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Past Issues
New projected budget deficit in TC campus intercollegiate athletics is $21 million, not $31 million as reported in December, said VP Moten Brown to Board of Regents March 8. Old figure was due to miscalculation in "out" years (2006-07). She said U is now further along in its fiscal year and has more accurate numbers on which to base its projections, and athletics has cut scholarship and salary expenses and has had higher revenues than originally projected.
Moten Brown responded to questions raised following her first report end of last year. She said there is no data to suggest competitive or academic advantages with separate women's and men's athletic departments; U is one of 5 in nation to have separate units. "There are examples of highly academically successful female student-athletes and highly competitive women's programs in merged departments," Moten Brown said. "[But] we were simply unable to document that the athletic department structure makes any difference on academic or competitive success."
To assess the cost of separate departments, a study was conducted on spending in 7 areas at comparable institutions. U averaged higher costs in marketing and promotions, sports information and media relations, athletic training, and equipment rooms. "Clearly, there seems to be some administrative efficiency in our intercollegiate athletics department that we're not capturing," she said. Administrative recommendations for addressing the financial challenges in athletics will likely go to regents in April.
"Every dollar spent on athletics is a dollar away from academics," said Venora Hung, student representative to the Board of Regents. Hung said, although the students sympathize with concerns about the possible merger of men's and women's athletics, they see athletics as a larger issue of the U's overall financial responsibility. "[We] believe that the purpose of our institution is for education, research, and outreach," she said. "As you reflect upon the question of, ‘What will the University become?,' here are some of the student representatives suggestions:…evaluate what level of competition [the U] needs to compete at for each sport;…[implement policies] that can positively impact the culture of the athletics department;…[and]…engage in a larger conversation with the other Big Ten institutions."
U of M Alumni Association (UMAA) National Board supports making fiscally responsible decisions to solve the athletic funding problems, as long as solutions ensure gender equity and academic and competitive excellence. In March 2 statement, UMAA board said tough choices "need to be made" and agreed with regents and administration that all options must be on the table.
Timely graduation benefits students by increasing lifetime earnings, reducing education costs, and improving employment opportunities upon graduation, said Craig Swan, vice provost for undergraduate education, to regents March 7. He said stronger financial incentives, such as reducing tuition for credits above a certain number, are needed to improve the U's 4- and 5-year graduation rates. U will ensure better access to required classes and advisers if a policy is implemented requiring students to take higher credit loads, he said.
Regents favored an "aggressive" move by the U to change culture and attitudes among students, faculty, and staff. Swan said low graduation rates are damaging to the U's reputation and ability to attract students and public support. Regents will approve a tuition plan as part of the U's operating budget in June.
U earned 5 national rankings from Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), President Yudof reported to regents. According to AUTM report, U is 4th among major research universities in the number of start-ups spun off from its research (11), 7th in licenses yielding license income, 8th in invention disclosures received, 9th in licenses executed, and 11th in the number of U.S. patents issued.
Yudof said rankings are a "testament to the efforts" of faculty, staff, and students "to get research in the lab out of the door." AUTM surveyed 142 universities and colleges for the annual rankings. Businesses spun off from U research in 2000 range from biotechnology to production of skateboard ramps.
Also at regents meeting: approval of new CCE direct marketing certificate (to be offered in fall 2002), name change for CEHD School of Kinesiology and Leisure Studies to School of Kinesiology (effective July 1), and discontinuation of UMD American studies and humanities and classics minors (effective fall 2002).
U athletic teams--Gophers, Bulldogs, Golden Eagles, and Cougars--will head to postseason play. Gopher women's basketball enters its first NCAA tournament since 1993 on March 15. No. 1 ranked Gopher women's hockey team goes to the Final Four in New Hampshire March 22-24. For complete list, see www.umn.edu/
systemwide/enews/#Anchor-47857.
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Committee will conduct a review of senior VP Frank Cerra. U policy requires senior administrator reviews at the end of the initial term of appointment. VP Maziar will chair committee, which will seek input from various groups and individuals. If you would like to participate, call 612-626-0309.
2002-04 McKnight Land-Grant Professors are Paul Cannan, UMD English; James Druckman, political science; Markus Keel, mathematics; Robert Krueger, psychology; David Odde, biomedical engineering; Frank Symons, educational psychology; Valerie Tiberius, philosophy; David Treuer, English; Haidee Wasson, cultural studies and comparative literature; Kevin Wickman, pharmacology. Each will hold an endowed appointment for 2 years and receive a $50,000 research grant, summer support, and a leave of absence to conduct research.
Applications or nominations for U Services VP will be accepted until position is filled. Send to VP for U Services Search Committee chair Sandra Gardebring, c/o Sandy Korlath, U Relations, 6 Morrill Hall.
March 6 Brief gave incorrect address for Southwest Asian languages Web site. It is lrc.lib.umn.edu/dsala.htm.
CROOKSTON--Dan Svedarsky, natural resources professor, received Award of Merit for 2002 from the Honor Society of Agriculture Gamma Sigma Delta, an international society that recognizes contributions to all facets of agriculture.
Nature Northwest Project is under way to develop an inventory, economic assessment, and guidebook for nature-related recreational opportunities in northwest Minnesota. Community input meetings will be held in March and April in Breckenridge, Crookston, Fergus Falls, Mahnomen, Moorhead, Thief River Falls, and Warroad. See www.nature-northwest.org.
DULUTH--Lecture "Confronting Contemporary Slavery: International Trafficking of Women and Girls" by Sheila Wellstone, working partner and wife of U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, will be March 26, 7 p.m., Kirby Student Center Ballroom. Free and open to the public. Reception will follow.
Glensheen Historic Estate buffet brunch and free Easter egg hunt will be March 24. Egg hunt begins at 9 a.m.; brunch begins at 11 a.m. Cost is $18.95 adults, $13.50 children, free for children 5 years and under. Reservations, call 1-888-454-GLEN or 218-726-8910.
Alworth Institute for International Studies will host Sarah Bauer, assistant professor of art and design, who will present "Tibet: Pilgrimage, Practice, Sacred Art, and Ritual" March 27, noon, Tweed Museum.
MORRIS--Student Matt Peters had 2 ceramic pieces accepted for 3rd Biennial "Clay Bodies for Student Bodies" exhibition through April 16 at Hillstrom Museum, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter.
Concert Choir, directed by Kenneth Hodgson, will perform March 22, 7:30 p.m., Assumption Church. Concert will feature works of classical and contemporary composers, spirituals, and folk songs. Tickets are $4 adults, $2 students and seniors, and $10 family.
UMM will celebrate the 29th Annual World Touch Cultural Heritage Week, "Developing a Culture of Peace," March 18-23. Highlights: 3/19, keynote speaker Lee Mun Wah, 7:30 p.m.; 3/20, Los algeres bailadores (Mexican folkloric dance group), 7:30 p.m.; 3/21, CNIA Peace Run, 3 p.m., Minority Resource Center and D. J. Vanas "knockout" storyteller, humorist, motivator, 7:30 p.m.; 3/22, Invitational Ethnic Dinner, 5:30 p.m., Oyate Hall; 3/23, Chicago Children's Choir, 7:30 p.m. Events will be in Edson Auditorium, unless otherwise stated. For full list of events or more information, call 320-589-6095.
ROCHESTER--Staff members and Rochester College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) graduate students and alumni participated in the CEHD book drive to benefit young children at Rochester Barnes & Noble March 9.
TWIN CITIES--TC campus ranked 26 in total National Institutes of Health award dollars for 2001. Research areas that ranked in top 25 include orthopedic surgery (8), otolaryngology (9), physical medicine and rehabilitation (9), psychology (11), neurology (12), pediatrics (12), radiology (13), basic sciences (15), pathology (15), family practice (17), surgery (17), dentistry (21), and biochemistry (25).
Changes are planned for Bierman Field area to accommodate more recreation fields and a possible reconstruction of Siebert Field. Representatives from U's planning office, recreational sports, and intercollegiate athletics will meet with neighborhood organization leaders in March to preview precinct plan.
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