2019-20 Break

Dear Campus Community,  

This year, the period from Monday, December 23, 2019 until Thursday, January 2, 2020, includes 4 holidays, 2 weekend days and 4 regular work days.  Wherever possible, departments are encouraged to allow staff to have the 12 consecutive days off, by utilizing 4 days of vacation.  As in past years, this decision is entirely voluntary for both employees and departments, but strongly encouraged for sustainability reasons. We recognize and are grateful for dedicated employees that do not have this option. 

As in recent years, this break provides an opportunity for the campus to reduce energy costs and prove its commitment to sustainability.  To reduce energy consumption and our campus carbon footprint, UMD will operate campus buildings at temperatures lower than usual (62 degrees F) with limited ventilation during this campus break period.  If you have an adjustable thermostat in your office, you are asked to turn down the temperature to 62 degrees but no lower than 60 degrees. 

Facilities Management intends to provide minimal staffing dependent on campus needs.  Please contact Facilities Management at facmgt@d.umn.edu if you plan to close or have events planned that will require our custodial (staff and/or door opening) services during this period.  In order to meet your needs, please respond as soon as possible. 

Thank you for your continued support of UMD sustainability initiatives. 

Sincerely,

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor 

Balancing UMD's Budget

Dear Colleagues, 

Over the past several years, we have made much progress addressing UMD’s budget challenges. However, we have reached a point in time where our structural imbalance has stalled at about $4 million and has not improved over the last three years. Although it is difficult and painful, we must make tough decisions now to resolve our budget deficits and move forward in ways that strengthen UMD’s excellence, as we build a stronger financial foundation for the future. This is not an easy conversation or process for any of us, and I want you to be as informed as possible about the steps we are taking to resolve UMD’s structural imbalance and to strengthen what is already an outstanding university.  

So, I am sharing with you today a brief overview of where we are now and the process we will use to resolve our structural imbalance.

• UMD ended Fiscal Year 2019 (July 2018 - June 2019) with a recurring structural imbalance of $3.9 million in our O&M budget, which consists of expenses and revenues funded by tuition and state allocations.
• Based upon the allocation letter I recently shared with you, we expect to end the current Fiscal Year 2020 (July 2019 - June 2020) with an O&M structural imbalance of $4 million.
• In addition, we are expecting another required systemwide reallocation in FY 2021 of at least $1.2 million creating a UMD budget imbalance of about $5.2 million. 
• In order to resolve this structural imbalance, the vice chancellors and I have initiated plans for our campus to reduce our recurring expenses by $5.2 million effective in the 2021 fiscal year, beginning on July 1, 2020.

The vice chancellors and I are working with our deans, associate vice chancellors, and directors to identify budget reductions over the next few weeks, and hope to have plans for these reductions by mid November. We will then work with the Department of Human Resources, talk with system administration, and inform the individuals and areas directly affected. At the same time, we are requesting additional resource allocations from President Gabel and Senior Vice President Burnett, but we are aware that their options are limited this fiscal year.

This process will be challenging, but I have seen this campus rise up to meet challenges in a number of areas. If we keep our focus on enrollment, retention, student success, and excellence, I am confident we will grow even stronger as we move forward.  

I want to express my sincere gratitude for the passion and dedication I see in our faculty and staff every day, and I want to stress the critical importance you have in helping our students reach their aspirations.

Sincerely, 

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor

UMD Land Acknowledgment Event - October 22nd

You are invited to the recognition of the UMD Land Acknowledgment on Tuesday, October 22,
2019 at 3:00 p.m. in the UMD Kirby Ballroom.
 
Please join us for a special event to share UMD’s new Land Acknowledgment. A Land
Acknowledgment is a formal recognition of the unique and enduring relationship that exists
between American Indians and their territories. This acknowledgment is an opportunity for the
entire University community to increase their awareness of the history of the land on which
UMD resides. By offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm tribal sovereignty and will work
to hold the University of Minnesota Duluth accountable to American Indian peoples and
nations.
 
Please see the invitation for more details.

Supporting You in Your Work at UMD - Upcoming Engagement Survey

Dear Colleagues,

The University of Minnesota will conduct its fifth systemwide employee engagement survey this fall, and in early 2020 we will begin a new cycle of discussing the results and possible actions based on these results. It is important to me and to the UMD leadership team that we receive your meaningful feedback on your work experiences at UMD. This year, a survey report will be available to supervisors who have at least five faculty or staff complete surveys in their respective units, which should provide more options for local action in smaller workgroups.

When you take the survey, you’ll find two open-ended questions which are very helpful to your supervisors and to UMD leadership, especially for those of us who may not be aware of your day-to-day work experiences. Open-ended responses are redacted by the vendor Korn Ferry so no personally identifiable information is shared. Your responses provide important ideas for improvement at UMD. The questions are, “What is one thing that has been done to help you to be more successful in your work?” and “What one thing, if changed, would enable you to be more successful in your work?” I look forward to your responses for how our recent efforts have made an impact and your ideas about ongoing action.

Please continue to watch your email for a link to take the survey starting Monday, October 14.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me or to your vice chancellor.

Sincerely,

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor