Vol. XXIX No. 31 • Sept. 15, 1999
http://www.umn.edu/urelate/brief/1999-09-15.html
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Editor: Maureen Smith (612) 624-2801
Glowing performance review for President Yudof was reported at Sept. 10 regents meeting. His work was described with words like "excellent" and "superior" in all 9 categories in which he was evaluated. "The president is viewed as an outstanding leader and manager," the report says. Yudof was given a salary increase of $50,000, bringing his salary to $325,000, and a year was added to the employment agreement to maintain a 3-year cycle. An enhanced deferred compensation package includes a $75,000 incentive for the president to serve the 3rd year. Regents and others attending the meeting gave Yudof a standing ovation.
Capital request was presented to regents. Total request is for $134.3 million from the state, with a U match of $31.5 million in debt and $27.6 million from fund-raising. One change from preliminary list is the request for $10 million for a microbial and plant genomics building in St. Paul, linked to a $10 million gift from Cargill, Inc.
Also in the request: $16 million for health and safety, $35 million for molecular and cellular biology building phase II, $21 million for art building (plus $15 million from U debt and $8 million from fund-raising), $17.1 million for plant growth facilities, $6.1 million for music performance laboratory in Duluth, $6.5 million for Kiehle Hall in Crookston, $8.2 million for science and math building phase II at Morris, $4 million for research and outreach centers, and $10.4 million for Duluth Bulldog sports center.
Operating budget impact of the request, if fully funded, would be $7.2 million--$4.7 million for operating costs and $2.5 million in debt payments. When other projects are included (Northrop garage and plaza, Church Street renovation, and others), the total comes to $8.5 million.
Massive construction projects and renewal of the U's physical infrastructure are good news, Faculty Consultative Committee chair Fred Morrison told regents, and now it is important to renew the intellectual infrastructure: support for professional development, research support, graduate teaching and research assistants, secretarial and staff support, libraries, and competitive salaries.
Student athletes on the TC campus have a 6-year graduation rate that meets or exceeds that of all TC campus students, VP Boston told regents. Rate was 48% for male athletes who entered in 1991-92 and went up to 56% for those who entered in 1992-93. Female athletes routinely exceed the rate for students as a whole, he said.
First-year student initiative is transforming the first-year student experience, Boston said in another report. He cited changes in orientation, success of new student convocation, introduction of Gopherville on the Web for commuter students, and popularity of freshman seminars. "Students want community, and they're finding it," he said. Survey of first-year students in 1999 found 94% were satisfied or very satisfied with their life at the U.
Trends in student health were reported by associate VP Jane Canney. Mental health problems are an ongoing concern, although the numbers haven't changed much in the past few years, she said. In one recent study, 12% of students were diagnosed with depression. Two emerging issues are credit card debt and tobacco use. Study showed 26% of students with $1,000 or more in credit card debt and 12% with $3,000 or more in debt. Indebtedness is linked to academic and mental health problems. Tobacco use is increasing rapidly. In 1995, 31% of students said they had smoked at some time. In 1998, 42% said they had used tobacco within the last 30 days. "We're very concerned about it," Canney said. Boynton Health Service is expanding its programs in all 3 areas.
Regents approved contracts with AFSCME locals representing clerical, technical, and health care workers.
Dramatic increases in health insurance premiums for 2000 will have an impact on individual employees and on the U budget, regents were told. Increases will range from $0 to $45.65 a month for employee coverage and from $61.82 to $119.81 a month for family coverage. Cost to the U of paying for the low-cost provider for employee coverage will go up from $55 million to $67 million a year.
Gift of $10 million from Cargill for a microbial and plant genomics building is largest single gift in Cargill's history. Building would house research laboratories and related office space in St. Paul. The U will ask legis-lature to fund the other half. In the future, an additional $10 million technology incubator and outreach wing is planned. Genomics involves the study of the sequence, function, and interrelationships of genes. Scientists say the knowledge will lead to a more healthful food supply, new drugs and treatments, and new methods to clean up the environment. "This is a time when it is critical that the University be a national leader in generating knowledge and applications in microbial and plant genetics," Yudof said. "The research will benefit agriculture, produce new products, and help preserve the environment. We applaud Cargill's role in making this happen."
Donations to the U surpassed $134 million for the 2nd fiscal year in a row, according to the U of M Foundation. Total gifts, including pledges and deferred gifts, were $134.8 million, compared to $134.5 million the previous year. "The commitment of the community and alumni to the University is just incredible," Yudof said.
Yudof defended the U's admissions policies after the Center for Equal Opportunity (CEO), a Washington, D.C., think tank, issued a report saying minority applicants were more likely than white applicants to be admitted. The U is proud of its "efforts to create a diverse student body through both our recruiting and admissions processes," he said. "While test scores and grades are very important, we review files individually to ensure fair-ness and the achievement of our mission." The individual review process looks at a variety of factors, not just one.
CEO report fails to consider the structure of admissions on the TC campus with its 8 freshman-admitting colleges, a fact sheet says. Admission standards vary by college. By combining college-specific data, the report assumes that students admitted to one college are displacing students not admitted to another college; this is never the case.
Yudof questioned the report's major conclusion, that over a 2-year period 35 white applicants with both higher ACT scores and a higher class rank than the medians for African American admittees were rejected on the TC campus. This is 35 applicants out of a total of 23,638. "I don't think this is a particularly compelling finding; it's even reasonable to question its statistical significance," Yudof said. "The University admits on average about 80% of its applicants, underscoring our accessibility for all students."
CROOKSTON--PCWeek will hold a "shoot-out" for Helpdesk and knowledge software the week of Sept. 27. UMC was selected as the site because of its innovations in technology as a laptop university.
DULUTH--UMD has announced a record number of new freshmen and new faculty hires this fall. Total freshman enrollment of 2,025 is 210 more than last year's fall enrollment of 1,815. Fifty-six new faculty have been hired.
UMD homecoming week is set for Sept. 27-Oct. 2 with activities slated each day. Bulldogs play Moorhead State Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. at Griggs Field. The James Malosky Hall of Fame induction dinner will be that evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Romano Gym. For dinner reservations call 218-726-7518.
Former UMD graduate student Joe Tsien (Zhuo Quian), now a molecular biologist at Princeton, is a lead member of the team of scientists who have created the genetic breakthrough "Doogie" mice. The mice are made "significantly smarter" by adding a single gene to rodent embryos.
MORRIS--University College-Morris, in collaboration with UMD College of Education and Human Service Professions, will offer master of education programs with specializations in educational computing and technology, curriculum and instruction, and children and families. For more information, contact UC-Morris, 800-842-0030 or e-mail johnsokm@mrs.umn.edu.
Cal State Northridge's Western Region Outreach Center and Consortia, a project of the National Center on Deafness, will host a live national satellite teleclass Sept. 30 for those who work with students who are deaf and hard of hearing. Class will be broadcast live, 2-4 p.m., in 7 Humanities Fine Arts Center and is being facilitated on the Morris campus by Disability Services.
TWIN CITIES--Office of Admissions will host 3 Saturday open houses for prospective students and their parents Sept. 25 and Oct. 9 and 16, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Opening welcome session at Ted Mann Concert Hall will include a U music ensemble and a slide presentation introducing campus life. Guided bus tour of the campus will follow. After the tour, guests will break into information sessions highlighting U programs and services. U faculty, staff, and students from the colleges, admissions, housing, financial aid, and other student programs will be there to answer questions. For more information, call the visit line at 612-625-0000 (toll free 1-800-752-1000; TTY 612-625-9051).
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare is sponsoring the forum "The Fragile Early Years: Assessing the Mental Health of Infants and Toddlers" featuring Professor Kathryn Barnard of the U of Washington Sept. 30, 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. at 40 Earle Brown Center. Forum is free but preregistration is required. Call 612-624-4231 or e-mail cascw@tlcmail.che.umn.edu.
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