MSU-Northern

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Action Plan
Recommendations Action Plan Next Steps Person Responsible Implementation Date

Recommendation 1:
Establish and share American Indian student retention and completion goals

Utilize current assessment process to determine goals for next year’s retention and completion.

Evaluate goal attainment for the 23-24 academic year.

Identify areas of improvement.

Develop institution-wide goals for 24-25 academic year that are in alignment with those of LRI.

 Vice Chancellor of Student Success and Chief Diversity Officer November 2024 (following Fall 2024 census)

Recommendation 2:
Senior Point of Contact

     Dr. Margarett Campbell, Chief Diversity Officer, Tribal Liaison, and Advisor to the Chancellor

Fully Implemented

Recommendation 3:

Assign departmental points of contact who have the unique cultural perspective to serve American Indian students most effectively in the areas of:

Financial Aid

Residence Life and Housing

Admissions

Students Health and Counseling

Registrar

Human Resources

Advising

Employment and Career Services

    

a) Financial Aid: Director, Lourdes Caven

b) Residence Life and Housing: Taryn Wallon, Assistant Dean of Students

c) Admissions: Director of Recruiting, Jessica Fagerbakke

d) Student Health and Counseling: Assistant Dean of Students, Amber Spring (LCPC)

e) Registrar: Registrar, Alisha Schroeder

f) Human Resources: Director Human Resources, Rebecca Farr

g) Advising: Director of LRI, Alissa Cook

h) Business Services: Controller, Chris Wendland		 Fully Implemented

Recommendation 4:
Collect/Share/Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to guide and improve American Indian enrollment and student success

 Develop a strategy among stakeholders across campus for addressing one identified gap in American Indian student success. Student success indicators of focus may include credit accumulation, credit completion ratios, retention and persistence, or completion.

Utilize dashboards posted at https://www.msun.edu/ir/PDP-About.aspx to identify areas for improvement in student success as compared with benchmark institutions.

 Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Vice Chancellor for Student Success September 2024

Recommendation 5:
Include American Indian voice in the search process when hiring campus leaders and assess leadership candidate’s knowledge and experience working with American Indian students, faculty and staff.

Notify all tribal colleges/reservations within 250mi range (Little Shell, Chippewa-Cree, Assiniboine-Gros Ventre, & Sioux) using different platforms about jobs & student enrollment opportunities. Platforms include: state job boards, outreach through Tribal College Journal, tribalwebsite/council, Chronicle of Higher Ed

1st Career Fair at MSUN - invitations to all tribal entities; including tribal colleges and career education days. There is a goal to have this career fair 2x a year or as frequently as needed

 Director of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer August 2024 and Ongoing

Recommendation 6:
Professional Development in the areas of Indian Education for All, American Indian culture and cultural sensitivity and the history of Montana’s First Peoples

 Provide access to educational resources through the Human Resources page. Identify opportunities for live presentations/professional development. Identify presenters from the local community and discuss educational topics to be presented. Director of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer December 2024

Recommendation 7:
Incorporate professional development in all new employee orientation – including faculty.

 MSU-Northern’s Chief Diversity Officer provides American Indian-related professional development through a presentation given to all employees at faculty and staff orientation each Fall. This includes new and continuing employees. Chief Diversity Officer/ Human Resources to update training for faculty and staff orientation each year. Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Human Resources August 2024