Strategic Roadmap - Campus meeting Nov 5

 

Campus community, Academic Planning and Fall 2026 Academic Programs Throughout this past year, I have been grateful for the inspiring conversations we have had as a community. We have discussed our mission, vision, and values in the context of a changing federal and state landscape. We have considered how to improve processes and become better stewards of existing resources while seeking to support all members of our community. We are now positioned to chart our path so that we can create a powerful learning community that is distinctly UMD. Strategic Roadmap President Cunningham recently shared the University of Minnesota's collective Strategic Roadmap during NEXT: Forward to Our Future. It was an inspiring event celebrating the University of Minnesota. I had the privilege of co-chairing the development of the Strategic Roadmap alongside Dean Andrew Alleyne of the Twin Cities campus’ College of Science and Engineering. When this process began, I was still in my first year as Chancellor, and it proved to be an invaluable opportunity to deepen my understanding of the University’s strengths and its powerful partnerships across the state. Many of you contributed your insights through town halls, surveys, and feedback sessions. Thank you for your thoughtful engagement—your voices helped shape this bold and ambitious plan to build on decades of excellence and propel the University forward. It’s exciting to see our campus reflected throughout the roadmap. Educational programs like SAIL and the Hub for Integrated Learning and Leadership, interdisciplinary research initiatives supported by the Large Lakes Observatory and the Bureau or Business and Economic Research, and important community partnerships such as those we have with Tribal Sovereignty Institute, which provides Tribal-State Relations Training for the entire state of Minnesota, or the Robert F Pierce Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, which offers free services to the community, illustrate how we are already leading in many areas and have opportunities to grow and innovate even further. As we move ahead, our campus will make thoughtful decisions about how we prioritize and steward the resources entrusted to us. These decisions will be guided by our mission, values, and shared commitment to our developing campus strategic roadmap. In the upcoming months, Provost Ropers will lead the campus through a strategic planning process that will highlight the University of Minnesota Duluth’s excellence and identify our opportunities to advance the University of Minnesota’s strategic priorities. Our research mission remains a key strategic priority. Beginning December 1, 2025, Shashank Priya, vice president for research and innovation, will take on a new role at the University of Minnesota. Part of that role includes serving as an advisor to me, supporting research growth, and helping advance the University of Minnesota Duluth’s research enterprise. This is an exciting time for us to expand our potential. I invite you to join a Campus Conversation at 1:15 pm on Wednesday, November 5, in the Kirby Ballroom. This gathering will serve as the first of several engagements to guide the development of our campus strategic roadmap as we build on our future. As I mentioned at the campus celebration in early September, now is the time to draw upon our 130-year history of excellence to create something even more remarkable: a place filled with curiosity that nurtures people and ideas, where engagement leads to more just and healthy communities, and where education creates opportunities for individual and collective transformation. I look forward to collaborating with you in this critical work to elevate the extraordinary at UMD and throughout the entire University of Minnesota.

Charles Nies Chancellor

Academic Planning and Fall 2026 Academic Programs (Sent 10/21)

 Dear UMD Faculty and Staff:

To those of you who were able to make the campus town hall today, thank you for your time and participation. As a follow-up, we write to share information about our collaborative efforts to maintain a robust portfolio of academic programs in the context of significant changes in resource availability. As President Cunningham has described in previous communication, higher education in this country is experiencing challenges. For UMD, those conditions exacerbate existing structural budget deficits. We are committed to working with you to steward available resources to achieve the greatest impact. In that spirit, our academic program decisions are being guided by the following principles:

Align with our mission, vision, values, and core identity
The UMD community will soon develop a new strategic plan to revisit and affirm our mission, vision, and values. In that process, we commit to prioritizing teaching, research, and service in four emerging areas of signature strength: cultural and global engagement, environmental sustainability, community and economic vitality, and health and well-being. We are committed to interdisciplinary and experiential education experiences that prepare students to make a difference in the world.

Meet the needs of our students and the larger community
In determining how UMD can offer programs that meet community needs, we are considering student demand and employment projections. We are also considering whether students have access to similar programs at universities in the region or if we might partner with other institutions to maintain programs at UMD. These decisions are part of the normal process of programmatic change, though they are accelerated to meet this moment.

Rely on the wisdom of our campus community
In addition to conversations in shared governance, collegiate and department units, campus-wide forums, and the budget call process, an Academic Revisioning Committee provided us with procedural recommendations to guide academic program decisions. Their recommendations (including building a dashboard to more easily understand data, involving an academic review committee to analyze relevant data, and having a full program portfolio evaluation on a regular cycle) are being operationalized to guide future decisions. Current decisions are also aligned with ARC’s recommendations to consider institutional alignment, student demand, and curricular efficiency. We know that not everyone will agree with specific decisions; however, we have tried to reflect the guidance of our community. 

With these three principles in mind, we are implementing the following strategies:

Suspend admission or decrease the scope of undergraduate programs

• Suspend admissions to four bachelor’s degrees, twelve undergraduate minors, and one undergraduate certificate program. With these changes, UMD’s undergraduate program offerings in fall 2026 will include 88 majors (down from 92), 66 minors (down from 78), and 7 certificates (down from 8). 
• All students currently enrolled in the impacted programs will be able to complete the programs at UMD within a reasonable timeframe. 
• Ninety-nine percent of current students are enrolled in a major that remains active.

Reduce academic personnel in programs with declining and/or consistently low enrollments

• Partner with area universities and other University of Minnesota campuses to retain programs while reducing personnel needs.
• Align faculty resources with current enrollments and trends.
• Support voluntary faculty departure to minimize the impact on our faculty and staff.

Reorganize and create interdisciplinary opportunities and efficiencies within colleges

• Reorganize academic and administrative units in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences to streamline administrative processes and promote interdisciplinarity.
• Reenvision graduate programs in the Swenson College of Science and Engineering to create and strengthen interdisciplinary programs.
• Identify curricular efficiencies to streamline and strengthen curricular paths for students.

In addition to changes to academic programs, reallocations have been implemented for administrative offices, finance, facilities, human resources, police services, information technology, and athletics. We are also diversifying our revenue streams, for example, by seeking research and foundation funding and nurturing philanthropic partnerships. We are developing partnerships within and outside the University of Minnesota to strengthen our impact in and well beyond our region. 

Thank you for your investment in the UMD community. We are committed to building a vibrant future together in which inclusive excellence in research, teaching, and service transforms lives. 

With appreciation,

Rebecca Ropers, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Matt Massman, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations

Greetings from the Chancellor I

 

Dear UMD students, faculty, and staff, As we near the close of Welcome Week and the start of the new academic year, I am filled with optimism. Campus is full of energy from our new and returning students and the incredible mix of activities that are helping build connections and foster community. Please take a moment to watch this short video greeting that previews just a few of the things happening this fall.

It has been a pleasure to meet some of you over the last few days and to experience move-in with our new students. I look forward to more connections and conversations as the semester unfolds. Bulldog Welcome Week activities continue into this weekend, and I encourage our new students to participate and get to know the campus and our beautiful city. Students, please remember that we are here for you. Your success is our top priority. It’s my hope that you take advantage of your time here and explore all UMD has to offer, including the wide array of student organizations, activities, and support available to help you achieve your goals. With classes starting on Monday, please continue to fuel your commitment to curiosity, discovery, and learning, as we all work together to make your UMD experience the best it can be.  See you around campus.

Charles Nies Chancellor

Welcome back to campus

 

Dear colleagues, Welcome to the new academic year! New student move-in starts on Wednesday and Thursday and classes begin Monday. We are off to what feels like a quick start. You can find the Welcome Week schedule online. I’d encourage you to join as you’re able, including the Bulldog Welcome Week Kickoff! in Romano Gym on Thursday at 4 p.m. We’ll be cheering students on as they enter at 3:45, replicating the same way we celebrate them as they graduate and creating a wonderful full circle connection. It would be great to have you there to welcome our new Bulldogs. Whatever way you’re able to participate in welcoming our community back to campus this week, thank you for being a part of it. Many of you joined us at the faculty and staff welcome event yesterday for a chance to connect and make generous contributions to Champ’s Cupboard. At the event, I shared reflections on the incredible energy and momentum at UMD. I'm filled with optimism about where we're headed as a community. UMD has a powerful story to tell. My first year was about listening, learning, and understanding that story—so I can share it widely and proudly. Yesterday, I shared just a few recent stories that I’ve heard or been witness to, from joining our faculty and student scholars on Lake Superior to see some of the work that exemplifies why UMD has earned its Carnegie Research University classification, to witnessing our students present on impactful research and perform in the arts, to community events like Concerts on the Pier at Glensheen. Our campus is thriving – U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Duluth among the top 15 college towns in the Midwest. Duluth is the only city in Minnesota to receive this distinction. Our campus received national recognition as an opportunity university, highlighting both access to UMD and strong post-graduate earnings. We’ve expanded our research profile with increased support for faculty and students to engage in groundbreaking discovery, and earned national recognition as a community-engaged university because of our sustained commitment to and deep partnerships throughout Duluth and the surrounding region. This recognition speaks to the vibrant community we've built together. UMD’s distinctive strengths—our research, our student experience, and our deep ties to the northland and region—are central to the University of Minnesota’s collective future. As I think about the beginning of this academic year, I recognize that ​​we have much to celebrate, from our academic excellence to community engagement and student successes. Much of that can be distilled to the real connections that we can make here at UMD. We’re the right-sized institution—big enough to offer a rich collegiate experience, to foster abundant curiosity and discovery, yet small enough for students to build meaningful relationships with faculty and fellow students. Students consistently share how those connections open doors and shape their futures. I’d encourage each of you to find those opportunities where you can connect with students within and beyond the classroom. While final enrollment statistics will not be available until later in the semester, early indicators suggest positive momentum, with growth in both undergraduate and graduate enrollment. I look forward to sharing those figures with you soon. Every interaction, moment, and adventure our student scholars have while attending UMD is a step toward their future and a learning opportunity. Those experiences provide the groundwork for a lifetime of achievements, while also offering something that is unique to this institution, community, state, and region.  Thank you for being a part of this amazing place, for supporting our student scholars as they pursue their goals, and for making UMD what it is. Have a great start to the year.

Sincerely,

Charles Nies Chancellor

Vice Chancellor for Advancement search

 

Dear colleagues, I am excited to share that we have launched the search for the vice chancellor of advancement (VCA). This important UMD leadership position serves as the lead development officer for the university and provides visionary leadership to advance our mission. The VCA is responsible for the coordination of campus fundraising efforts, annual giving campaigns, donor stewardship, and alumni relations. This leadership role will focus on strong partnerships across the university and will work closely with the University of Minnesota Foundation.  Director of Athletics Forrest Karr, has agreed to serve as chair of the search advisory committee. Other committee members include: Donna Goeden (director, scholarship and financial aid), Tracy Ketchem (associate vice president, UMN Foundation), Wendy Reed (dean, Swenson College of Science and Engineering), Burke Scarbrough (chair, teaching communication arts & literature/faculty senate rep), and Steve Wick (grant administrator, sponsored projects/staff assembly rep). Jean Neibauer will provide support for the search and is available if you have any questions. We will be working with Greenwood Asher & Associates to provide executive search firm support for our process.  Please share this posting with leaders who may be interested and will help us advance the great work at UMD. Our goal is to have candidates on campus in September with the hope that our new colleague will join shortly thereafter. Sincerely,

Charles Nies Chancellor

You’re invited | Inauguration of Chancellor Charles Nies

Dear Colleagues: You are cordially invited to join us as we celebrate the inauguration of the University of Minnesota Duluth’s 10th Chancellor Charles T. Nies, PhD, on Friday, September 5, 2025. The ceremony will take place from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the Marshall Performing Arts Center on the UMD campus. Following the inauguration ceremony, you are invited to stop by the community celebration in Ordean Court from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m., which will feature live entertainment, interactive stations, light refreshments, and photo opportunities.

Register for all events

Seating at the ceremony is limited. Register for tickets as soon as possible but no later than August 25. To request disability accommodations, please email chan@d.umn.edu or call 218-726-7106. Thank you for sharing in this historic moment for the University of Minnesota Duluth. For updates on inaugural events, including live stream information, visit the inauguration website.

Chancellor's Welcome Breakfast - August 18, 2025

 

Dear colleagues, I invite you to join me the morning of Monday, August 18, as we kick off the 2025-2026 academic year. As we did last year, I'll have a short welcome message and we will use the rest of the time to mingle and connect with each other. Here are the details: Monday, August 18, 2025 10:00 - 11:00 am Kirby Student Lounge Breakfast foods will be available As has been done in the past, we will be collecting nonperishable food and other items for Champ's Cupboard, the UMD Food Shelf located in 245 Kirby Plaza. Cash donations are also accepted. Unused/unopened/unexpired items specifically needed are: Pasta (gluten-free pasta as well) Pasta sauces Condiments (sauces, peanut butter, jelly, mustard, ketchup, ranch dressing, vegetable oil, etc.) Cereals Canned tuna and chicken Baking items (sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking mixes, etc.) Rice Toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, detergent

I look forward to seeing you! Best,

Charles Nies Chancellor Note: if you have disability-related accommodations or dietary requests, please contact Carlee Williams at cwillia1@d.umn.edu or 218-726-6202 at least two weeks prior to the event.