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Academic leadership

Establish ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ as a regional and national academic leader in rural education.

1. Formalize and develop ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s signature approaches to academic leadership and excellence, including Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts Education, Inclusive Education, and Experiential and Place-based Learning.
2. Identify opportunities for innovative academic programs, structures, and pathways in high demand and address regional needs.

Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts education

Offer a unique and valuable education that aligns with ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s strengths and prepares graduates to lead.

1. Reimagine the Liberal Arts Core to ensure students have relevant and exciting pathways.
2. Empower faculty to innovate and enhance interdisciplinary liberal arts education while incorporating existing initiatives and centers into the academic experience.

Inclusive education

Create a rich and equitable learning environment that engages and empowers students from diverse backgrounds.

1. Establish a framework and approach to inclusive pedagogy aligned with Personnel Action Form evaluation processes, ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s culture, and the Reconciliation Framework.
2. Create faculty professional development to ensure curriculum and teaching methods are culturally responsive and informed by student learning data.
3. Use learning data to integrate Indigenous Ways of Knowing into new and existing courses (see Reconciliation).
4. Build innovative learning experiences that ethically draw on the best of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence integration and a relational learning environment.

Experiential and place-based learning

Expand applied learning experiences through centralized and collaborative structures.

1. Create centralized systems of support to institutionalize and sustain experiential learning.
2. Expand resources for faculty-mentored research and place-based learning to help students build skills in critical thinking, communication, and technical knowledge (see Student-Ready).
3. Partner with local industry and Tribal Nations to offer experiential learning opportunities that benefit employers and students.
4. Expand participation in and access to internships so students can develop critical skills in real-world settings (see Community Connections).