Pawlenty praises U plan to become world leader

Governor Tim Pawlenty resigns the state bonding bill in a ceremony at the University on April 12. Looking on are, left to right, Thomas Sullivan, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost; President Bob Bruininks; Board of Regents chair David Metzen; Bud Nornes, chair, House Higher Education Finance Committee; and Frank Cerra, senior vice president for health sciences.

Photo by Patrick O'Leary

Published on April 13, 2005

During an appearance at the University of Minnesota's Health Careers Center, Governor Tim Pawlenty praised the University's goal of becoming one of the top three public research universities in the world in the next decade.

"I am profoundly impressed and appreciative of leadership in challenging times, and President [Bob] Bruininks is guiding this great university through a realignment process that I think, in the long haul, is going to serve our state very well," Pawlenty said. "Change is hard... but it's a mark of great leadership to do it with the strength yet the diplomacy that he has. And so I'm very appreciative of his leadership for the University as we strategically realign for the future."

Pawlenty also discussed the University's important role in Minnesota's quality of life, and called it the state's premier "talent magnet."

Joined by Bruininks, Board of Regents Chairman David Metzen, and other U officials, Pawlenty was on campus to ceremonially resign the state bonding bill, which includes more than $111 million for University building and renovation projects.