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Past Issues
With war looming, President Bruininks sent a message to the U community March 18 about implications of possible armed conflict to the U and reiterating U's values of freedom of expression. "It is likely that members of our community will have differing points of view about this issue and will, consistent with our tradition, express those views publicly and vigorously," he said. "While the institution will take no position on the issue of conflict in Iraq, the freedom to engage in passionate dialogue about important questions is among our most deeply held values, and we will continue to honor that value." More than 100 U faculty, staff, and students have been called into military service.
On March 14, regents approved $25 million reduction revision to U's 2003 budget to meet Gov. Pawlenty's state fund unallotment. To implement this cut, executive VP and provost Maziar said base state funding to units all across the U was reduced—support units will bear $6.6 million in cuts; academic units $18 million (TC campus colleges and schools $11.2 million; Academic Health Center $3.9 million; UMD $2.3 million; UMM $600,000; UMC $350,000; and Rochester $35,000). She said decisions by individual units need to be aligned to preserve the U's core academic mission, protect student-related activities, and reduce administrative expense and operating costs. Reductions include loss of 139 full-time equivalent positions (29 faculty positions); majority are open positions that will not be filled or will become vacant due to attrition.
If governor's budget recommendation is enacted, the reduction in state funding to the U will be approximately $211 million for the biennium, said Bruininks to regents. On top of that anticipated reduction in state funds, U is facing almost $90 million in increased operating costs due to utility inflation, health care and benefit cost increases, academic investments, and new buildings. "If we took this reduction entirely in salaries, it represents 1,709 faculty and staff positions," he said. "If we took it entirely in tuition, it would mean a 30% increase in fiscal year 2003."
He explained that U administration has chosen a "shared sacrifice" strategy to manage U's budget for the next 2 years—50% from increasing tuition (about 14 to 15% in first year of biennium and 10% in 2nd year) and 50% from the U (30% from reducing administrative and operating costs; 15% from eliminating, reducing, and consolidating programs and activities; 5% by enhancing revenues). Within this framework, Bruininks said a wage freeze and an increase in health care benefit costs for faculty and staff (subject to collective bargaining) is likely in the first year. Budget discussions will continue at April regents meeting.
New and reappointed regents for the next 2 years were sworn in March 14. New regents are Clyde Allen, John Frobenius, and Patricia Simmons.
Faculty "Days on the Hill" will be March 19 (House) and March 20 (Senate). Professors Fred Morrison and Marvin Marshak are organizing faculty testimony for House and Senate Higher Education Committees and are asking faculty members to meet with their own legislators and legislative leadership on both days; e-mail morrison@umn.edu or marshak@umn.edu.
Regents have requested a stay and appealed Hennepin County District Court March 13 decision in case challenging board's constitutional autonomy with regard to compliance with Minnesota's open meeting law. Case arose out of November 2002 board decision to conduct a closed meeting with the purpose of keeping private the names of semifinalists for position of U president. "As a public body, the Board of Regents is fully committed to conducting its business in public," said general counsel Rotenberg. "However, in this very narrow and rare case, to select the very best president, the board deemed it necessary to invoke its constitutional autonomy. We hope our arguments will receive a favorable reception in the appellate courts."
U will cohost 2004 U.S. Transplant Games July 27–Aug. 1, presented by National Kidney Foundation. Olympic-style games is largest sporting event in the world for those with lifesaving organ transplants; 10,000 people are expected to participate including athletes, families, donor families, and transplant professionals. U sponsors include Academic Health Center, U Relations, Intercollegiate Athletics, Housing and Residential Life, Facilities Management, U of M Alumni Association, and U of M Foundation.
U has formed Stem Cell Ethics Advisory Board with Jeffrey Kahn, Center for Bioethics director, as chair. Board provides ethics guidance and advice to U investigators engaged in basic or clinical research related to human stem cells, including those derived from adults, embryos, and fetal tissue. Board, made up of U bioethics leaders and external researchers, will meet regularly throughout year and as needed.
Due to rising concerns regarding risk of identity theft, social security numbers will no longer be required on U forms—travel authorization, employee travel reimbursement, and payment authorization. Employees should provide their employee identification number or Peoplesoft ID number instead. Forms in use will be revised to reflect change once remaining inventory has been depleted. Also, as extra security measure, cardholders are advised to cross out credit card numbers on receipts.
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Morse-Alumni Award recipients for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education are Jon Anderson, UMM statistics; Robert Brooker, genetics, cell biology and development; Thomas Chase, mechanical engineering; Lisa Disch, political science; Andrew Elfenbein, English; Josephine Lee, English; Kent Mann, chemistry; and Leslie Meek, UMM social science. Award ceremony will be April 21, McNamara Alumni Center, TC campus.
Recipients of awards for outstanding contributions to postbaccalaureate, graduate, and professional education are Francesca Cuthbert, fisheries and wildlife; Sara Evans, history; Ilene Harris, medical school; Marc Jenkins, microbiology; Frances Lawrenz, curriculum and instruction; John Mowitt, cultural studies and comparative literature; Christian Teyssier, geology and geophysics; and Donald Uden, pharmacy. Award ceremony, April 21, McNamara Center.
John Tate Award recipients for excellence in undergraduate advising are Jane Anderson, CLA student services; Jan Reifsteck, CEHD student and professional services; Gerald Rinehart, Carlson School; and Ulrike Tshirner, wood and paper science. Award ceremony, April 25, Coffman Union, TC campus.
U Academy of Distinguished Teachers' conference on "Teaching and Learning in a Research University" will be April 21, McNamara Alumni Center. Free, but registration is required by April 14. See www.irr.umn.edu/adt/adtconference03.
International travel grants for faculty are available through Office of International Programs, China Center, and McKnight Arts and Humanities Fund. Deadline is April 1 for activities starting May through August. To apply, see www.international.umn.edu/travelgrant or call 612-624-5580.
CROOKSTON—UMC and Northwest Research and Outreach Center have signed an agreement with Red River Basin Institute to identify research needs and develop proposals related to flood damage reduction and natural resource management.
UMC chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta, which honors academic excellence during a student's first year in college, will be officially installed March 24, 7 p.m., Kiehle auditorium; 28 students will be inducted.
DULUTH—Athletics department launched its most ambitious fund-raising effort March 14. Goal of 2-part Step-up Endowment Campaign is $1.5 million; part one ($500,000) will be used to create Divison I hockey scholarships and part 2 ($1 million with $500,000 matching funds by Duluthians Dave and Lisa Goldberg) for Division II scholarships.
Former Bulldog hockey player Scott "Skeeter" Moore will be athletics development director April 1.
MORRIS—World Touch Cultural Heritage Week is March 24–29; social justice activist Timothy Wise will give keynote 7:30 p.m., Edson Auditorium. Olympic champion Billy Mills will greet participants at Circle of Nations Indian Association 3K Peace Run March 26, 3 p.m., and speak at 7:30 p.m., Edson.
UMM Big Jazz Band's 4th annual Spring Ball fund-raiser will be March 29, 8–11:30 p.m., Lakeside Ballroom, Glenwood. Tickets, call 320-589-6053.
TWIN CITIES—New hours for Coffman Union Marketplace beginning March 24: Einstein Bros. Bagels, M–Th 7 a.m.–6:30 p.m., F 7 a.m.–4 p.m.,, Sa 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; Chick-fil-A, M–Th 10:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m., F 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m.; Baja Sol Tortilla Grill, M–Th 10:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m., F 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Bene Pizza and Pasta, M–F 10:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m.; M Deli, M–F 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Starbucks, M–Th 7 a.m.–9 p.m., F 7 a.m.–3 p.m.
Carlson School Weight Watchers At-Work program information session and regular meeting will be March 24, Humphrey Center conference room. Group of 35 U staff have lost about 700 pounds cumulatively since July 2002. Questions, call 612-624-9575.
Events: Disability Services's live telecast of "In the Trenches: What Works in Higher Education," featuring faculty nationwide discussing effective strategies for teaching students with disabilities, will be March 26, 2–4 p.m., 155 Earle Brown Center. Free; to RSVP, call 612-625-0741.
o Bestselling authors at U Bookstores Coffman—Lorna Landvik, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, March 25, 2 p.m.; Alison McGhee, Was it Beautiful?--, March 26, 2 p.m.; and Madeline Drexler, Secret Agents: The Menace of Emerging Infections, March 27, 2 p.m.
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