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President Bodnar walking down a line of people giving them high fives

President

August 19, 2024

Colleagues,

Welcome to the start of the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥’s fall semester! I’m filled with renewed energy and optimism as I experience the flurry of activity brought by our newest Grizzlies moving into residence halls and continuing Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ returning to campus.  

This academic year promises to be an exciting one. Please plan to stay up to date on our community’s many planned events and activities by checking . I hope you will prioritize a few events on our immediate horizon: 

  • Fall Welcome – Friday, Aug. 23, 8:30-10 a.m., the Oval 
    Please join me and Provost Lawrence in front of Main Hall for coffee, breakfast treats, time with your colleagues, and brief remarks. 
  • Convocation – Monday, Aug. 26, 7 p.m., Dennison Theatre 
    I encourage you to attend Convocation. After the formal program, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ will proceed to the Brantly Beach just south of Brantly Hall to visit with faculty and staff. 
  • State of the University – Thursday, Oct. 10, 9-10:30 a.m., ALi Auditorium 
    Mark your calendars for a look ahead at the University’s FY25 priorities. 

The start of the academic year also brings an opportunity to celebrate. UM’s accreditation was officially reaffirmed on July 12, following a very successful campus visit from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. This represents the collective achievement of our entire campus community over the past seven years. And as we begin our next seven-year accreditation cycle, we will continue to iterate our strategy and maintain momentum through focused annual planning and implementation. The FY25 Annual Playbook outlines the coming year’s efforts to move toward our collective vision.  

One example of our annual planning that will impact all employees is the launch of UM’s People and Culture sector. From a redesigned employee orientation program to a commitment to improve internal communications, the team will collaborate with many across campus to improve your experience. 

You’ve no doubt noticed some long-awaited changes to campus. Last week we broke ground on our new 600-student residence hall. Scheduled to open in 2027, this residence hall will greatly enhance UM housing options for Ñý¼§Ö±²¥. We’ll also officially open The Lodge Dining Facility for Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ and employees alike on Aug. 26. Described as a “love letter to Montana,” The Lodge honors Montana history and people. You will also see changes in parking options on campus, with new parking in multiple locations. And last but not least, the Grizzly Indoor Practice Facility – which will serve both UM and the community – is nearing completion.  

Over the summer, the UM Foundation received a generous gift of $7.5 million from Terry and Patt Payne to expand the Payne Family Impact Scholarships, allowing UM to offer even more financial support to Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ who might otherwise be unable to attend UM. We also completed a $5 million fundraising campaign to endow a chair in fisheries science in the Wildlife Biology program and received $5.1 million from the Japanese government to establish the Mansfield Chair in Japanese and Indo-Pacific Affairs.  

Finally, thanks to donor support, UM has funded several faculty and staff proposed 2024 Flagship Fund projects designed to enhance UM’s understanding and responsible use of artificial intelligence. And of course, UM continues to be a leader in research with UM faculty winning awards for everything from their work on ocean acidification to their efforts to address the rural health care workforce shortage (see a few examples below). 

I am lucky to work alongside each of you in serving our Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ and our state. Thank you for your dedication to UM. 

Go Griz!  

Seth

P.S. Please enjoy a sample of stories showcasing UM impact over the summer: