Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access
Message from the Dean
"I have called the CLS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access committee to lead our
college in enhancing and sustaining our efforts to strengthen the diverse, equitable,
and inclusive environment of the College. As your Dean, I commit to supporting, recruiting,
and hiring for diversity; to providing the resources for designing and strengthening
curricula to include diverse experiences and perspectives; to supporting best practices
for professional development; and to regular communication with you about our initiatives
and your experiences. We welcome you to join us in our commitment to celebrating,
cultivating, and supporting the diversity within our College."
-Yves Idzerda, Dean, College of Letters & Science, Montana State University
“The College of Letters & Science is committed to the belief that diversity, equity and inclusion are foundational to our success. As your Dean, I believe that the diversity within the College is our greatest strength. Research makes clear that diversity benefits all, from the biodiversity of our lands to the many identities, cultures, and experiences of our peoples. Diversity enhances and enriches our lives and contributes to our understanding of the world we live in. Our belief in the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion guide us as we move our College forward, acting as the connective tissue of our different fields, identities, and cultures."
Diversity Statement for the College of Letters and Science
As the largest center for education and research at Montana State University, the College of Letters and Science knows diversity is our strength. We are proud to enact our land-grant mandate to welcome all students, staff, and faculty, with a commitment to support people of color and others who have been historically underserved. Montana State University is located on the original homelands of Native peoples. We commit to acknowledging this rich history, learning from the past, and being good stewards for the future. We commit to caring for and nurturing the human, economic, physical, and environmental resources entrusted to us.We respect and celebrate the diverse dimensions of people’s identities in order to best achieve an inclusive environment of excellence in learning, teaching, and research.
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge and honor, with respect, the Indigenous nations on whose traditional
homelands the University now stands and whose historical and cultural relationships
with the land continues to this day. We ask the spiritual ancestors to forgive our
instrusion and humbly ask for their guidance.