Dear colleagues,
This
is a busy and important semester for campus, and I am encouraged by the
conversations we've had and your willingness to work together. I'd
like to provide you with updates on a few of our strategic priorities
around diversity, budget, enrollment and the EVCAA search.
With regards to diversity, the staff members in the Office of
Cultural Diversity have developed a new name that is more reflective of
their work with students and on campus. The office will be known as the
Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Goal 2 of our strategic plan
calls for creating a positive and inclusive campus climate. We've made
progress in achieving Goal 2, and I've been working on a plan to ensure
that this strategic priority continues to be a focus for our campus.
I am happy to announce Susana Pelayo-Woodward's role to lead
university-wide diversity and inclusion efforts has been expanded from
10% of her time to 30%. She reports to me for this expanded 30% and to
Vice Chancellor Lisa Erwin for her other 70% (providing leadership to
the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, which will remain part of Student
Life). Susana will also be joining the Chancellor's Senior Leadership
Council. Please join me in congratulating Susana. I am confident she
will do a great job as our primary diversity leader.
Paula Pedersen has done tremendous work in advancing our campus
community in goal 2 and cultural competency and I thank her for the work
she is playing as Faculty Fellow for Intercultural Initiatives. While
her faculty fellow position is set to expire this summer, she will
continue to work with Susana. Paula will return to the classroom in the
fall, while receiving reassign time to continue diversity and inclusion
training and development for campus. Please join me in thanking Paula
for all her work and continued leadership as we move forward.
I want to thank the campus community for their involvement, powerful
discussion and feedback received at the recent faculty and staff town
halls. I will have the opportunity to meet with the Student Association
next week. The Strategic Planning and Budget Committee met last week
and is meeting again next week to continue discussing campus feedback
and possible next steps. I will continue to push hard on identifying a
plan to address our remaining deficit.
Please mark your calendars and join me on
Tuesday, February 23 from 3-
4:30 p.m.
in the Kirby Ballroom for our scheduled campus-wide town hall meeting.
At this meeting I will present to campus more information on our budget
strategy moving forward.
I am also pleased to share with you some great news about special
funding that we are receiving to support our recruitment and retention
efforts. The University of Minnesota is allocating recurring funds to
all system campuses designated to support retention and graduation
goals. As part of this effort, UMD will annually receive $650,000 to
enhance our admissions, financial aid, and marketing efforts. This is a
great example of how we will continue to get strategic support from the
U of M as we continue to make progress on our budget deficit.
As you know, recruitment and retention are strategic priorities for
UMD, and we all play a role in helping make a positive impact. In 2015,
we saw a 12.4% increase with 14,480 prospective students and their
guests visiting UMD. Congratulations, especially to our admissions
team, for providing this solid quality work to generate interest in
UMD. We are also seeing positive signs in our application numbers for
next fall, but we must remain focused on student retention to reach our
enrollment targets and to give our students the best experience
possible.
Admissions hosts visitors on an almost daily basis.
In addition, you may have seen and will continue to see the following
events on campus:
January 29 Engineering / CS / Math
February 5 CEHSP / SFA
February 12 CLA
February 19 SCSE Sciences
February 26 LSBE
Please
be aware of these important events and how you can help support them.
For example, greet and welcome the visitors that you see to campus and
be prepared to talk about your department/offices "Points of Pride."
Here is a link to the
search committee members
for the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. This is a
large committee and it well represents the faculty and other key
components of Academic Affairs. The committee begins its work next
week.
Well, this was a lengthy message, but filled with a lot
of positive momentum. As always, please contact me or one of the Vice
Chancellors if you have questions or thoughts on these or other matters.
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor