Campus Updates

Dear UMD Faculty and Staff,

As we reach the middle of summer and I approach my last few weeks at UMD before retirement, I wanted to provide some updates for you.

Interim Chancellor
As noted in U of M System President Joan Gabel’s email Monday, July 18, please join me in welcoming David McMillan, who begins his interim role as UMD’s Chancellor on August 8, 2022. My team and I are working with Interim Chancellor McMillan to ensure a smooth transition and help him onboard into this new role. I am grateful to Dave for his continued support of and service to this campus and community. He is a smart, strong, and thoughtful leader who I believe will do a great job in this interim role.

The chan@d.umn.edu email address remains the best contact for the Office of the Chancellor.

Fall Semester and Welcome Week
I am pleased that Interim Chancellor McMillan will continue with the annual Fall Welcome for Faculty and Staff. The welcome breakfast will be held in the Ward Wells Field House on Monday, August 22 at 10:00 am.

I am proud of how this campus constantly works to support our students, including all of the new students who will be joining us this fall. Gratitude and thanks to all of those involved in the series of orientations held this summer for our incoming students as well as our new faculty and staff. I will miss the excitement of a new school year and the contagious energy that our students bring with it.

Bulldog Welcome Week runs from August 24-28, with move-in for new students on the first two days. Welcome Back Week runs from August 29-September 2. There are many opportunities to volunteer and get involved! Departments are welcome to submit workshops, events, and informational sessions or sponsor a booth at the Bulldog Bash. Please contact our Bulldogs Beginnings Team if you have questions or want more information.

HLC
On July 8, UMD received notification of its successful Higher Learning Commission year 4 assurance review, meeting all criteria and core components. The review team noted that UMD has made "significant institutional improvements" since the 2018 year 10 review, including its strategic planning work and progress addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion. I congratulate and thank Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jennifer Mencl for her outstanding work on the four-year review.

Facilities
There continue to be a variety of facility management projects around campus. These projects include sidewalk and roadway work at Chester Park and Health Services. Gravel parking lots S2 and S4 are being merged into one with more sustainable features for the parking lot and surrounding area. We will also have a new forward-facing Sustainability Office in Darland.

Plans are underway to renovate the library annex to help protect the valuable archives and special collections, provide better access to the collection, and improve space for students and researchers. It also makes possible a new and innovative LSBE Center for Sales Excellence. In AB Anderson, phase 1 of the project should be complete by the end of the fall semester with phase 2 pending additional HEAPR funding from the state legislature.

Staffing Updates
Besides changes in my position, we are seeing many new faces around campus. Please welcome and support all the new faculty and staff who have recently been hired and will soon join our campus community.

In a few specific hiring updates, we were disappointed that the search for a UMD Ombudsperson was not successful. One of the action items for Interim Chancellor McMillan will be determining the next steps for this position.

The search for our new athletic director is underway. The advisory committee, chaired by Dr. Steve Castleberry, continues to work with leadership to keep that search moving forward.

COVID
On the COVID front, university health and safety folks continue to monitor the pandemic. At this time, we do not expect any changes to current COVID protocols but continue to remind everyone to be diligent. Being vaccinated and boosted, washing your hands, staying home if you are sick, following public health guidance, and getting tested can all help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

I hope you are enjoying your summer and able to spend some time relaxing and connecting with friends and family.

Sincerely,

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor