Update on budget, campus climate and homecoming

Dear colleagues,

We are well into the fall semester and I have selected a few updates to share with you today. But first, I am excited to let you know that the University of Minnesota Board of Regents will be holding their regular March meeting at UMD March 23-24, 2017.  This will be an excellent opportunity to showcase our campus and have our campus community engage with the regents.  More information on that to come, but please mark those dates on your calendar.  

On a similar note, President Kaler was on campus last week and had a successful visit. While here he met with student association, faculty council, staff council, and an open campus reception. He also was able to see the Cina Hall renovation, learn about our legislative asset preservation request for the Sports and Health Center, and get a preview of the Shakespeare's First Folio exhibit. Thank you to those who participated.

We continue to make progress toward our budget resolution plan . Here is a brief update on the six strategies involved.

1. Required Savings Budget Process
1. Each campus unit (Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Student Life, Finance & Operations) has identified the required 1% budget savings for Fiscal Year 2017. Those reductions have been made for this fiscal year and total $1.175 million.
2. Academic Administrative Restructuring
1. This discussion is pending further results of the academic program optimization process. The staff task force continues to explore where we might find efficiencies in shared services and common practices within our operational and administrative functions.
3. Academic Program and Course Offering Optimization
1. The college deans have been working closely with Executive Vice Chancellor Fernando Delgado to identify savings. Read his latest  update message for more information. We expect the budget reduction process to wrap up towards the end of October and will share further information when ready. The conversation about program array will continue throughout this year and the next.
4. Targeted Reductions, Tuition and Revenue Generation
1. Work is underway on additional reductions that will achieve the $300,000 target over the next several years. Information about those reductions will be shared when they are finalized in the near future.
5. Enrollment Growth and Reinvestment
1. The incredible work of our admissions team and their faculty and staff partners across campus these last few years has resulted in positive results this fall. Thank you! We must all continue to support recruitment efforts and will continue to invest in these areas.
2. Total fall 2016 campus headcount enrollment at all student levels equals 11,018, and is up 1.4% compared to fall 2015.
1. Undergraduate  enrollment increased to 9,051, up 122 students from fall 2015.  
2. Graduate enrollment remained steady with a total headcount of 664, an increase of 12 students.
3. The freshman class increased by 7%, with a total enrollment of 2,138 surpassing the fall 2016 goal of 2,100 freshmen.  New transfer student enrollment also increased by 5.5% this fall.
4. The percentage of students of color in the freshman class increased to 13.8%, which is up from 12.6% in fall 2015.
6. Deficit Reduction and Investment Fund Transfer (DRIFT)
1. Additional reductions of $3.5 million have also occurred this fiscal year in each campus unit (Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Student Life, Finance & Operations).  These reductions have reduced our accumulating cash balance deficit, and over time, this strategy will eliminate the balance cash deficit.

Last month our campus heard the results of our campus climate survey . Since then, the campus climate working group has conducted several listening sessions to help inform the development of action plans.  In addition, Vice Chancellor Lisa Erwin provided an update to campus about resources for  reporting sexual assault and will be providing another update shortly, including the updated  sexual assault website.  

The change unit teams have been and will continue to be engaged to help us implement other strategies. Ideas may also be submitted through the  Campus Climate Survey website.  I thank you for your participation in working together to make UMD a more welcoming and inclusive campus community.

This week, we will join together as a campus community at exciting events like the corn roast, the ASME Cardboard Boat Races, and the Brill Cup Faculty-Staff Flag Football Tournament. On Saturday, we invite all of Bulldog Country to campus for a fun-filled day of activities, beginning with the parade at 10 a.m. and continuing through the family carnival, the tailgate party, the football game, and the volleyball game.

The week will conclude in Canal Park with the men's hockey game at Amsoil. Homecoming is an important tradition that brings us all together to celebrate the history of UMD and our shared experiences here. I wish students, faculty, and staff a safe and enjoyable Homecoming 2016. Visit  d.umn.edu/homecoming for a full list of events.

Have a great week.  Go Dogs!
Lendley Black, Chancellor