A sex discrimination lawsuit filed against the University of Montana ended in a sealed 2024 settlement, leaving questions unanswered about what the state’s flagship university agreed to — and why — after 18 female employees sued over alleged Title IX violations.
Why It Matters
The case involves a public university in Montana operating under federal anti-discrimination law, yet the sealed settlement means taxpayers and students have no access to the terms or any institutional reforms that may have been required. The case has also surfaced in the political arena, as UM President Seth Bodnar pursues public office.
What Happened
Eighteen female University of Montana employees filed suit in 2021 against UM, the Montana University System, and unnamed defendants, alleging the institution violated Title IX by maintaining a workplace culture that favored male athletes and employees. Plaintiffs described the environment as a “good ol’ boys club” that created barriers for women in career advancement.
Among the named plaintiffs, Catherine Cole — a former vice president of enrollment management and strategic communications — alleged her $170,000 starting salary was lower than that of male peers in comparable roles. She resigned in 2020. Barbara Koostra, who oversaw the university’s museum and its roughly $25 million art collection, said she was assigned an office with asbestos problems; her contract was not renewed in 2018, six months before she would have become eligible for full retirement benefits.
The lawsuit named Bodnar in connection with specific allegations about career advancement obstacles tied to age and physical appearance, though he was not listed as a formal party to the case. Some of the conduct alleged by plaintiffs predated his 2018 arrival at the university.
A settlement was reached in 2024 and subsequently sealed by the court, blocking public access to its contents.
By the Numbers
The total settlement reached $350,000. Of that amount, $116,666.67 went to attorneys’ fees and $199,934.55 covered litigation costs. The 18 plaintiffs shared $33,398.78 in total payments — an average of roughly $1,855.49 per person.
During Bodnar’s tenure, the university increased the number of female deans from one to seven, according to figures his office has cited. His campaign has also stated that 78 percent of employee promotions at UM during his tenure went to women.
What’s Disputed
Bodnar’s supporters and his own public statements highlight the gains in female leadership as evidence of a transformed campus culture. Critics, however, point to the settlement itself. Alani Bankhead, an opponent of Bodnar’s, framed the payment directly: “As the leader of the University of Montana, Seth settled a lawsuit with 18 female plaintiffs for sexual discrimination to the tune of $350,000.”
Because the settlement is sealed, neither side can fully resolve the factual dispute using the court record. The low per-plaintiff payout — less than $2,000 on average — has drawn attention, though legal observers note that sealed settlements frequently reflect negotiated outcomes that do not indicate either admission or exoneration.
Zoom Out
Title IX enforcement disputes at public universities have grown more visible nationally, with institutions in multiple states facing scrutiny over pay equity, workplace climate, and the opacity of settlement agreements. Montana, like many states, does not have a blanket requirement that public university settlements be disclosed when sealed by a court, creating accountability gaps that watchdog groups and legislators have increasingly sought to close.
Montana’s public universities have faced broader questions about institutional governance and transparency — issues that extend beyond this case to economic development agreements and government contracts. A recent data center development deal near Broadview similarly drew attention for undisclosed details in a contract tied to a Montana institution.
What’s Next
With the settlement sealed, further disclosure would likely require either a court order to unseal the record or voluntary release by the parties involved. Bodnar’s ongoing political campaign means the case will likely remain a subject of public debate, even as the underlying facts stay shielded from full public review. No legislative effort to require disclosure of public university settlements in Montana was immediately identified as pending.