Montana Board of Regents discuss tribal college retention, AI guidance, student loneliness

During a meeting last week, Montana’s Board of Regents discussed a number of issues, including suggested guidance on artificial intelligence use at colleges and universities, the proposed mental health action plan and retention rates at tribal colleges.

Mental health for students and faculty

Nearly 70% of Montana university students feel lonely or isolated and more than 80% feel their mental health has impacted their grade performance. That's according to a survey that was administered during the 2023-24 school year.

About half of faculty surveyed said they’ve seen student mental health decline since the start of their career and half said their work has taken a toll on their own mental health.

The Montana University System Mental Health and Wellbeing Task Force said in their action plan that by 2029 universities should achieve these three goals:

1. Take a “public health” approach to mental health to put in place prevention, early intervention and timely access to clinical services.
2. Identify and support students with mental health challenges through evidence based practices.
3. Reduce barriers for faculty to access mental health resources.

The implementation launch is expected by this summer, according to a timeline in the plan.

Tribal college statistics

Director of American Indian & Minority Achievement Angela McLean shared there’s been a 30% growth in tribal college enrollment in Montana, as enrollment has declined on average across the country.

Montana has seven tribal colleges on all of the reservations across the state and the MUS has data sharing agreements with six of them.

Retention is also up– cumulatively now at 65% from 60% last year. National retention is at 52%.

At the four-year universities, including Montana’s flagship schools, retention is at a historic high of 73%. McLean said at MSU– Native American retention is on par with overall retention at 80%.

McLean said healthcare and education have been two major areas of study which have gained traction.

“Those are programs that can be offered remotely, where folks live and they don't have to leave home,” she said.

McLean said Montana campuses are being intentional and researching programs to both attract Native students and meet their employment goals.

“I laud them for this,” she said.

AI guidance

The Montana University System’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force created guidelines for Montana campuses to follow which ask for transparency when using AI, while also maintaining academic integrity and protecting student data privacy. Faculty can decide whether or not to allow AI use in their classrooms, but if allowed, there should also always be human oversight of AI tool outputs.

The guidance is meant to be a “living document,” to be able to adjust quickly in light of the rapidly changing technology, the task force recommendations read. Formal recommendations are expected soon based on the discussed recommendations during last week’s meeting, according to spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education Galen Hollenbaugh

The guidance is very similar to what was established at the University of Montana through their Future Project.

The AI guidance is not an official policy and was not voted on, but Board Chairman Todd Buchanan said the guidance has a “similar effect” and is a “guide post” until policies are passed to replace it.

“We expect campuses will follow the guidance within those directives,” Buchanan said. “We've likened them over the years to almost an [attorney general] type opinion.”

Montana State University President Brock Tessman said he appreciated the benchmarking guidance in a “quickly moving space.”

“It's hard for us to wrap our arms around the transformative nature of this moment,” Tessman said.

During the Regents’ November meeting the board approved AI institutes at both MSU and UM.

The UM’s “Center for Human-Centered AI” and MSUs “Institute on Artificial Intelligence” each are slated to conduct grant funded research and align AI with workforce development.

Tessman said no one knows where this technology is headed and guidance will not come from industry or government regulation, but is an opportunity for Montana universities to step forward.

“It’s an exciting time,” he said.