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Jan. 11, 2002
1. Committee on athletics to hold public forums
2. U prepares for budget reduction
3. Commentary: "Is the Public Research University Dead?"
4. Alumni giving increases 8 percent
5. U student wins advertising award
6. U recognized by National Wildlife Federation
7. New dean named for Carlson School
8. Rochester to offer MBA classes
9. 'Tiger' scientists stalk elusive origin of cosmic rays
10. U of M happenings
11. Links
U IN THE NEWS
COMMITTEE ON ATHLETICS TO HOLD PUBLIC FORUMS
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents Ad Hoc Committee on Athletics will hold public forums on Jan. 28 and 29 to hear views on strategies to address the financial challenges facing intercollegiate athletics on the Twin Cities campus.
"While intercollegiate athletics are a valued part of our university community, the department is facing significant budget challenges that will require difficult decisions," said Regent David Metzen, committee chair. "We encourage public comment--what do people value at the University and in our athletics program, and how would they like to see us reduce costs and/or increase athletics revenues? The comments we receive will help shape the University's response to this financial challenge."
The committee was formed in December following the release of a report, "Current and Future Financial Challenges in Intercollegiate Athletics," which projects a $31 million deficit in the department over the next five years. Other members of the committee include Regents Lakeesha Ransom and Jean Keffeler.
The forums will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 28, and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29. Both forums will be held on the Twin Cities campus in Suite 600, McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak St. S.E., Minneapolis. Individuals wishing to speak at the forum must sign up by noon, Jan. 24 by calling the board office at 612-625-6300 or writing to: Board of Regents, McNamara Alumni Center, Suite 600, 200 Oak St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455. Written requests must include the speaker's name, any organizations he or she will be representing, and the speaker's relationship to the University. Individual speakers will be limited to five minutes; organizations to 10 minutes.
The athletics financing report can be found online at www.unews.umn.edu. Board of Regents meeting agendas can be found at www.umn.edu/regents.
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U PREPARES FOR BUDGET REDUCTION
Thursday, Jan. 10, Gov. Jesse Ventura proposed to balance the state's 2002-03 budget through a combination of spending cuts, tax increases, funds from budget reserves, and one-time actions. Of the proposed $700 million in spending cuts, $71 million are from higher education, including $33 million from the University of Minnesota for FY2003.
President Mark Yudof complimented the governor’s approach and outlined how the governor’s proposal might affect the University. "Budget cuts are always difficult, but we agree with the governor that a balanced approach is the best way to manage the situation."
Yudof said the University will work to manage any budget cuts in ways that allow it to provide the best possible education for students while maintaining its academic priorities. "We will employ a strategy to balance our budget using resource reallocation, cost reductions, and expense deferral. Tuition increases will be considered only as a last resort."
But he also emphasized how important it is for the University to sustain its current momentum. "This is an exciting time for the University of Minnesota; by almost any measure, we are on the move. Budget cuts always represent a challenge to the progress we’ve made," he concluded.
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"The 21st century will see the evolution of a hybrid public research university, one with roots in both the public and private spheres."
—U of M president Mark Yudof |
IS THE PUBLIC RESEARCH UNIVERSITY DEAD?
This commentary by President Yudof will be published in the Jan. 11 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education, a national newspaper.
Public colleges and universities have raised tuition this year at the highest rates in eight years, according to the most recent annual College Board survey -- ratcheting up fees by an average of 7.7 percent, or more than twice the rate of inflation. Most observers point to the faltering economy as the major reason for the increases, as public institutions have sought to offset drops in state support. More recently, the attacks of September 11 have compounded pre-existing economic difficulties.
Indeed, the National Conference of State Legislatures has reported that 43 states are experiencing revenue shortfalls and more than half are considering budget cuts. And at least nine governors have warned universities to expect midyear rescissions in their state appropriations.
For public research universities, those developments represent only the deepening of a long-term and structural trend toward relatively less state support. Even in the past few years, when state budgets were expanding, public research universities made little headway against the legacy of previous lean years. Thus, regardless of the economy, in the foreseeable future, students at public research universities will have to pay more of their own educational costs, and the role of such institutions will fundamentally change.
More than a century ago, state governments and public research universities developed an extraordinary compact. In return for financial support from taxpayers, universities agreed to keep tuition low and provide access for students from a broad range of economic backgrounds, train graduate and professional students, promote arts and culture, help solve problems in the community, and perform groundbreaking research.
Yet over the past 25 years, that agreement has withered, leaving public research institutions in a purgatory of insufficient resources and declining competitiveness. The gap between professors' salaries at public and private universities, for example, has grown from $1,400 in 1980 to $22,100 today. As a result, public institutions find it increasingly difficult to compete for the best faculty members who, in turn, attract the brightest students and significant research dollars.
Demographic changes lie at the heart of public research universities' predicament. Over the past 40 years, the proportion of American family households with children has declined from almost one-half to one-third. The country's aging population appears more interested in issues like health care and public safety than higher education. While higher education's share of average state spending fell 14 percent from 1986 to 1996, Medicaid's share nearly doubled. The funds allocated to correctional facilities grew by more than 25 percent.
Observers may note that, over the past 25 years, state support for higher education has generally kept up with inflation, as measured by the consumer price index. But public research universities are extraordinarily labor- and technology-intensive enterprises; to attract top talent and stay on the cutting edge, they must invest and spend significantly more than the inflation rate.
Meanwhile, as state support for higher education has declined relative to other public services, the value of education to students has increased substantially. After adjusting for inflation, a male college graduate today makes an average of $32,000 more each year than a high-school graduate, compared with a $15,000 gap in 1975. Over a lifetime, a person with a bachelor's degree will earn an average of $1 million more than a high-school graduate; a professional degree widens the differential to $3 million. With the wage premium rising, education is increasingly seen as a private, rather than a public, good.
Given that reality, both federal and state policy makers are asking students to shoulder a larger share of their higher education expenses. Already students at public research universities are paying more; at the University of Minnesota, for example, their tuition covers nearly two-thirds of the direct cost of instruction, compared with the one-third that their peers paid 25 years ago. In the same vein, elected officials prefer market accountability -- with institutions competing with each other for students -- rather than traditional public oversight to ensure quality. And rather than provide operational support to universities, they encourage universities to charge higher tuition, then favor giving direct aid to students in the form of scholarships and tax benefits to help make that tuition affordable.
As state support erodes, flagship research universities face other challenges. Many local businesses now operate more globally and are less oriented toward state or regional concerns. In addition, businesses are creating their own educational programs, such as Motorola University or Dell University, to focus on specific work-force needs.
Moreover, increased enrollment in higher education over the past 30 years, and the growth of regional universities within states to meet that demand, has further diluted state support. Although such institutions often have limited research capacities, their emergence has sharpened competition for state dollars.
Where will such trends lead? The 21st century will see the evolution of a hybrid public research university, one with roots in both the public and private spheres. That new hybrid will confront significant new challenges.
The first will be to convince the public and decision makers -- governors, legislators, and regents -- that tuition must increase significantly to keep public research universities viable and competitive with private research universities. Raising tuition further will be anathema to many students, who are already paying a larger part of their instruction costs. University advocates will have to demonstrate that it is "worth it" -- to their regional economy and society, as well as to students -- to charge more in order to support a high-quality research institution. To do so, and to maintain the tradition of public universities, they will have to ensure access for low-income and historically disadvantaged students through expanded institutional student-aid and scholarship programs. That, in turn, will require public universities to accelerate their efforts to garner philanthropic dollars, as well as to secure stronger political support for government initiatives that give financial aid and tax benefits to students.
The continuing need to provide public goods will be another challenge. Especially at land-grant institutions, students and parents may question using tuition dollars to pay for extension services and other outreach activities that don't directly improve students' education. Also, what can be done about professional-degree programs that usually cost far more money than tuition will ever generate -- for example, those in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science? Public universities may have to explore new partnerships with private foundations and organizations, charge fees for traditionally free programs, and call for more direct, earmarked state support.
The hybrid university also faces a philosophical tug of war: To compete in the market, it will have to operate more efficiently and radically improve student services. But to remain a great learning institution, it will have to continue to nurture learning for its own sake, transmit cultural values, encourage civic understanding, and foster other less quantifiable and profitable -- but still valuable -- features of the university.
The author William Arthur Ward once said, "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; and the realist adjusts the sails." Unfortunately, we at public research universities and our supporters have fallen into a pattern of blaming the circumstances of the day -- this year's economy, the current legislature or governor, or the media -- for our dwindling share of state resources, rather than focusing on our future over the long haul. Keeping public research universities relevant and thriving will be no easy task, and we should start by recognizing that the long-term political winds have shifted.
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ALUMNI GIVING INCREASES 8 PERCENT
Preliminary numbers show that alumni giving to the U for the first 6 months of the fiscal year (June to December) is up 8 percent compared with the same period last year. This is particularly good news in light of the September 11th events, which triggered a general decrease in alumni giving at most Big Ten universities.
"This is encouraging news," said President Mark Yudof. "Private gifts are critical to sustaining our momentum and ability to attract top students and world-class faculty. Clearly, the U is an important priority for donors, even during these difficult economic times and we're grateful for their loyalty and support."
Part of the University's success is due to reaching out to all alumni and friends through more mailings, advertising in magazines and on billboards, and increasing contacts through phone calls. In addition, online giving to the U is at an all-time high.
The U is hoping to increase the number of alumni who give annually as part of Campaign Minnesota, its $1.3 billion fund-raising campaign, to ensure a strong University for years to come. For more on annual giving or Campaign Minnesota, visit www.campaign.umn.edu or call the University of Minnesota Foundation at 800-775-2187.
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U STUDENT WINS ADVERTISING AWARD
University of Minnesota senior Jason Reed hopes to be designing ads after he graduates. But for the time being, he'll have to settle for being the focus of stories. Reed, who studies advertising in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SJMC), has been named one of the American Advertising Federation's 2002 Most Promising Minority Students.
The award is given annually to 25 students from universities across the country. Judging is based on leadership, grades, an essay written by the student, and the recommendation of a faculty member.
Shelly Rodgers, a professor in the SJMC, said she nominated Reed for the award because of his leadership, work ethic, and commitment to academics. "I am so proud of Jason. He is most deserving of the award," she said. "He is a leader here in the SJMC and he has shown himself to be a leader in the community. He works hard to pay his tuition, yet still maintains a strong GPA."
Reed, who attended Bloomington Jefferson High School, is active in the SJMC and the community. He works as a public relations intern with Strother Communications Group, is a teaching assistant for the SJMC, volunteers for the Salvation Army, and is president of PRISM, a student organization that seeks to recruit, retain, and graduate multicultural students from the SJMC while increasing awareness of multicultural issues in the media.
In his spare time, he volunteers with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Reed will travel to New York to accept his award, where he will meet executives from advertising agencies and be featured in Advertising Age magazine. According to Rogers, he will likely have a variety of job offers to choose from when he returns from New York.
Reed said he's honored by the award, and a bit surprised. "I have to admit that I am amazed by myself for achieving this honor, having worked two or three jobs while attending school full-time," he said. "It just goes to show that if the U can provide a quality education at an affordable price, a student can achieve anything."
This is the second year in a row that a U of M student has won the prestigious honor. SJMC's Nicole Gary, a senior from Minneapolis, won the award last year.
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U RECOGNIZED BY NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
The U of M, Twin Cities, has achieved national recognition for its efforts to develop an environmentally sustainable campus. The National Wildlife Federation's new report, "The State of the Campus Environment: A National Report Card on Environmental Performance and Sustainability in Higher Education," lists the University as a leader among colleges and universities nationwide in three categories of environmental practices. The report, based on findings from 891 colleges and universities, provides "green grades" for environmental performance in 17 categories, ranging from curriculum to transportation, and highlights exemplary schools.
The University was ranked as a leading school in three categories: offering majors and minors requiring environmental courses; supporting and evaluating faculty on environmental studies; and transportation programs.
"We're delighted to have our efforts on behalf of the environment recognized by the National Wildlife Federation," said Craig Swan, vice provost for undergraduate education. "We're proud that so many of our students and faculty are incorporating environmental principles into their studies and work. The University is especially proud of the U-Pass/Metropass system, which has substantially increased bus ridership at the University."
The full report is available at www.nwf.org/campusecology/stateofthecampusenvironment/index.html.
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"We are positioned to become one of the premier business schools in the world, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead us toward this goal."
—Lawrence Benveniste, the newly named dean of the Carlson School of Management. |
NEW DEAN NAMED FOR CARLSON SCHOOL
Lawrence Benveniste has been named the new dean of the U of M's Carlson School of Management. Benveniste has been the school's interim dean since Sept. 1, 2001, when David Kidwell ended his 10-year tenure as dean.
Benveniste came to the Carlson School from Boston College in 1996 and has served as the school’s US Bancorp Professor of Finance, chair of the finance department, and associate dean of faculty and research. He earned a doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, and was a staff economist with the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C., during the Reagan Administration. His research areas include initial public offerings, commercial mortgages, and loan scoring systems in portfolios and securities.
"What separated Larry from the other strong candidates was the obvious sense of passion, energy, and urgency he exhibited during his tenure as interim dean," said Robert Buuck, a search committee member and vice chair of the Carlson School's Board of Overseers. "Larry is widely respected across all Carlson School constituencies for his proactive leadership and his willingness to drive difficult but necessary changes. His Carlson School experience and the credibility he has established will allow him to make an immediate impact as he assumes his full responsibilities as the new dean."
The search committee consisted of faculty, staff, and students of the Carlson School and the University; Carlson School alumni; and members of the business community.
More than 60 top-level candidates from a variety of academic and business backgrounds and from throughout the country applied for the position. Eleven candidates were interviewed.
"I'm honored to be chosen dean of this great school," Benveniste said. "We are positioned to become one of the premier business schools in the world, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead us toward this goal."
Benveniste will focus on enhancing the school's already strong relationships with the business community and on increasing student access to the school's undergraduate business program. He also plans to attract more students from outside Minnesota and increase students' job prospects by providing experiential educational programs and partnerships with business.
Benveniste's appointment is contingent on final approval by the University's Board of Regents at its February meeting.
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ROCHESTER TO OFFER MBA CLASSES
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved a plan to make master's of business administration degree classes available to students at Rochester. Beginning spring semester 2002, professors from the University of Minnesota Duluth School of Business and Economics will teach the classes in Rochester.
According to Kjell Knudsen, dean of UMD's School of Business and Economics, and David Carl, U of M, Rochester provost, the program is designed to meet the needs of working adults who seek management education at a graduate level. Classes will be held every other Friday evening and Saturday morning. Two classes will be offered each semester and the program can be completed in 30 months. The University's graduate school will grant the degrees.
The program is in response to requests from Rochester's business community. "The University of Minnesota Duluth MBA program is designed to meet communities' requirements for the highest quality educational opportunities," Carl said. "It is designed for working professionals and provides efficient and informative delivery of the most current business and management ideas and practices. Rochester and southeastern Minnesota have vast expertise in many areas of business and industry that we hope can be incorporated into this program in the future."
Knudsen sees the program as an opportunity for the University to expand its outreach efforts. "We see this as a great opportunity for the School of Business and Economics and the people of southeastern Minnesota alike. Our school will involve more than 10 full-time faculty members. The faculty see this as a chance to offer and share the expertise at our school and work with individuals and organizations in another world-class community."
The program will be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business--the highest level of quality for business schools. Course work will emphasize practical application of theory dealing with situations and problems in the contemporary business world.
For more information about the program call 507-280-2821 or e-mail dick.westerlund@roch.edu.
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| The giant balloon and its payload, TIGER, are floating 125,000 feet above the planet, recording incoming cosmic rays that would otherwise be almost completely absorbed by the atmosphere. |
'TIGER' SCIENTISTS STALK ELUSIVE ORIGIN OF COSMIC RAYS
Floating 125,000 feet above the Antarctic ice sheet, a balloon-borne experiment is making an unprecedented second loop around the South Pole, probing the heavens for the origin of cosmic rays.
To help solve the mystery of the origin of atomic nuclei that zip through the galaxy at near light speeds and shower Earth constantly, scientists launched TIGER (Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder) at Antarctica's McMurdo Station on Dec. 20, 2001. Aided by the circumpolar winds that blow this time of year, TIGER recently completed one trip around the South Pole and entered its second lap. The giant balloon and its payload are floating above 99.6 percent of the planet's atmosphere, recording incoming cosmic rays that would otherwise be almost completely absorbed.
The TIGER team is made up of scientists from the University of Minnesota, Washington University, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and the California Institute of Technology. Principal investigator Bob Binns of Washington University and coinvestigator Eric Christian of NASA Goddard are both in Antarctica for the flight.
TIGER's long balloon flight will enable the team to collect significant numbers of the rare cosmic ray elements heavier than iron. These heavy atoms, some of which are ultimately accelerated to cosmic ray energies, are likely forged in a supernova explosion. How they achieve their high speeds--between 80 and 99.9 percent the speed of light--and kinetic energy is a major mystery in physics.
One thing most physicists agree on: The supernova explosions that create these atoms probably don't also spew them out at cosmic-ray energies.
"The reason," said University of Minnesota physics professor C.J. Waddington, "is that while the shock wave from a supernova is the only known force that can accelerate atoms to such high speeds, elements heavier than iron tend to form behind the shock wave. After the explosion, these atoms float in interstellar space. Some may be incorporated into new stars and re-released as a stellar flare, but they, too, float around. Eventually, a second supernova explosion occurs, and its shock wave accelerates them to cosmic-ray energies."
The big question is: What happens to them when they're floating around? Do they wander as individual atoms for tens of millions of years, or do they coalesce into dust grains that last for 100 million or even a billion years before the second explosion? That is, does the second blast accelerate the atoms individually, or does it first break up the dust grains, splitting off atoms that become cosmic rays?
To help answer this question, the scientists will examine the relative abundance of certain elements. The ratios of pairs of elements--such as rubidium-37/strontium-38--reflect the environment from which they came.
The key is to examine the abundance ratios of neighboring elements that will vary depending on whether the individual elements can be stripped of their outer electrons (ionized) or condensed into grains. For example, the abundance ratio of rubidium to strontium will depend on whether ionization or the tendency to condense is the determining factor.
This pair of elements was chosen because the partners have similar first ionization potential, implying the outer electrons can be removed with similar degrees of ease. But rubidium and strontium have differing probabilities of being condensed.
"Atoms with low ionization potential can be accelerated more easily and turn up in greater numbers in cosmic rays," said Waddington. "Neighboring pairs of atoms have similar tendencies to become accelerated and to undergo interactions with the interstellar medium. Hence, examining such pairs minimizes the systematic uncertainties."
Whether the atoms are accelerated individually or as dust grains, the acceleration must have occurred a few million years ago. Otherwise, the atoms would have sped right out of the galaxy or been destroyed by interactions with the interstellar medium, Waddington said. But if the experiment yields good measures of composition, "we can tell if we're looking at material that was originally formed millions or billions of years ago," he said. "What the material was when it was accelerated defines what shock waves must be able to do. This will tell us something about supernovas."
TIGER is a forerunner of the ENTICE (Energetic Trans-Iron Composition Experiment) instrument on the HNX (Heavy Nuclei eXplorer) satellite that is being studied for possible launch in a few years. What TIGER learns could help in the design of HNX.
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U of M HAPPENINGS
A kick-off event to launch the University of Minnesota's capital request to the state Legislature will get under way at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 22, in Memorial Hall at the McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak St. S.E., Minneapolis. The 2002 legislative briefing is an opportunity for University alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends to learn more about the $239.8 million capital request and how to be an advocate in the University's grassroots legislative network. Sponsored by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, the evening's activities will include interactive displays and remarks by President Mark Yudof. Reservations, which include a complimentary buffet and parking, are required by Jan. 15. To RSVP, phone 612-624-2323 or visit www.umaa.umn.edu/umaa/legislative-network.
The University of Minnesota Cancer Center is collaborating with the Science Museum of Minnesota to present "Cancer and the Human Body" at the Science Museum's Human Body Gallery on Friday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 12, noon to 4 p.m. University cancer researchers will explain some of the latest advances in cancer research, treatment, and prevention. The exhibit is available to anyone paying regular admission to the museum. For information, contact Michael Weinbeck, at 612-625-4441 or weinb011@umn.edu.
WAM Music, the Weisman's music series, presents Speaking in Tongues, a new Twin Cities ensemble. The group features Sowah Measah, a master drummer, multi-instrumentalist and composer from Ghana; Enrique Toussaint, a virtuoso bassist from Mexico City; Marc Anderson, a Twin Cities percussionist; and Gao Hang, one of the world's foremost performers of the Chinese four-stringed lute, the pipa. The performance is Saturday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. Tickets: $10 general public, $8 WAM members, students, and seniors. For more information, call 612-625-9495.
Paul Begala, a political strategist, national commentator, and political adviser to former President Bill Clinton, will be on campus Tuesday, Jan. 15, for the first in the five-part Great Conversations series. President Yudof and his former law student will begin the conversation discussing politics at 7:30 p.m. in the Ted Mann Concert Hall. Individual tickets are $25 and series tickets are $100. Discounts are available for alumni association members. For tickets, call 612-624-2345.
The Center for Adult Learning and the Equine Industries Management Department at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, will host the Northwest Minnesota Equine Conference Friday, Jan. 18, and Saturday, Jan. 19. The event includes programs for horse owners, equine business people, veterinarians, 4-H members and affiliates, and others interested in horses and the equine industry. Conference fees are: for adults, $50; students, $30; and children under 12, $25. Group rates are available. To register, or for more information, call 218-281-8681 or visit www.crk.umn.edu/cal/conferences.
For an inside look at Gopher men's basketball, check out Chalk Talk, a new pre-home-game program. At each Chalk Talk an assistant coach will preview the upcoming match-up. Other attractions include Goldy Gopher and the Spirit Squad, plus giveaways and prizes. Chalk Talk begins two hours before each Big Ten home game. The next Chalk Talk will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, prior to the Ohio State game. Chalk Talk is held at the McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak St. S.E., right by Williams Arena. Food is available for purchase from D'Amico Catering. For more information, call 612-625-4879.
Public forums on the financial challenges facing intercollegiate athletics on the Twin Cities campus will be held on Monday, Jan. 28, 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 29, 4:30 p.m. Click here for more.
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LINKS
Hey, Sports Fans! Check out sports news and schedules of the U's teams:
Gophers
Duluth Bulldogs
Morris Cougars
Crookston Golden Eagles
Campaign Minnesota: Learn more about this fund-raising effort to build excellence in every corner of the U.
University of Minnesota Alumni Association: Your membership makes a difference.
U of M Legislative Network: Read about the University's legislative request and how you can help.
University of Minnesota Systemwide Home Page
U of M E-News is a biweekly e-mail newsletter for alumni and friends of the University of Minnesota. The newsletter, a free information source prepared by University Relations, is designed to help alumni and friends stay connected to the University of Minnesota campuses in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Crookston, Morris and Duluth.
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