Skip to content

The University of Montana Western

Undergraduate School

Mailing Address
710 S. Atlantic St.
Dillon, Montana 59725
Phone
(406) 683-7450
Email address
matt.allen@umwestern.edu
School Information
"Montana Western is unique because we are the only public, four-year institution in the nation that offers Experience One, where taking one course at a time allows our students to engage in authentic, experiential education that can’t be replicated under a traditional semester schedule. This structure allows our students and faculty to spend much of their class time with hands-on instruction in the field, lab, community, or classroom. An additional benefit to our unique instructional model is our award-winning faculty are able to focus on one small group of students at a time. This allows our students to get the most out of their educational experiences and apply them to solving real-world challenges. Also, as the institution with the lowest tuition and fees of any four-year institution in the state of Montana, and the WUE program that provides out-of-state students from neighboring states with a significant discount on their cost of attendance, UMW offers an unparalleled value in education" (Source: https://www.umwestern.edu/chancellor/). Founded in 1893, Montana Western has a student to faculty ratio of 17 to 1. The total enrollment is over 1,300.
General Information
The University of Montana Western has a Multicultural Center and offers a few classes relating to racism and diversity. However, the university has not engaged in Critical Race Training. See developments below:

Actions Taken

Faculty/Staff Requirements
  • The position for Director of Student Success must assist with “campus equity and inclusion efforts.”
Program and Research Funding
  • The 2020 MUS Teaching Scholars were announced. These include Montana Western Assistant Professor Nanci L. Red Bird. This year's theme was "Equity-Minded Pedagogies.”
Resources
  • The research of Assistant Professor Yu Li, Ph.D., "centers on exploring diversity, equity and inclusion in education from normative, interpretive and critical perspectives." Her research interests include "comparative/international education, multi-cultural education, culturally responsive and inclusive teaching...."
Symbolic Actions
  • The college has a Multi-cultural Center which functions to "increase understanding, promote inclusion and inspire critical thinking about diversity."
  • On June 8, 2020, following the death of George Floyd, UMW's Chancellor issued a message to students which reads in part as follows: "During my time as chancellor of Montana Western, I have felt encouraged by the level of engagement and curiosity our students display, and I am encouraged when I see thousands of young people showing up to voice their outrage in the face of systemic racism. I am encouraged by their insistence that it is time, at last, for change in our nation."
Last updated December 4th, 2024
©2024 Critical Race Training in Education. All rights reserved.