticed where students could gain valuable experience from working together, such as involving a soundtrack composer from the School of Music or a graphic design student from the School of Art.

Adelmann, who is from Bozeman, said she initially planned to stop by the listening session before returning home, but she decided to sit and stay until the end, wanting to contribute her thoughts on topics such as the use of artificial intelligence in higher education.

"Students should know how much their voices matter," Adelmann said. "Everything feels so big and - with social media especially - it feels like we're all so tiny, but you matter here. You can come and participate and make a difference."

On the subject of AI, sophomore computer science major Will McClain suggested forming a single, cohesive policy that all students and professors can reference. Classes have differing rules for using AI in coursework, which McClain said can create confusion.

"The university has an opportunity to set a standard," said McClain, who is also from Bozeman. "It's important to have well-researched, nuanced standpoint on AI."

Many listening sessions planned

To contribute their thoughts on a direction for MSU's strategic plan, faculty, staff, students and community members can attend listening sessions in February and March. Sessions will also take place statewide during the summer, with dates and locations to come on MSU's strategic plan website. An online survey is also available for those unable to attend the sessions.

Upcoming listening sessions include:

Wednesday, Feb. 18

• Graduate students - 4 to 5 p.m. in the SUB's Alumni Legacy Lounge
• Community members - 6 to 7 p.m. in SUB ballrooms C and D

Tuesday, March 10

• Faculty - 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in SUB Ballroom C
• Graduate students - 4 to 5 p.m. in SUB Ballroom C

Wednesday, March 11

• Staff - 2 to 3 p.m. in SUB Ballroom B
• Undergraduate students - 4 to 5 p.m. in SUB Ballroom B

For more information, visit https://www.montana.edu/strategicplan/.