2007-08
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
MARCH
6, 2008
UNIVERSITY
SENATE MINUTES: No. 3
FACULTY
SENATE MINUTES: No. 3
STUDENT
SENATE MINUTES: No. 3
The
third meeting of the University Senate and Faculty Senate was convened in Mayo
Auditorium, Minneapolis campus, on Thursday, March 6, 2008, at 2:30 p.m., as a
joint meeting of the bodies. Coordinate campuses were linked by ITV. Checking
or signing the roll as present were 22 academic professional members, 17 civil
service members, 119 faculty/faculty-like academic professional members, and 17
student members. Vice Chair Mary Jo Kane presided.
1. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSES TO SENATE
ACTIONS
Information
University
Senate
|
Resolution
on Retiree Benefits
|
|
Approved
by the:
|
University
Senate November 29, 2007
|
|
Approved
by the:
|
Administration
PENDING
|
|
Approved
by the:
|
Board of
Regents – no action required
|
Faculty
Senate
|
Revisions
to the Policy and Protocol on the Student Rating and Peer Evaluation of
Teaching
|
|
Approved
by the:
|
Faculty
Senate November 29, 2007
|
|
Approved by the:
|
Administration February 25,
2008
|
|
Approved by the:
|
Board of Regents – no
response required
|
2. SENATE CONSULTATIVE REPORT
Editorial
Amendments to the University Senate Rules
Information for the University
Senate
FOR
INFORMATION:
According
to the charge to the Senate Consultative Committee, it has the authority "[t]o
make editorial changes in University Senate policies and documents (including
the constitution, bylaws, and rules) to reflect changes in titles of
administrative offices or officers; the changes will be reported to the
University Senate for information." The following amendments were approved by
the Senate Consultative Committee on January 24, 2008 (language to be deleted is
struck out; language to be
added is underlined).
ARTICLE
II. RULES FOR COMMITTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE (Changes to this article are
subject to vote only by the University Senate)
1.
Ex Officio Members of University Senate Committees
Ex officio
representation is accorded because of, or by virtue of, a specified office. An
ex officio member has rights of full participation except voting privileges
unless otherwise indicated. Ex officio administrative members shall be
appointed from each of the offices as specified in the following provisions and
shall have the authority to designate someone to attend meetings in their place.
Committee chairs who serve ex officio on other committees may designate a
representative from their committees to attend in their place. The University
Senate vice chair may not designate an alternative representative to the Senate
Consultative Committee.
-
Advisory Committee on Athletics--Director of intercollegiate athletics;
Director of Academic Counseling; Director of
Athletic Compliance
-
All-University Honors--Office of the
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost; Office of the Vice
President for University Relations (three representatives, including one from
Alumni Relations and one from the University Development Office); Office of the
Chancellor – Duluth; Office of the Chancellor - Crookston
-
Disabilities Issues--Office of the
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost (the University ADA
coordinator); Office of the Senior
Vice President for System
Administration Equity and
Diversity (Disability Services
Office)
-
Equity, Access, and Diversity-- Office
of the Senior Vice President
for System Administration
Equity and Diversity
(four representatives,
including one from the Office
of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action,
one from the Office for
Multicultural and Academic Affairs, one from the Office
of
for University Women, and one
from the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
Transgender, Ally Programs
Office)
-
Finance and Planning--reports to both
the University Senate and the Faculty Senate; ex officio members are listed
under Faculty Senate committees
-
Information Technologies--Office of the Senior Vice President for
Academic Affairs and Provost (two
representatives, including the chief information officer);
Chief Information Officer;
University Librarian, Twin Cities Campus; Chair of the Library Committee
-
Library--Office of the Senior Vice
President for Academic Affairs and Provost; University Librarian, Twin Cities
campus; Director of Library Services, Crookston campus; Director of Libraries,
Duluth campus; Library Director, Morris campus; Director of the Law Library,
Twin Cities Campus; Chair of the Information Technologies Committee
-
Senate Consultative--Vice chair of the
University Senate (voting); past chair of the Faculty Consultative Committee
(voting if not otherwise a voting member); Chair of the Finance and Planning
Committee; elected representative from the Duluth faculty eligible to vote in
Senate elections
-
Social Concerns--Office of the Vice
President for Budget and
Finance (Asset Management
Office of Investments and
Banking); Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and
Provost (Office of Student Affairs); Office of the
Senior Vice President for
System Administration
Equity and Diversity
(Office of Equal Employment
Opportunity and Affirmative Action)
-
Student Academic Integrity--Office of the Senior Vice President for
Academic Affairs and Provost (two representatives, including the
Academic Integrity Officer
Director of the Office for Student
Conduct and Academic Integrity)
-
Student Behavior--Office of the Senior
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
(Director, Student Judicial
Affairs of the Office for
Student Conduct and Academic Integrity)
GARY
BALAS, CHAIR
SENATE CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE
3. FACULTY CONSULTATIVE REPORT
Editorial
Amendments to the Faculty Senate Rules
Information for the Faculty
Senate
FOR
INFORMATION:
According
to the charge to the Faculty Consultative Committee, it has the authority "[t]o
make editorial changes in Faculty Senate policies and documents (including the
constitution, bylaws, and rules) to reflect changes in titles of administrative
offices or officers; the changes will be reported to the Faculty Senate for
information." The following amendments were approved by the Faculty
Consultative Committee on January 24, 2008 (language to be deleted is
struck out; language to be
added is underlined).
ARTICLE
IV. RULES FOR COMMITTEES OF THE FACULTY SENATE (Changes to this article are
subject to vote only by the Faculty Senate)
1.
Ex Officio Members of Faculty Senate Committees
Ex officio
representation is accorded because of, or by virtue of, a specified office. An
ex officio member has rights of full participation except voting privileges
unless otherwise indicated. Ex officio administrative members shall be
appointed from each of the offices as specified in the following provisions and
shall have the authority to designate someone to attend meetings in their place.
Committee chairs who serve ex officio on other committees may designate a
representative from their committees to attend in their place. The Faculty
Senate vice chair may not designate an alternative representative to the Faculty
Consultative Committee.
-
Academic Freedom and Tenure--Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee;
Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost;
Office of the Vice President for
Human Resources; Chair of the Judicial Committee
-
Educational Policy--Office of the Senior
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost (Vice Provost
and Dean for Undergraduate
Education); Dean of the Graduate School
-
Faculty Academic Oversight Committee for Intercollegiate
Athletics--Director of Academic Counseling; Director of
Athletic Compliance
-
Faculty Affairs--Office of the Senior
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost;
representative of the
University of Minnesota Retirees Association; Office of the Vice President for
Human Resources (two representatives, including one from Employee Benefits);
Chair of the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee
-
Faculty Consultative--Vice chair of the
Faculty Senate (voting), past chair, Faculty Consultative Committee (voting, if
not otherwise a voting member); Chairs of the Academic Health Center Faculty
Consultative Committee,
Educational Policy, Faculty Affairs, Finance and Planning, and Research
Committees; elected representative from the Duluth faculty eligible to vote in
Senate elections; Faculty Legislative Liaison(s)
-
Finance and Planning--Office of the
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost (two representatives);
Office of the Vice President for
Budget and Finance (two
representatives, including one from the Controller's
Organization
Office); Office of the Vice
President for University Services; Chair of the Academic Health Center Finance
and Planning Subcommittee
-
Research--Office of the Senior Vice
President for Academic Affairs and Provost (two representatives, including the
Director of the Agricultural
Experiment Stations); Office
of the Vice President for Budget
and Finance; Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences;
Vice President for Research (two
representatives, including the Associate Vice President for Regulatory
Affairs); University Librarian; Director of Institutional
Compliance; Assistant Vice
President for Regulatory Affairs
GARY
BALAS, CHAIR
FACULTY CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE
4. FACULTY CONSULTATIVE REPORT
Editorial
Amendment to the Faculty Senate Bylaws
Information for the Faculty
Senate
FOR
INFORMATION:
According
to the charge to the Faculty Consultative Committee, it has the authority "[t]o
act on behalf of the Faculty Senate when a decision is required prior to the
next scheduled meeting of the Faculty Senate and when a decision is required
when it would not be possible to convene a special meeting of the Faculty Senate
in a timely fashion; such actions will be reported to the Faculty Senate at its
next meeting and the Faculty Senate may then overrule the Faculty Consultative
Committee." The following amendment was approved by the Faculty Consultative
Committee on January 24, 2008 (language to be deleted is
struck out).
H.
FACULTY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
...
Membership
...
The ex
officio members of the Faculty Consultative Committee are:
--The vice chair
of the Faculty Senate (ex officio voting).
--The chairs of the Academic
Health Center Faculty Consultative, Educational Policy, Faculty Affairs, Finance
and Planning, and Research Committees (ex officio nonvoting).
--The past
chair of the Faculty Consultative Committee for the year following his or her
service as chair, irrespective of the term to which that individual was
originally elected (ex officio
non-voting).
-- One
representative of the faculty on the Duluth campus eligible to vote in Senate
elections (ex officio non-voting). This representative shall be elected in
accord with procedures established by the eligible Duluth faculty. The ex
officio Duluth representative may send an alternate to Faculty Consultative
Committee meetings.
--The faculty legislative liaison(s) (ex officio
non-voting).
COMMENT:
When the
Senate constitution and bylaws were revised a few years ago to extend
representation to the P&A and Civil Service staff, and to review and update
all committee charges, there ended up being an inadvertent conflict between the
Faculty Senate bylaws and the Faculty Senate rules. The bylaws provide that the
past FCC chair is an ex-officio
non-voting
member of FCC. The rules provide that the past chair is an ex-officio
voting
member of FCC. Those who were involved in the discussions and drafting
recall that the clear intent was that the past chair would be ex-officio voting
(which intent was embodied in the rules). The current members of FCC voted
unanimously to recommend to the Faculty Senate a change in the bylaws to
eliminate the conflict with the rules and to carry out the intent of the
original bylaws revisions. (The past FCC chair is a voting member of the Senate
Consultative Committee, or SCC; there is no conflict in any provisions on that
score.)
In
practice, the FCC past chair has been counted as a voting member since the
constitution and bylaw were revised. The conflict between the bylaws and rules
was only recently discovered by accident. FCC voted to act on behalf of the
Faculty Senate to adopt this change, simply to continue its own long-standing
practice, but wishes the Faculty Senate to know, as is usual when FCC acts
between meetings on behalf of the Faculty Senate, that its actions can be
reversed by vote of the Faculty Senate.
GARY
BALAS, CHAIR
SENATE CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE
5. SENATE CONSULTATIVE REPORT
Editorial
Amendments to the University Senate Bylaws
Information for the University
Senate
FOR
INFORMATION:
According
to the charge to the Senate Consultative Committee, it has the authority "[t]o
act on behalf of the University Senate when a decision is required prior to the
next scheduled meeting of the University Senate and when a decision is required
when it would not be possible to convene a special meeting of the University
Senate in a timely fashion; such actions will be reported to the University
Senate at its next meeting and the University Senate may then overrule the
Senate Consultative Committee." The following amendment was approved by the
Senate Consultative Committee on January 24, 2008 (language to be deleted is
struck out; language to be
added is underlined).
A.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ATHLETICS
The
Advisory Committee on Athletics provides consultation and advice to the
President, the senior administrator responsible for athletics, and the
dDepartment
of
iIntercollegiate
aAthletics
on policies and other major decisions. All policies formulated by the Advisory
Committee on Athletics will be reported to the Twin Cities members of the Senate
Consultative Committee for action and to the Twin Cities Delegation
University Senate for
information after the Twin Cities members of the Senate Consultative Committee
has
have acted. The Twin Cities
Delegation University Senate
has the authority to reverse or modify a decision by the Twin Cities members of
the Senate Consultative Committee.
Membership
The
Advisory Committee on Athletics shall consist of the following voting members:
(1) a
Chair, who must be a tenured Twin Cities faculty member, who holds no
administrative appointment higher than department chair or head, appointed by
the President after consultation with the Faculty Committee on Committees, for a
term of one year;
(2) four
(4) Twin Cities members of the faculty or academic staff (at least two of whom
shall be members of the tenured faculty), appointed by the President after
consultation with the faculty members of the Faculty Committee on Committees,
for terms of three (3) years;
(3) the
Faculty Representatives to the NCAA;
(4) the
chair of the Faculty Academic Oversight Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics,
or a member designated by that committee;
(5) a Twin
Cities dean, appointed by the President after consultation with the Twin Cities'
deans, for a term of three (3) years, or another member of the tenured faculty;
(6) four
(4) Twin Cities students, two of whom will be appointed by the President after
consultation with the Student Committee on Committees, for terms of one year,
and two of whom will be selected by the representatives of students in the
intercollegiate athletic program for terms of one year;
(7) two
graduates of the University, appointed by the President after appropriate
consultation for terms of three (3) years;
(8) one
University Twin Cities civil service employee, appointed by the Civil Service
Committee for a term of three (3) years.
The
appointments are subject to approval by the Twin Cities Delegation. No one,
other than the faculty representatives, may serve more than six (6) consecutive
years on this committee.
The
Director of Athletics, the director of academic counseling and the director of
compliance shall serve as non-voting ex officio members.
Duties
The
Advisory Committee on Athletics will advise and consult with the President, the
responsible senior administrators, and the Director of Athletics on policies
and major decisions relating to intercollegiate athletics at the University.
Regents' policy delegates immediate administration of the athletics departments
to the President, the central administration, and the Director of Athletics;
this committee has no direct role in the day-to-day management of the
department. These by-laws delegate responsibility for academic and compliance
issues to the Faculty Oversight Committee; this committee has no involvement in
those issues.
The
committee has the following responsibilities:
(A) The
committee will advise the Director of Athletics regarding policies and major
decisions relating to their programs and operations, except for matters within
the authority of the Faculty Academic Oversight Committee on Intercollegiate
Athletics.
...
(G) The
committee (or its representative) will participate in searches for the Director
of Athletics and for major coaching appointments and for directors of academic
counseling and compliance and will participate in any periodic comprehensive
performance reviews of those positions.
...
(J) The
committee will perform such other functions as the Twin Cities Delegation may
assign.
The
committee reports to the Twin Cities members of the Faculty Consultative
Committee at least once each semester, this report may be in writing or
presented in person by the Chair and a suitable delegation.
At least
once a year, the voting members of the Committee will meet privately with the
President to give their candid evaluation of the management of the departments.
The voting members of the committee may also request a private meeting with the
President and/or with the Twin Cities member of the Faculty Consultative
Committee to discuss any matters of concern to them. The ex officio members
shall not attend such meetings, unless requested to do so by vote of the
committee.
GARY
BALAS, CHAIR
SENATE CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE
6. FACULTY CONSULTATIVE REPORT
Editorial
Amendments to the Faculty Senate Bylaws
Information for the Faculty
Senate
FOR
INFORMATION:
According
to the charge to the Faculty Consultative Committee, it has the authority "[t]o
act on behalf of the Faculty Senate when a decision is required prior to the
next scheduled meeting of the Faculty Senate and when a decision is required
when it would not be possible to convene a special meeting of the Faculty Senate
in a timely fashion; such actions will be reported to the Faculty Senate at its
next meeting and the Faculty Senate may then overrule the Faculty Consultative
Committee." The following amendment was approved by the Faculty Consultative
Committee on January 24, 2008 (language to be deleted is
struck out; language to be
added is underlined).
E.
FACULTY ACADEMIC OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
...
Duties
and Responsibilities
...
(C)
With the assistance of the office of the Provost, the committee will conduct
regular reviews of the grade average and progress of each student. It will also
regularly evaluate the performance of each team in achieving the academic goals
of student participants, and will advise the Director of Athletics concerning
the performance of coaches in support of these goals. It will also advise the
senior administrator responsible for athletics, the Provost, the President, and
the Twin Cities members of the Faculty Consultative Committee regarding the
support for academic achievement shown by each of the teams and
departments.
(D) The
committee may establish scheduling standards limiting the days in any term that
a student may be absent to participate in athletic events. It will review every
schedule for conformity to these standards. In unusual cases, the committee may
grant exceptions to that rule. All violations of these rules and all exceptions
granted to them shall be reported immediately to the senior administrator, the
Provost, the President, and the Twin Cities members of the Faculty Consultative
Committee.
...
(F) The
committee will receive a report from the Director of Compliance at least once
each semester regarding significant compliance concerns coming to the attention
of that office. It will also refer any compliance matters that come to its
attention to the Director of Compliance. It will report any concerns about
compliance issues to the relevant athletic director, the senior administrator
supervising compliance, the President, and the Twin Cities members of the
Faculty Consultative Committee. It will advise the Director of Compliance
regarding matters within the authority of that office.
...
(J) The
committee will perform such other functions as the Twin Cities Faculty
Delegation may assign.
In
evaluating individual or team records, the committee may act as a whole or by
subcommittee.
Because
the committee primarily considers matters that are private or personal data
under the laws governing data privacy, its meetings are closed unless it
otherwise directs.
The
committee reports to the Twin Cities members of the Faculty Consultative
Committee at least once each semester; this report may be in writing or in
person by the Chair and an appropriate delegation.
At least
once a year, the voting members of the Committee will meet privately with the
President to give their candid evaluation of the performance of the departments
and teams in achieving academic performance and rules compliance. The voting
members of the committee may also at any time request a private meeting with the
President and/or with the Twin Cities members of the Faculty Consultative
Committee to discuss any matters of concern to them. The ex officio members
shall not attend such meetings, unless requested to do so by vote of the
committee.
The Senate
Office will provide staff assistance for the committee. The Provost will, in
consultation with the Committee, provide adequate staff assistance drawn from
the office of the Registrar, the advising offices of colleges, and other
administrative offices and assist in the preparation, presentation and
evaluation of student records. The athletics department and academic counseling
and compliance offices will provide information requested by the
committee.
No
appointed member of the committee may accept any tickets, team travel, or other
benefit or favor from the athletics departments except as specifically
authorized by the President and the Twin Cities members of the Faculty
Consultative Committee.
The
committee deals with eligibility and compliance issues established by the
University and by the NCAA and external organizations. It does not review the
decisions of coaches imposing sanctions on athletes for violating team
rules.
1. FACULTY
ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVES
The
Faculty Athletics Representatives will serve as the University's delegates to
NCAA, Big 10, WCHA and other external organizations. The representatives also
will perform certain functions prescribed in the rules of those organizations,
in these by-laws, and as delegated by the President or the Twin Cities
Delegation of the Faculty Senate. The authority of the representatives does not
displace any of the authority granted to the two committees above. The Faculty
Athletic Representatives are appointed by the President in consultation with the
Twin Cities members of the Faculty Consultative Committee. Before making an
appointment the President will give an opportunity for interested faculty
members to apply. The President will also solicit nominations from the Faculty
Academic Oversight Committee and the Advisory Committee on Athletics.
A faculty
athletics representative must be a member of the regular faculty who holds
permanent tenure, and may not hold an administrative office higher than that of
a department head or chair. The faculty athletics representatives will serve at
the pleasure of the President for a three (3) year term. Normally, individuals
will not serve more than six (6) consecutive years in this office, but the
President may, with approval of the Twin Cities members of the Faculty
Consultative Committee, reappoint an individual as faculty athletics
representative for additional terms of up to three years. So long as the
University has two faculty athletics representatives from the Twin Cities
campus, every effort should be made to ensure that their terms are
staggered.
The
President, in consultation with the Twin Cities members of the Faculty
Consultative Committee, after receiving the view of the Faculty Academic
Oversight Committee and the Advisory Committee on Athletics, will determine the
position the University will take regarding proposed changes in NCAA and other
external rules. The faculty representatives will faithfully represent this
position.
The
Faculty Academic Oversight Committee has primary responsibility for all
eligibility and compliance issues. If the rules of any external organization
require a faculty representative to make a decision or recommendation on any
matter relating to eligibility or compliance, the representative will first
refer the matter to the Faculty Academic Oversight Committee and will faithfully
carry out its recommendation.
The
faculty athletics representatives will report to the Twin
Cities Faculty Delegation
annually in writing. They report to the Twin Cities members of the Faculty
Consultative Committee orally and in writing at least once each semester.
2.
COORDINATION OF OVERSIGHT
The Chairs
of the Faculty Academic Oversight Committee and the Advisory Committee on
Athletics and the faculty representative(s) will meet periodically with the
President, the Provost, the senior administrator responsible for athletics, and
the Chair of the Faculty Consultative Committee to coordinate their
activities.
GARY
BALAS, CHAIR
FACULTY CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE
7.
SOCIAL CONCERNS
COMMITTEE
Resolution on Fair Trade
Coffee
Information for the
University Senate
Resolution
on Fair Trade Coffee
Whereas,
coffee is the second-largest legally traded commodity in the world market only
behind oil; and
Whereas,
coffee is generally produced in developing countries where workers and farmers
suffer from exploitative conditions as well as a lack of access to market
information; and
Whereas,
farmers are forced to sell their coffee below market value at less than the cost
of production and subsequently pushing them into severe hardship or leaving no
option but to sell and leave their land; and
Whereas,
with Fair Trade Certified coffee farmers obtain prices of 100-200% higher in
comparison to non-Fair Trade; and
Whereas,
workers on Fair Trade farms have safe working conditions, equity for women,
freedom of association, and strict prohibitions on child labor; and
Whereas,
the Fair Trade system works within cooperatives where long-term trading
partnerships are established allowing farmers to get advance credit on coffee
purchases to ensure that farmers can avoid insecurity surrounding the next
harvest; and
Whereas,
Fair Trade cooperatives are committed to community development and
democratically decide on how to invest Fair Trade revenues in infrastructure
such as healthcare and education; and
Whereas,
Fair Trade coffee uses sustainable production practices, and is often Organic
and Shade Grown improving the health of the environment and consumers alike; and
therefore be it
RESOLVED
that the University of Minnesota require in all food service contracts it signs
into with food service providers that all coffee sold on its campus’ (Twin
Cities, Morris, Duluth and Crookston) must be 100% Fair Trade Certified
including all coffee retail locations, catering operations, and residence halls;
and be it further
RESOLVED
that whenever possible, this coffee be Organic, Shade Grown, and purchased from
a local roaster
Approved by the Social Concerns
Committee December 10, 2007
Approved by the Student Senate November 29,
2007
COMMENT:
This resolution will be on the
April 3, 2007, University Senate agenda for action.
KATHERINE
FENNELLY, CHAIR
SOCIAL CONCERNS
COMMITTEE
8.
TRIBUTE TO DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
FACULTY/ACADEMIC
PROFESSIONALS/STAFF
Ruth E.
Aberwald
Professor
Boynton Health Services
1921 –
2008
Paul
Bamford
Professor
History
1921 – 2007
James
Boen
Professor
Public Health
1932 – 2007
Edward J.
Drury
Professor
Center for Urban and Regional Affairs
1931
– 2007
Marvin D.
Dunnette
Professor
Psychology
1926 – 2007
Richard W.
Ferguson
Professor
Rhetoric
1931 – 2006
Charles E.
Furman
Professor
Music
1954 – 2007
Theodor B.
Grage
Professor
Surgery
1927 – 2007
Edwin W.
Haller
Professor
Medicine – Duluth
1936 – 2007
Wayne J.
Hansen
Professor
University of Minnesota Extension
1946 –
2007
William L.
Hartwick
Professor
Dentistry
1917 – 2005
Fulton
Holtby
Professor
Mechanical Engineering
1911 – 2007
Eloise
Jaeger
Professor
Physical Education
1916 – 2007
René
Jara
Professor
Spanish and Portuguese
1941 – 2007
Anne W.
Lindgren
Professor
Social Work
1909 – 2007
Andrew
Morstad
Professor
Dentistry
1922 – 2007
Gerhard
Neubeck
Professor
Family Social Sciences
1918 – 2008
Erwin M.
Schaffer
Professor
Preventive Sciences
1922 – 2007
Jean P.
Swanson
Professor
Music – Duluth
1919 – 2007
Deane
Turner
Professor
Agriculture
1919 – 2007
John E.
Verrill
Professor
College of Education and Human Service Professions
– Duluth
1916 – 2008
Carl W.
Zanner
Professor
Soil, Water, and Climate
1948 – 2008
STUDENTS
Aleksandr
I. Ablamunets
Carlson School of Management
Rachel A.
Dow
College of Liberal Arts
Abdulatif
I. Kalil
Center for Allied Health
Christopher
M. Pomarico
College of Liberal Arts
Emily G.
Rudolph
School of Nursing
9.
MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 4, 2007 AND NOVEMBER 29,
2007
Action by the University
Senate
MOTION:
To approve
the University Senate and Faculty Senate minutes, which are available on the Web
at the following URL. A simple majority is required for approval.
http://www1.umn.edu/usenate/usen/071004sen.html
http://www1.umn.edu/usenate/usen/071129sen.html
STUART
GOLDSTEIN, CLERK
UNIVERSITY
SENATE
DISCUSSION:
With no
discussion, a vote was taken and the motion was approved.
APPROVED
10.
FACULTY CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE
STUDENT SENATE
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Amendments
to the Protocol for Senate Committee Involvement
in Central Administrator
Searches
Action by the University
Senate
MOTION:
To
amend the "Protocol for Senate Committee Involvement in Central Administrator
Searches" as follows (language to be deleted is
struck out; language to be
added is
underlined):
Protocol
for Senate Committee Involvement in Central Administrator Searches
...
II.
Committee Responsibility for Interviews
The
following
Senate***
committees will be given the opportunity to participate in nomination of search
committee members and in interviews of candidates for the positions noted, in
accord with the provisions of Section III of this protocol. Interviews with
committees will be scheduled irrespective of the scope of the search (full,
limited, or non-competitive appointment); in the case of non-competitive
appointments, the committee will be given the opportunity to interview the
candidate
before
the position has been offered to the candidate.
|
Faculty
Consultative:
|
President;
all vice presidencies (executive, senior, and those without preceding
adjective)
and;
Provosts; Dean of the
Graduate School;
Dean
and Vice Provost for Undergraduate
Education; the General
Counsel; Director of
EEO
Equal
Opportunity and Affirmative
Action; Chancellors;
Directors of Athletics [Twin Cities campus]; others as the President may
request
|
|
Student
Senate Consultative:
|
President;
all vice presidencies (executive, senior, and those without preceding
adjective)
anProvosts;
Dean of the Graduate
School;
Dean and Vice Provost for Undergraduate
Education; the General
Counsel; Director of
EEO
Equal
Opportunity and Affirmative
Action; Chancellors;
Directors of Athletics [Twin Cities campus]; others as the President may
request
|
|
Information
Technologies:
|
Chief
Information Officer; University Librarian
|
|
Educational
Policy:
|
Executive
Senior
Vice President
for
Academic Affairs and Provost;
provosts
Dean and Vice Provost for Undergraduate
Education; Dean of the
Graduate School
|
|
Faculty
Affairs:
|
Vice
president for human resources
|
|
Finance
and Planning:
|
whomever
serves as chief financial officer of the
University
Vice
President for Finance;
associate/assistant vice presidents in
Budget
and
Finance
and Operations;
Controller
|
|
Intercollegiate
Advisory
Committee on
Athletics:
|
Director
of Athletics
[Twin
Cities campus]
|
|
Faculty
Academic Oversight Committee for
Intercollegiate
Athletics:
|
Director
of Athletics
[Twin
Cities campus]
|
|
Judicial
Committee:
|
General
Counsel
|
|
Library:
|
University
Librarian; Chief Information Officer
|
|
Research:
|
Vice
President for Research; Dean of the Graduate School; Assistant/associate vice
president, Sponsored Projects Administration
|
|
Student
Affairs:
|
Vice
President
for Campus Life
Provost
for Student Affairs
|
Note:
The Faculty Consultative Committee may draw on former FCC members to participate
in the interviewing process. The Student Senate Consultative Committee may
designate student representatives (other than members of the SSCC) to
participate in the interview process.
COMMENT:
The
Faculty Consultative Committee (FCC) and the Student Senate Consultative
Committee (SSCC) recommend that the search protocol be expanded so that FCC,
SSCC, and the Educational Policy Committee interview candidates for Dean and
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. The position is an important one for
both faculty and students and the leadership of the Faculty Senate and Student
Senate should be involved in interviews with finalists.
The other
changes reflect changes in titles of administrative officers.
GARY
BALAS, CHAIR
FACULTY CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE
RONALD
MILLER, CHAIR
STUDENT SENATE
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION:
With no
discussion, a vote was taken and the motion was approved.
APPROVED
11.
UNIVERSITY SENATE BYLAW
AMENDMENT
Library Committee
Membership
Action by the University
Senate
MOTION:
To amend
Article II, Section 5(G) of the University Senate Bylaws as follows (language to
be deleted is struck out;
language to be added is
underlined). As an amendment
to the University Senate Bylaws, the motion requires either a majority of all
voting members of the University Senate (121) at one regular or special meeting,
or a majority of all voting members of the University Senate present and voting
at each of two meetings. This is the first meeting at which this motion is
being presented.
ARTICLE
II. Committees of the UNIVERSITY Senate (Changes to this article are subject to
vote only by the University Senate)
...
5.
University Senate Committee Charges
...
G.
LIBRARY COMMITTEE
The
Library Committee represents faculty, academic professional,
civil service, and student
interest in the University libraries.
Membership
The
Library Committee shall be composed of 12 faculty/academic professional members,
1 civil service staff member, 4
students, and ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Senate.
Members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees with the approval of
the Senate. Academic professionals members must also be eligible to serve in
the Senate. The civil service member
shall be appointed by the Civil Service Committee and shall not be a library
employee.
...
JAMES
ORF, CHAIR
LIBRARY
COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION:
With no
discussion, a vote was taken and the motion was approved with 138 votes in favor
and none opposed.
APPROVED
12.
UNIVERSITY SENATE OLD BUSINESS
NONE
13.
UNIVERSITY SENATE NEW BUSINESS
NONE
14.
UNIVERSITY SENATE RECESS
The
University Senate was recessed at 2:45 p.m.
15.
FACULTY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
Professor
Emily Hoover, Vice Chair of the Faculty Consultative Committees (FCC), said that
the committee has been working on follow-up to the copyright issues. A
committee has been appointed by the Provost to write administrative procedures
to implement the Regents Policy. These procedures will come to the Faculty
Senate for discussion. The FCC has also proposed a standing subcommittee to
serve as an advisory body to the Provost on administrative procedures and to
hear about and advise on disputes over copyright issues.
An FCC
subcommittee on metrics and measurements has been working on how to effectively
measure faculty scholarly work. The Regents are interested in this topic and
there has been support from central administration. The subcommittee will
report to FCC this spring.
The
committee has also discussed the review of central officers and how selected
committees could play a role in this review, long-term planning, and met with
members of the Twin Cities Deans Council.
The
Educational Policy Committee and FCC have both voted to bring the revised Twin
Cities liberal education requirements to the Twin Cities Faculty Delegation for
action this spring.
Lastly,
FCC has also discussed voting rights within college assemblies, representation
of eligible Duluth faculty, and surveying peer institutions on the topic of
reputation.
Professor
Hoover noted that senators are welcome to email FCC with any other topics they
would like to see addressed.
16.
FACULTY LEGISLATIVE LIAISON UPDATE
Professor
Martin Sampson, Faculty Legislative Liaison, said that the legislature is moving
quickly this year. Two areas of activity are the basic capital investment bill
and the other is the biomedical sciences request. An email was sent to all
faculty yesterday with an update on the capital bill. An email will be sent
tomorrow on the biomedical sciences initiative. A handout is available to
senators when they leave with information from yesterday's email.
For the
biomedical sciences initiative, there are two issues. The first is what
percentage of the building cost for four buildings the University would cover.
The Senate bill has the University covering 20 percent; the House bill has the
University covering 33 percent. The second issue is the bonding limit that the
state accepts. There is discussion about whether this initiative goes under the
state limit since the bonds will be sold by the University. The State finance
website lists five criteria to determine the bond limit and where the state
stands. He suggested that senators contact their representatives about this
issue.
17.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE TWIN CITIES MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE
Slate of
Candidates
Action by the Twin
Cities Faculty Delegation and UMD Faculty Senators
MOTION:
To approve
the following six names to stand for election to the Faculty Consultative
Committee, from which one of each pair are to be elected by the Twin Cities and
non-represented UMD faculty for a term of 2008-11. First pair: Professors
Michael Cherlin and Michael Hancher; Second Pair: Professors Randy Moore and J.
Michael Oakes; Third Pair: Shawn Curley and Samuel Myers. A simple majority is
required for approval.
FIRST
PAIR
MICHAEL CHERLIN: 1988*,
Professor of Music, College of Liberal Arts. University Senate member: None.
Committee participation (past and present): None
MICHAEL
HANCHER: 1972*, Professor of English, College of Liberal Arts.
University Senate member: 1986-89, 1991-92, 1993-96, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2007-10.
Committee participation (past and present): Committee on Committees, 2007-10;
Library, 1991-95.
SECOND
PAIR
RANDY MOORE: 2000*,
Professor of Post Secondary Teaching and Learning, College of Education and
Human Development. University Senate member: None. Committee participation
(past and present): Finance and Planning, 2003-06.
J.
MICHAEL OAKES: 2001*, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Housing and
Apparel, School of Public Health. University Senate member: 1988-91, 2003-06.
Committee participation (past and present): Student Academic Integrity,
2007-10.
THIRD
PAIR
SHAWN CURLEY: 1986*,
Professor of Information and Decision Sciences, Carlson School of Management.
University Senate member: 2001-04. Committee participation (past and present):
Consultative, 2007-08; Educational Policy, 2000-06, ROTC Subcommittee, 2007-10;
Student Academic Integrity, 2001-07 (Chair, 2005-06); Student Affairs,
1988-90.
SAMUEL
MYERS, JR.: 1992*, Professor of Public Affairs, HHH Institute of Public
Affairs. University Senate member: None. Committee participation (past and
present): Faculty Affairs, 1995-97.
--------------------------------------
*Date
of initial appointment at the University.
FOR
INFORMATION:
The
Faculty Consultative Committee serves as the executive committee of the Faculty
Senate and forms the faculty membership of the Senate Consultative Committee.
Senate legislation has merged the Twin Cities faculty and non-represented UMD
faculty for purposes of Faculty Consultative Committee elections. Should a
non-represented UMD faculty member be elected, that individual will be a member
of the Senate and Faculty Consultative Committees.
Additional
nominations, certified as willing to stand for election, may be made by (1)
petition of 12 voting members of the faculties, provided that the petition is in
the hands of the Clerk of the Senate the day before the Senate meeting, and (2)
nominations on the floor of the Senate. The faculty representatives of the
Senate shall reduce by vote the slate to twice the number to be elected.
Currently
serving with terms continuing at least through next year are:
William
Durfee, Institute of Technology
Marti Hope Gonzales, College of Liberal
Arts
Emily Hoover, College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource
Sciences
Jeffrey Kahn, School of Public Health
Nelson Rhodus, School
of Dentistry
Becky Yust, College of Design
The terms
of Gary Balas (Institute of Technology), Megan Gunnar (College of Education and
Human Development), and Jennifer Windsor (College of Liberal Arts) expire at the
end of the academic year. However, the current chair, Professor Gary Balas,
will remain on the committee for one more year in a voting ex officio position
as the past chair.
CATHERINE
FRENCH, CHAIR
NOMINATING
COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION:
With no
discussion, a vote was taken and the motion was approved.
APPROVED
18.
EDUCATIONAL POLICY
COMMITTEE
2012-13 Crookston and
Duluth Calendars
Information for
the Faculty Senate
Crookston
2012-13
Fall
Semester 2012 (74 class days)
|
August 29
|
Wednesday
|
Classes begin
|
|
September 3
|
Monday
|
Labor Day holiday
|
|
October 12
|
Friday
|
In-service (no classes)
|
|
November 22-23
|
Thurs.-Fri.
|
Thanksgiving holiday
|
|
December 14
|
Friday
|
Last day of instruction
|
|
December 17-20
|
Mon.-Thurs.
|
Final examinations
|
|
December 20
|
Thursday
|
End of the term
|
Spring
Semester 2013 (74 class days)
|
January 14
|
Monday
|
Classes begin
|
|
January 21
|
Monday
|
MLK holiday
|
|
March 18-22
|
Mon.-Fri.
|
Spring Break
|
|
March 29
|
Friday
|
Floating holiday (no
classes)
|
|
May 6
|
Monday
|
Last day of instruction
|
|
May 7-10
|
Tues.-Fri.
|
Final examinations
|
|
May 10
|
Friday
|
End of the term
|
|
May 11
|
Saturday
|
Commencement
|
May
Session 2013 (14 class days)
|
May 13
|
Monday
|
May session begins
|
|
May 27
|
Monday
|
Memorial Day holiday
|
|
May 31
|
Friday
|
May session ends
|
Summer
Session 2013 (39 class days)
|
June 10
|
Monday
|
Classes begin
|
|
July 4
|
Thursday
|
Independence Day holiday
|
|
August 2
|
Friday
|
8-wk summer session ends
|
Duluth
2012-13
Fall
Semester 2012 (72 class days)
|
September 3
|
Monday
|
Labor Day holiday
|
|
September 4
|
Tuesday
|
Classes begin
|
|
November 22-23
|
Thurs.-Fri.
|
Thanksgiving holiday
|
|
December 14
|
Friday
|
Last day of instruction
|
|
December 17-21
|
Mon.-Fri.
|
Final examinations
|
|
December 21
|
Friday
|
End of the term
|
Spring
Semester 2013 (74 class days)
|
January 21
|
Monday
|
MLK holiday
|
|
January 22
|
Tuesday
|
Classes begin
|
|
March 18-22
|
Mon.-Fri.
|
Spring Break
|
|
May 10
|
Friday
|
Last day of instruction
|
|
May 13-17
|
Mon.-Fri.
|
Final examinations
|
|
May 17
|
Friday
|
End of the term
|
|
May 18
|
Saturday
|
Commencement
|
May
Session 2013 (14 class days)
|
May 20
|
Monday
|
May session begins
|
|
May 27
|
Monday
|
Memorial Day holiday
|
|
June 7
|
Friday
|
Final examinations; End of May
session
|
Summer
Session 2013 (38 class days)
|
June 10
|
Monday
|
Classes begin
|
|
July 4
|
Thursday
|
Independence Day holiday
|
|
July 5
|
Friday
|
Floating holiday
|
|
August 2
|
Friday
|
Final examinations; End of
Summer Session
|
CATHRINE
WAMBACH, CHAIR
EDUCATIONAL POLICY
COMMITTEE
19.
EDUCATIONAL POLICY
COMMITTEE
2012-13 Morris and Twin
Cities Calendars
Action by the
Faculty Senate
MOTION:
To approve
the 2012-13 Morris and Twin Cities calendars.
Morris
2012-13
Fall
Semester 2012 (73 class days)
|
August 22
|
Wednesday
|
Classes begin
|
|
September 3
|
Monday
|
Labor Day holiday
|
|
October 15-16
|
Mon.-Tues.
|
Fall Break (no classes)
|
|
November 22-23
|
Thurs.-Fri.
|
Thanksgiving holiday
|
|
December 7
|
Friday
|
Last day of instruction
|
|
December 8
|
Saturday
|
Study day
|
|
December 10-13
|
Mon.-Thurs.
|
Final examinations
|
Spring
Semester 2013 (74 class days)
|
January 14
|
Monday
|
Classes begin
|
|
January 21
|
Monday
|
MLK holiday
|
|
March 18-22
|
Mon.-Fri.
|
Spring Break
|
|
May 3
|
Friday
|
Last day of instruction
|
|
May 4
|
Saturday
|
Study day
|
|
May 6-9
|
Mon.-Thurs.
|
Final examinations
|
|
May 11
|
Saturday
|
Commencement
|
May
Session 2013 (14 class days)
|
May 13
|
Monday
|
May session begins
|
|
May 27
|
Monday
|
Memorial Day holiday
|
|
May 31
|
Friday
|
May session ends
|
Summer
Session 2013
|
May 20-June 21
|
Summer session I (24 class
days)
|
|
|
May 27
|
Monday
|
Memorial Day holiday
|
|
June 24-July 26
|
Summer session II (24 class
days)
|
|
|
July 4
|
Thursday
|
Independence Day holiday
|
Twin
Cities 2012-13
Fall
Semester 2012 (70 class days)
|
September 3
|
Monday
|
Labor Day holiday
|
|
September 4
|
Tuesday
|
Classes begin
|
|
November 22-23
|
Thurs.-Fri.
|
Thanksgiving holiday
|
|
December 12
|
Wednesday
|
Last day of instruction
|
|
December 13
|
Thursday
|
Study day
|
|
December 14-15, 17-20
|
Fri.-Sat., Mon.-Thurs.
|
Final examinations
|
|
December 16
|
Sunday
|
Study day
|
|
December 20
|
Thursday
|
End of the term
|
Spring
Semester 2013 (74 class days)
|
January 21
|
Monday
|
MLK holiday
|
|
January 22
|
Tuesday
|
Classes begin
|
|
March 18-22
|
Mon.-Fri.
|
Spring Break
|
|
May 10
|
Friday
|
Last day of instruction
|
|
May 11-12
|
Sat.-Sun.
|
Study days
|
|
May 13-18
|
Mon.-Sat.
|
Final examinations
|
|
May 18
|
Saturday
|
End of the term
|
May
Session 2013 (14 class days)
|
May 28
|
Tuesday
|
May session begins
|
|
June 14
|
Friday
|
May session ends
|
Summer
Session 2013 (39 class days)
|
June 17
|
Monday
|
Classes begin
|
|
July 4
|
Thursday
|
Independence Day holiday
|
|
August 9
|
Friday
|
8-wk summer session ends
|
CATHRINE
WAMBACH, CHAIR
EDUCATIONAL POLICY
COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION:
With no
discussion, a vote was taken and the motion was approved.
APPROVED
20.
FACULTY SENATE OLD BUSINESS
NONE
21.
FACULTY SENATE NEW BUSINESS
NONE
22.
FACULTY SENATE ADJOURNMENT
The
Faculty Senate was adjourned at 2:56 p.m.
23.
UNIVERSITY SENATE RECONVENE
The
University Senate was reconvened at 2:56 p.m.
24.
STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS
Introduction:
The Challenge of Change
As children, many of us heard the story of a
young Dutch boy who stuck his finger into a tiny hole in the sea-wall that
protected his village, and single-handedly held back a cold and raging sea. The
story not only speaks to the courage and ability of one person to make a
difference, but it also illustrates the uneasy truce between the Dutch people
and the waters around them.
Today, a
fundamental cultural shift is underway in the Netherlands. Anticipating rising
sea levels in the coming decades, the Dutch government and people are beginning
to consider a new relationship with the sea – a relationship in which the
waters aren’t viewed as a threat, but as a natural feature of the
environment and a catalyst for innovation. Instead of building higher walls,
they are working to relocate farms from anticipated flood plains and developing
waterproof basements and floating homes. In the process, they are demonstrating
how challenges that initially seem insurmountable can spark
creativity.
The Dutch
are meeting the challenge of change with a
can-do approach that brings out the
very best in people. You don’t change centuries of cultural identity and
public policy overnight. It is a gradual and often contentious process, even in
the face of urgent need. But it is
possible.
In recent
years, the University and state of Minnesota have been faced with a similar
choice – a choice between holding back the flood with so many well-placed
fingers, or redefining ourselves in a way that acknowledges that the environment
is changing around us. Our challenge is
to evolve in a way that builds on our historic strengths and public
responsibilities.
I believe
the University is meeting that challenge every day – but we cannot simply
tread water. The state of the University is strong – but the University is
not an island. We are subject to changing tides and fortunes like anyone else.
We must continue to propel ourselves forward with bold strokes toward our
goal.
The
Five Attributes of a World-Class University
We’ve accomplished
something truly remarkable in the past three years – we’ve
established a goal and strategic framework that are now familiar across the
University system, and that inform our actions every day. Our goal – to
become one of the top three public research universities in the world, with an
equivalent standard of excellence for our coordinate campuses – is well
known, but sometimes misunderstood. There are those who believe that “top
three” is not achievable. Others feel that our focus on research
compromises our commitment to educating and serving the citizens of the state.
In my view, neither is the case.
First of
all, we should never ask the question, “Have we set the bar low
enough?” That is a recipe for mediocrity. Former Minnesota Governor Elmer
Anderson liked to quote the poet Robert Browning: “Ah, but a man’s
reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven
for?”
With this goal, we are consciously sending the message that the University has
the highest aspirations and will not be satisfied with average results.
And, if we
aspire to be among the best universities at
sharing new knowledge, shouldn’t
we also strive for excellence in
creating that knowledge? Our students
benefit from working with faculty at the cutting edge of their fields. They gain
not only a deep reservoir of knowledge, but also a deeper understanding of how
that knowledge is created and refined.
Our goal
is specific, measurable, aspirational, and attainable. Our challenge is to
translate our goal into meaningful attributes that establish a culture of
excellence and empowerment – of shared values and personal
responsibility.
Why?
Because people, not data, drive progress. We must continue to measure key
indicators in order to evaluate our progress and our priorities. But we must
also recognize that, without people working together toward a common vision,
those measures indicate little more than the ebb and flow of chance.
Last
spring I shared the notion that we do not aspire to rank, but to
stature. But if “top three”
is a question of stature, it makes sense to ask, “What are the
characteristics of such a university?” I believe great universities share
common attributes that are readily visible and highly valued – attributes
that cut across the four pillars we identified to support transformative change
at the University.
Committed
to excellence
First, a truly great university is committed to
excellence in everything it does – from education, research, and outreach,
to the management of public resources. Nearly 19,000 faculty and staff statewide
pursue new knowledge, new ideas, and new solutions at the University of
Minnesota. This deep commitment to excellence is fueled by our 65,000
exceptional students. I’m proud to share that more than two-thirds of U
freshman statewide are Minnesota born and raised. We continue to enroll
approximately 10% of all graduating seniors in the state, and our freshman class
this year is again the strongest it’s ever been:
- 44%
are from the top 10% of their graduating class.
- 20%
are students of color.
- And
96 are National Merit Scholars.
This
year is also the sixth year in a row for record applications. Our system-wide
retention, satisfaction, and graduation rates are on the rise. And our students
continue to amaze us with their levels of intelligence, creativity and
engagement.
Consider
Civil Engineering student Rachel Gaulke, whose five-foot-long scale replica of
the former I-35W Bridge will be used by National Transportation Safety Board
investigators as a visual reference during briefings. Gaulke was recommended for
the project based on her hard work and attention to detail in the lab.
Similarly,
master of fine arts student R. Justin Stewart became the first University of
Minnesota student ever to win the international award for Outstanding Student
Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture, given for his ability to see details in
our infrastructure that others miss. Stewart describes his winning installation,
called Connected, as “an approach
to thinking about how networks, systems, and structures ... affect each other
and the
world.”
Meanwhile,
University of Minnesota Crookston student Josiah Loll was recognized for making
connections of another kind. In January, Loll received the Daily Point of Light
Award from the Points of Light Foundation and Hands On Network in national
recognition of his community service as a reading tutor, mentor, and
volunteer.
Exceptional
students like these abound on our campuses statewide – and they benefit
from daily interactions with leading scholars and committed staff, who keep this
University among the best educational institutions in the country.
Driven
to discover
Second, as stewards of knowledge and developers of human
capital, the best universities are always driven to discover. Our faculty
continue to amaze, not only in our classrooms and laboratories, but also on the
world stage. In October, for example, professor emeritus Leonid Hurwicz won the
Nobel Prize in Economics. This tremendous achievement is only the most recent
recognition for an academic department with an international reputation for
excellence.
You
probably heard the story of Dr. Doris Taylor and her team, who managed to grow a
beating heart in the laboratory. We also have world-class researchers on the
cusp of new treatments and cures for cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.
Our strength in biomedical and related fields is second to none – but the
breadth of our faculty accomplishment is much, much wider.
Dr.
Catherine Squires, for example, is exploring the role of media in shaping racial
perceptions as the University’s first John and Elizabeth Bates Cowles
Professor of Journalism, Diversity, and Equality. Mathematician and free jazz
pianist Dr. Guerino Mazzola came to the University from Switzerland to continue
his exploration of the mathematics and philosophy of music. Our first
environmental engineering chair, Dr. Efi Foufoula-Georgiou is leading
cross-disciplinary research at the intersection of natural and engineered
environments. Dr. Jeffrey Kahn and Dr. Debra DeBruin of the Center for Bioethics
are exploring the ethical distribution of treatment and resources in the event
of a pandemic flu outbreak. University research helped to launch the taconite
boom and the biofuels industry in Minnesota – and today, experts from
colleges of the University of Minnesota, the Natural Resources Research
Institute, and the Coleraine Minerals Research Laboratory are helping to pave
the way for next-generation biofuels and sustainable mining.
The work
of these great scholars – and so many others statewide – contributes
to our economic vitality and quality of life – but more importantly, it
inspires new generations of leaders and creative thinkers to imagine
what’s possible.
Focused
on results
Inspiration by itself is not enough, however. Third, an
outstanding university must also be focused on results. Today, for example, many
universities are committing to the principles of sustainability. Few of these
universities – and virtually none of our size and scope – have the
history of results that we do. For example: As one of the early members of the
Chicago Climate Exchange, the University has reduced carbon emissions by nearly
40 percent in just two years. We were also among the first campus recyclers in
the country, and thanks to the efforts of University Services staff and students
in our residence and dining halls, today we recover 90% of targeted materials
and compost 220 tons of organic waste each year.
More
recently, on the recommendation of our Institute on the Environment fellows, I
signed the Presidents Climate Commitment, which embarks the University of
Minnesota system on a long-term path to carbon neutrality. This is a highly
visible commitment that demonstrates strong alignment between student concerns
and our institutional values. We will draw on the interdisciplinary expertise of
the Institute on the Environment and others to make this commitment a
reality.
The
University of Minnesota Morris also continues its national leadership in the
areas of sustainability and renewable energy use, securing $1.8M in Clean
Renewable Energy Bonds to fund a second wind turbine for the Morris campus. A
combination of wind power and biomass gasification puts Morris within reach of
its goal of energy independence by 2010. In addition, the campus is increasingly
consulted for its expertise in hybrid renewable energy platforms.
Results
like these abound statewide – and they are not just limited to issues of
sustainability. Each of our coordinate campuses continues to pursue their own
strategic initiatives and raise the bar for the system in the process. For
example, this year the University of Minnesota Crookston celebrated 15 years as
the nation’s original Laptop U. In addition, the number of degree-seeking
students on the Crookston campus grew 13% this semester, and international
enrollment in Crookston has tripled since 2005.
The
University of Minnesota Duluth continues to raise its academic profile to meet
the education and research demands of the region and nation. A new
bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering will help northern Minnesota
address its growing infrastructure needs. In addition, Duluth’s second
doctoral degree program, in Integrative Biosciences, is one of only four such
programs in the nation – the result of six years of planning and the
collaboration of 60 scientists and faculty members from throughout the
University system.
The
University of Minnesota Rochester campus dedicated its own new facilities this
fall and welcomed its first chancellor, Dr. Stephen Lehmkuhle. The campus is
currently home to 400 students and more than 35 undergraduate and graduate
degree programs. Ten new programs are in development, including two doctoral
programs and three master’s degree programs. UMR offers tremendous
opportunities for the U to strengthen its relationships with distinguished
partners such as IBM and the Mayo Clinic.
Finally,
faculty and staff at more than 30 regional Extension offices, research and
outreach centers, and other locations statewide deliver on our public
responsibilities daily – especially in the critical area of agricultural
research and extension. Agriculture constitutes 20% of Minnesota’s economy
– not only supplying food for millions of people here and abroad, but also
leading the nation’s development and production of biofuels, a key step
toward energy independence and sustainability. So it makes sense that the
University response to the appearance of soybean aphids in Minnesota was swift
and innovative.
The story
goes like this: a southeast Minnesota farmer overheard an educational radio
segment by regional Extension educator Lisa Behnken, then quickly identified
soybean aphids in his fields.
CFANS and
Extension entomologists Ken Ostlie and Dave Ragsdale and their colleagues
confirmed the sighting and sounded the alarm. They then applied a computer model
to predict how the insect would spread and where to apply pesticide, as well as
estimate the potential economic impact. Ideally, pesticide is a short-term fix,
so the researchers headed to the aphid’s homeland. In China, they
collected a tiny, stingless wasp that naturally preys upon the aphids. These
wasps are being tested here in hopes of neutralizing the aphid threat with
minimal environmental impact and cost.
While the
soybean aphid example illustrates the historic role of Extension in rural
outreach, the U of M is one of only a handful of
urban land-grant universities, and many
of our programs are tailored specifically to our urban neighbors. These programs
underscore our commitment to serving the diversity of Minnesota’s
population and illustrate our ongoing commitment to serving the public
good.
Economically
vital
That commitment to public service is manifested in the fourth
attribute of a world-class university – economic vitality. This area
represents our greatest challenge and opportunity. In making the case for public
support, we must be true to our roots. We are Minnesota’s only research
and land-grant university. This distinction carries with it tremendous public
responsibilities, not only in terms of discovery, but also with regard to
affordability, service, and sound financial management.
The
tradition of strong state support we have enjoyed in Minnesota is being
reaffirmed today at our Capitol. We are optimistic that state leaders will
approve $135M in bonding for University of Minnesota capital projects across the
state, and $233M in essential investment to support the Minnesota Biomedical
Research Program. This program will create new jobs and economic opportunity for
our state. The initiative enjoys bipartisan support in both chambers of the
legislature, as well as the support of the governor.
This new
investment is no small vote of confidence in the University’s ability to
generate growth and opportunity. Earlier this week, Danish health care company
Coloplast broke ground on its new North American headquarters in Minneapolis.
Coloplast first contacted the University’s Academic and Corporate
Relations Center in 2006, and has stated that the University’s resources
and human capital played a major role in attracting them to the Twin Cities.
I’ve been pleased to hear both Governor Tim Pawlenty and Minneapolis Mayor
R.T. Rybak speak to the critical importance of the biomedical industry in
Minnesota in conjunction with Coloplast’s move.
Our
political leaders have recognized a long-term vision for a prosperous Minnesota
– a vision that we share, and that is beyond politics. For nearly 160
years, our policy-makers have considered the University to be one of
Minnesota’s most important investments. I want to thank our current
leaders for their support, and assure them that this investment in the
University will generate tremendous returns for our state.
But the
challenge remains. In order to secure Minnesota’s economic future, we must
find new ways to stabilize and strengthen University funding while ensuring
affordability and accountability. We need a new approach to financing our future
– a principled approach based upon clear priorities, predictable outcomes,
and a strong partnership with the state, one that supports a long-term vision
for our future.
With the
state of Minnesota facing significant financial challenges, such an approach
necessarily starts on our campuses. I believe we must solve many of our own
problems ourselves, by awakening our entrepreneurial spirit and by using
existing resources more effectively. We must constantly examine our own cost
structures to make sure we realize the maximum return for every dollar.
To this
end, the University must answer three key questions for each investment we
make:
- First,
is this investment a clear priority that will move us closer to one or more of
our strategic objectives?
- Second,
are we applying the appropriate existing resources to support this
decision?
- And
third, how can we grow new resources, including sponsored and private funds, to
support this decision?
Our
planning processes encourage this “examination of conscience”
already – but we must apply these questions universally to ensure better
decision-making and demonstrate fiscal discipline.
We also
must restate and expand our commitment to affordability for students from all
walks of life. Keeping higher education accessible and affordable remains one of
the most pressing public challenges in higher education nationwide – and
has long been a priority of mine. We’ve made great progress in recent
years, especially with regard to low-income students. Next year, our
groundbreaking Founders Free Tuition Program will provide $22M in benefits for
4,700 low-income students. As a result, a full 12% of the undergraduate student
body will attend our campuses statewide with free tuition – and 36% of
them are students of color.
Our
companion initiative, the Promise of Tomorrow scholarship drive, has raised
roughly $210M in new endowed scholarship funds since 2004 – more than
doubling the number of scholarships given and the average amount per award.
Since 2005, we’ve also invested more than $22M to support graduate
education, including $17M specifically for grants and fellowships. Most of these
new scholarships consider financial need. Some do not. And with a sluggish
economy and rising costs for everything from fuel to healthcare, middle-income
families bear the brunt of any increase in tuition.
As a
result, we must strive to create a consistent and substantial level of
scholarship and grant support for all
middle-income Minnesota students, just as we have for low-income
students. The Morrill Act, the GI Bill, and the National Defense Education Act
helped to democratize U.S. higher education – in fact, since 1950, public
colleges and universities have grown to
accommodate 12M more students. How was this achieved? Through continuous state
and federal investment.
But
it’s clear today that universities must do more. Our state and federal
leaders face new priorities and growing challenges, just as we do. We must
demonstrate discipline in moderating costs and continue to ask our fellow
citizens to “pay it forward” and help the next generation of leaders
achieve their potential here at the University. We must not be the generation of
Minnesotans who pull up the ladder of opportunity behind us.
This is a
deep personal priority for me. I hope to be able to work in partnership with the
state on these issues in order to realize a shared vision of Minnesota’s
future, in which all students can afford a University education and all citizens
benefit from the knowledge created here.
Accountable
to stakeholders
Fifth and finally, a world-class university is
accountable to its stakeholders. Public support for education at all levels is
increasingly tied to performance. We are called to be responsible stewards of
public resources and the public trust – but too often, the University is
regarded as expensive or wasteful. The citizens of Minnesota are the
University’s most influential stakeholders – so we must continue to
invest their money wisely, and save it where we can.
For
example, by providing incentives for the use of generic and less expensive drugs
when appropriate, UPlan administrators have saved the University and its
employees $7.8M a year on prescriptions alone. In addition, through competitive
purchasing, we’ve actually reduced third-party administrative costs for
UPlan by 3% in the last five years.
Entrepreneurial
staff in Facilities Management and University Stores recently piloted a project
to streamline the replenishment of custodial supplies. Under the old system,
custodial staff spent more than an hour a week reordering and restocking
supplies, using a process that took up to four days. Under the pilot program,
supplies are replenished proactively on a next-day cycle – a 75% shorter
timeframe with 80% savings in direct labor! The program is currently being
expanded across the St. Paul campus.
In recent
months, we also began using GPS-synchronized clocks, which should save us
$18,000 a year in labor required to correct the time in more than 1,000
classrooms. We’ve implemented a new employment system than cuts time and
paper from the hiring process. And we’ve begun to centralize our data
servers to improve security, reduce maintenance costs, and save
energy. These are just a few examples of
employee-driven initiatives that are improving service and productivity across
our campuses and centers statewide.
Accountability
also means that we should be able to demonstrate the value of a University of
Minnesota education. That’s why the University took a leadership role in
developing the new Voluntary System of Accountability proposal, supported by
higher education’s national leadership organizations – and why we
were among the first to commit to using this system. The VSA is a reporting
template that presents university-specific information in a clear and consistent
way to students, parents, and policy-makers, enabling them to accurately compare
institutions and results.
The
biggest concern with the VSA has been the obligation in future years to provide
data on student educational attainment. As you know, last year the University
Senate adopted student learning and developmental outcomes for this University.
Who better than us to help lead the effort to measure these outcomes and
demonstrate the worth of a University of Minnesota degree?
Confronting
Change: A Call to Action
These five attributes of a world-class
university – committed to excellence, driven to discover, focused on
results, economically vital, and accountable to our stakeholders – provide
a cultural context for decision-making in each of our daily roles. They do not
take the place of the data and trends we use to measure our progress, or compare
our performance to that of our peers. Instead, they enable our mission to drive
our metrics, rather than our metrics defining our mission.
Of course,
transformative change is never easy. It takes time, resources, and the
perseverance of the entire University community. We must not simply value the
progress of our students, or the success of our alumni, or the results of our
research. Instead, we must first and foremost value each other. Each of us plays
a critical role in the future of this University and this state – and we
should take great pride in each other and the work we do here.
I want to
thank all of you for your hard work and dedication. I know this transformation
continues to be a struggle, and that the vision isn’t always clear from
where you’re standing. And I know sometimes it may seem like we’re
over our heads. Shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis once said, “We must
free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in
high winds.” Today we continue to
face changing demographics, intense global competition, and limited resources.
We cannot rest on our laurels, nor can we take the public trust for granted. If
we expect investment and support, we must continue to demonstrate that we are an
asset to the state of Minnesota and its citizens.
As a
university, we do this by developing a
principled approach to the challenges ahead and making targeted investments in
critical areas of improvement. As
individuals, we do this by pursuing the
attributes of a world-class university, beginning today. If we cultivate these
characteristics across our organization, we will achieve our aspiration!
Together we can make this university a world-class institution known for new
ideas, right action, and responsible stewardship in service to the greater good.
From where
I stand, the case for change is this: The tide is rising on all sides. We can
plug the holes we see, and pray for the flood to retreat, or welcome the water
and rise with it. It is my hope that, for the state of Minnesota and this great
University, we will choose to rise – and continue to seek the bright
horizon.
Thank
you.
25.
QUESTIONS TO THE PRESIDENT
Q: Given
today's economic difficulties and realities, how do you see the University of
Minnesota integrating an even stronger state-wide approach to education,
research, and outreach that meets the changing demands and needs of the people
of the State of Minnesota?
A: This is
not an easy question to answer now or to resolve in the future, but he has great
faith in the ingenuity of the University and the people of this community.
Actions are already being taken, but there is more to be done. The University
needs to better align and integrate its resources, such as was done through the
reorganization of the University of Minnesota Extension Offices. The
University's greatest resource is its people, and the institution needs to find
different ways to configure and reorganize them so that the University can move
with greater quickness and singleness of purpose, as well as better leverage the
benefits and power of technology to network University resources. The
University needs to determine how to work more effectively as a community. He
believes that if the University does things right, it can grow its resources
through other sources.
Q: If
researching and teaching are not mutually exclusive goals, what role does
teaching play at the University and in what specific ways can the University
support quality teaching in addition to quality research?
A: This is
the first obligation of the University when it was founded 150 years ago to
provide access to higher education in this region. The University does a great
deal to value teaching through the promotion and tenure process, which was
recently revised to put added weight on teaching, through Bush grants, combining
separate units into an Office of Classroom Management with an increased budget
to modernize 1000 classrooms across the state, and rethinking teaching awards by
adding one for graduate and professional education. The University has the
right values to make the best decisions. He noted that Morris, on a per capita
basis, has more award-winning faculty than any other campus.
Q: How do
you like being President?
A: He
truly loves this job, but it is not a job that he should do forever, since
institutions need a regular turnover in leadership to keep ideas and creativity
flowing. He loves nearly every aspect of the position, and it has been one of
the best fits in his career. He was at a meeting yesterday defending recent
publications of the University from the soybean and corn growers in the state.
This was an opportunity to talk about what is special about the University
– this is the place where people come to ask the big, tough questions, and
the institution protects them with values and policies that support academic
freedom. He has said previously that if someone wants to stifle a society and
kill its spirit, the first initiative is to burn books and close institutions.
This job gives him a chance to educate people about the values of the University
and why it is important. It is also an opportunity to listen to the aspirations
of people, what they are trying to accomplish, and then try to make connections.
One of his greatest joys still is interacting with students, and he hopes to
never lose this opportunity. He also loves picking pockets on behalf of the
University and working in St. Paul. He likes the idea that the University is
moving forward and that together there is an opportunity to make the institution
better for future generations. There is excitement in working with the
University community. He noted that the University's best times have been when
everyone works together as a community on a common purpose, even when there is
not agreement. This is also a period when the Regents have been strongly
aligned with the values and directions of the University, and have stood by the
initiatives from the administration, faculty, staff, and students. He stated
that it is a great job, made even better being joined by a partner who's much
better at it than him. His wife, Susan, has a sparkling personality, picks him
up when he's down, and works on behalf of the University every day.
26.
UNIVERSITY SENATE ADJOURNMENT
The
University Senate was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
Rebecca
Hippert
Abstractor
Robert Browning’s poem “Andrea del Sarto,” line
98