Have a great winter break!

Dear students, faculty, and staff, Just a quick note as we wrap up the fall semester. I hope you all have a great winter break and are able to unplug, relax, and reenergize over the semester break.  To our students who graduate this semester: congratulations! We wish you the very best and are grateful that you’ve shared this part of your journey with us. Remember, you’re always a Bulldog. This video is a little winter greeting from Champ, who was pretty excited that we at least had a little snow earlier in the semester. For a captivating high definition version of Champ’s greeting, you can watch it online here. Thank you for a great end to our academic year.  Sincerely,

Dave McMillan Interim Chancellor

Update on Chancellor's Council on Campus Culture

 

Dear colleagues, Earlier this fall, I explained to campus that I would not be restarting the search for a senior level DEI officer but rather wanted to utilize the climate survey results as a basis for a group to examine the climate challenges UMD faces and what next steps might best serve this campus in addressing those issues. The Office of Equity and Diversity recently made the climate survey results available to UMD leadership. As we wrap up the fall semester and head into the new year, you can expect to hear more about survey results for your division or college from your vice chancellor or dean.  The Chancellor's Council on Campus Culture (4C) has been formed to lead survey analysis for the campus climate survey results. Here is the membership and charge for this group. These council members represent divisions, colleges, and commissions from across our campus community and bring a diversity of experiences that includes each of their valuable efforts to make UMD more inclusive. This group will have its first meeting in early January. During the spring semester, I expect they will provide opportunities for you to engage with the survey results and shape their recommendations for the actions and organizational change UMD must undertake to realize our goal to “advance equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice within the campus community.” Sincerely,

Dave McMillan Interim Chancellor

Event Reminders: Town Halls and End of Semester Buffet

 

Good afternoon colleagues, Just a quick reminder for a few events happening next week: December 5: End of Semester Buffet (featuring a breakfast for lunch menu): 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Kirby Ballroom If you would like to bring a donation for Champ's Cupboard, some specific needs are: peanut butter, canned fruit and meat, soups (preferably non-chicken noodle), cereal, beans, noodles, international and gluten-free items. December 6: Town halls: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.        Kirby Ballroom; in person town hall 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.          Virtual town hall; please sign up on this registration link The town halls will provide updates to key campus initiatives and allow time for discussion. To help facilitate that discussion, you may submit questions ahead of time. Please note that similar questions will be grouped together and questions will be taken in person as well. Note: to make disability-related accommodations or dietary requests, please contact Carlee Williams at cwillia1@d.umn.edu. Thank you and I hope to see you next week. Sincerely,

Dave McMillan Interim Chancellor

Town Halls rescheduled from Nov 13 to Dec 6

Good afternoon colleagues, I am writing to let you know that I have decided to shift the campus town hall meetings from November 13 to December 6. The campus town halls previously scheduled for November 13 will now be: December 6: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.        Kirby Ballroom; in person town hall 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.          Virtual town hall; please sign up on this registration link We have a lot of things going on this academic year around our budget and structural review. Between PEAK and the academic program array analysis (APAA), we could use a couple more weeks to work through additional details. There was solid work done at the collegiate level and I want to be sure to allow adequate time for review so we can build upon the collaborative dialogue to enhance the data and analysis. I believe that the town halls in early December will provide a better perspective and allow for a clearer understanding of action items to be developed next semester.  Engagement Survey Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to complete the employee engagement survey. Our current response rate is 43% for faculty and 65% for staff. We appreciate you sharing your insights on the UMD work environment. If you have not yet completed the survey, please take a few moments to finish the survey no later than this Friday, November 3.  A link to the confidential survey was sent to you by Korn Ferry (UofMNSurvey@qualtrics-survey.com) on October 16. If you cannot find the email or are unable to get the link to work, please contact the employee engagement team at ee2@umn.edu. All responses are confidential and are held by our external vendor.  The survey is a critical tool to help UMD engage our faculty and staff to ensure we fulfill our mission, meet our strategic goals, and create a positive and rewarding work environment. Thank you for your cooperation and participation.  Save the Date Finally, please save the date for our annual End of Semester Buffet, Tuesday, December 5 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the Kirby Ballroom. Sincerely,

Dave McMillan Interim Chancellor

Reminders: President search, Engagement Survey, Town Halls

Good morning colleagues, Here are some quick updates on this rainy October day. Presidential Search Listening Sessions: The Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC) will hold listening sessions to gather input on the qualities and characteristics important in our next president. I am pleased to have strong representation from UMD on the committee and thank Jill Doerfler, professor and American Indian studies department head, Rudy Perrault, professor of music and director of orchestras, and student Remi Foust, sustainability director of the student government association and a resident advisor, for their time and energy serving on this consequential committee. Please mark your calendars and attend as you are able. Tuesday, October 24 in the Kirby Student Center Ballroom: 9:45 – 10:30 a.m.        Listening Session: Faculty and staff 10:45 – 11:30 a.m.      Listening Session: Students 12:30 – 1:15 p.m.        Listening Session: Open to all campus and community members Input may also be submitted to the committee online or by emailing pres-search@umn.edu. Engagement Survey: By now you should have received an email from Korn Ferry with a link to the employee engagement survey. The survey will be open through Friday, November 3, 2023. Please let your voice be heard by taking 10 minutes during your work day to complete the survey. It’s important that we hear from each of you because sharing your unique perspective helps us better understand the multitude of work that makes the University of Minnesota an outstanding institution. The survey is confidential and is administered by Korn Ferry, an external vendor. The survey can be completed using the link provided in the email. If you don’t see an email from Korn Ferry, check out the troubleshooting information at z.umn.edu/survey_trouble_shooting Additional information about the survey can be found online. If an employee cannot find the email or is unable to get the link to work, they can contact the Employee Engagement team within the Office of Human Resources at ee2@umn.edu. UMD Town Halls: Also, a quick reminder to mark your calendars for the town hall meetings in November, where my leadership team and I will provide updates around campus priorities and initiatives. Please join me as you are able:   Monday, November 13: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.        Kirby Ballroom; in person town hall 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.          Virtual town hall; please sign up on this registration link. Sincerely,

Dave McMillan Interim Chancellor

 

Campus Updates and Town Hall Save the Date (Sent 10/11/23)

Good afternoon colleagues, As the fall semester rolls along, I have been enjoying the change of seasons. We have a lot going on this year and the days seem to fly by too quickly. Time sure doesn’t slow down and I often wish it would. I’ve been in Weber Music Hall, Amsoil Arena, Marshall Performing Arts Center, Tweed Museum, Malosky Stadium, Romano Gym, Heller Hall, Cina, Kirby, Humanities, the dining center and most places in between already this semester. While I realize that my experiences reflect only a tiny slice of what happens at this place everyday, all of it reminds me how impactful the UMD experience is and the lifelong connections that stem from it. Several updates follow: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion In their Mission Fulfillment Committee meeting this week, the Board of Regents will review the systemwide results of the campus climate survey. This survey was conducted last academic year and we expect to get results for the UMD campus in the very near future. At this point in my interim leadership role, I will leave in place the current structure that supports our campus work in diversity, equity, and inclusion. My thanks go to members of the unit change teams, commissions, and other informal structures that strive for the achievement of UMD’s Goal 2. Along with student success and financial sustainability, our culture is one of my three critical leadership priorities. Given that we will soon have UMD results of our campus climate survey, I will focus our efforts this year on reviewing those results and recommending actions from them. I am in the process of creating the Chancellor’s Council for Campus Culture (4C). This task force will include students, faculty, and staff currently serving on campus climate teams and commissions. They will be charged with reviewing our survey results and making recommendations that will advance our work in diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as position UMD effectively for a leadership transition. In addition to the 4C task force review of the campus climate survey results, I will be charging each campus leader who receives unit-level results with developing actions that support DEI work at the local level. We will welcome VP Mercedes Ramirez Fernandez and AVP Keisha Varma to campus next week as well to help us advance this critical work. Budget and Structural Review Leadership continues to move ahead with our budget and structural review plan. On the chancellor’s website, you will find more budget review information including updates on the initiatives, the timeline and data collection plan for the academic program array analysis, and links to resources like presentations, communications, and related websites. My leadership team and I will host two campus town hall meetings in November to provide further updates on these efforts and collect continued feedback from the campus community. Please mark your calendars and join me as you are able: Monday, November 13: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. - Kirby Ballroom; in person town hall 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. - virtual town hall; please sign up on this registration link I look forward to continued engagement with you on these and other initiatives. Thanks for all you do for UMD and for our students. Sincerely,

Dave McMillan Interim Chancellor

Updates: Budget, Academic Program Array Analysis, and PEAK

 

Good afternoon colleagues,   I hope the start of the semester is going well for you. I am thankful for all the work across campus that contributed to a successful move-in and start of the semester. I have enjoyed the energy and excitement of the new school year. I’ll jump right into a couple of updates on key priorities. Budget During town hall and staff/faculty senate meetings last spring and in this message at the end of the last semester, the senior team and I described the budget deficit facing UMD. We have discussed the primary drivers of the deficit — continued declines in undergraduate enrollment coupled with increased compensation and benefit expenses. Our budget compact proposal to system leadership sought to utilize system funding to cover more than half of the shortfall and one-time carry forward funds for the remainder.  U of M leadership has supported our proposal and UMD will see substantial new recurring investment from the university this current fiscal year. I am deeply grateful for this investment and appreciate the continued support and engagement from university leadership. However, it does not solve our ongoing problem and we must continue the work to ensure a sustainable UMD budget model. We need to find efficiencies and make sure that delivery of our academic mission accurately reflects continued enrollment challenges.  In doing this work, we will continue to follow an analytical and decision-making framework that prioritizes student success and support, maintains academic excellence, is collaborative, and leverages resources and support from the U of M System. Academic and Student Success Analysis A key initiative to our budget work this year includes an academic program array analysis (APAA). This includes graduate as well as undergraduate programs. Over the summer, EVCAA Hietapelto and the college deans developed metrics and the below process: At the start of this semester in various conversations and meetings, the deans shared information with their leadership teams for feedback. Throughout September, department heads are compiling data and working with faculty in the departments to prepare a data-supported narrative about their programs. In October, this work will be shared with the entire college through assembly and retreats.  By the end of October, the feedback from the departments and colleges will be shared with the deans, who will collectively review the summary narratives. This cross-collegiate review will facilitate transparency and external validation of the collegiate analyses.  AVC Erik Brown and the graduate council will also provide input and graduate program review during the APAA process.  In November, campus leadership will meet with governance groups and conduct town halls to collect input and provide an overview on APAA and other campus budget initiatives. In December and into the start of 2024, the senior leadership team will make strategic decisions based on the work done this fall. Alongside this work, we have launched a new student success initiative co-led by associate vice chancellors Jeremy Leiferman and Trevor Eagle. This effort is still in formation but we expect it will build upon some of the work that AVC Jen Mencl led this summer across a series of three workshops.  PEAK In his new role leading UMD’s PEAK efforts, Jason Davis has made quick progress engaging staff with human resources and finance responsibilities to help better design what PEAK will look like at UMD. Those discussions are active and in progress, so I won’t get into many details here other than to say that Jason will continue to work with system and campus leaders as well as those individuals directly affected, and their supervisors, with broader updates to come.  As we near implementation for campus and system operation centers later this fall, UMD has an opportunity to refine the implementation plans in ways that will best serve this campus and act as a model for the entire system. We need to take advantage of this opportunity and identify operational and work process changes that will truly benefit this campus for years to come. Please reach out to Jason if you have questions. In Closing Throughout these initiatives, the U of M System is engaged and providing support. We continue to move forward with Interim President Ettinger. There is a renewed focus on systemwide enrollment with emphasis on resources for the greater Minnesota campuses. He is also focused on improving relations with and investment from the Minnesota legislature. The system also launched a statewide media campaign which features UMD’s own Dr. Julie Etterson.  I want to recognize that this is difficult work. It will take coordination and support across campus and between units. It does mean change. It is an ambitious timeline and it is time consuming. This work involves really examining ourselves and taking a hard look internally. It is personal, emotional, and tiring. I know that and I am grateful for your engagement in this critically important initiative. It gets to the core of who we are, how we educate students, and how we engage in research. This work will be ongoing and sets the stage for this campus for years to come and will position us for continued success in a changing, challenging, and highly competitive higher education landscape.  I am committed to doing this well and doing it right. I ask for your support, patience, and help as we navigate this together.    Sincerely,

Dave McMillan Interim Chancellor

 

Dear faculty and staff, Please join us for an open house with University of Minnesota System Interim President Jeff Ettinger: Wednesday, August 23 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Kathryn A. Martin Library  4th Floor Rotunda 416 Library Drive - UMD Refreshments will be served and no RSVP is necessary. For questions or to request disability accommodations, contact the UMD Chancellor's Office at chan@d.umn.edu or 218-726-7106. Sincerely,

Dave McMillan Interim Chancellor

 

Resourcing our PEAK Implementation (sent 8/2/23) Dear faculty and staff, The U of M System launched the PEAK (Positioned for Excellence, Alignment and Knowledge) initiative to “provide improved, consistent, equitable and cost-effective services across the University of Minnesota System.” PEAK has been focused on four key elements of academic and institutional support including: marketing and communications (marcom), human resources (HR), finance, and information technology (IT). In early 2022, UMD, along with our other greater MN campuses and some Twin Cities units, was identified as being among the first units to begin PEAK planning and implementation. This work has not been easy, and it is certainly not simple. It can create uncertainty about future duties and work locations for impacted employees. There are also significant benefits to streamlining our work and leveraging resources in Duluth as well as across the system.  In order for PEAK at UMD to be as successful as possible we need to strategically drive our local PEAK implementation efforts. Bringing a collective vision forward for what HR, finance, IT and marcom will look like once PEAK is complete is critically important. That is why I am pleased to announce that Jason Davis will take on a new role as Strategic Adviser to the Chancellor and lead our efforts to plan and implement all aspects of PEAK at UMD. In this role, reporting to me, Jason will serve as the executive leader for UMD’s PEAK initiative. Jason has served on the PEAK IT executive team and has seen firsthand how we can optimize outcomes by redesigning, and in some cases, rethinking work processes and better deployment of fiscal resources as well as our time and talent.  This work will be done thoughtfully and collaboratively. Given the close connection with IT and marcom, Jason has already been working closely with Lynne Williams, chief marketing and communications officer, on the IT and marcom implementation. To-date, PEAK-related IT and marcom outcomes and planning reflect what I believe are the types of forward thinking and long-term perspectives this campus needs. Importantly, Jason also has great relationships with system and PEAK leadership and has proven his leadership skills here on campus and with leadership in Minneapolis. I expect full implementation of all aspects of the PEAK process to take several years and it will be several more before we realize its full potential. Key HR and finance related initiatives are scheduled in the next several months and it is critical that UMD speak with one voice as the system continues to move ahead. In doing so, we will achieve better long-term outcomes for campus and be able to move forward successfully.   Jason will keep his role as chief information technology officer and continue to provide strategic leadership to ITSS. However, with these new responsibilities, Sally Bradt will assume the role of interim ITSS director and manage the day-to-day operations and responsibilities for the department. Sally has served as the manager of end user support, web, and data security at UMD for nearly two decades and has led countless successful UMD and system level projects for nearly 30 years. Her UMD leadership and system relationships will be great assets to ITSS and UMD during this transition. Please join me in thanking Jason and Sally as they tackle these important leadership roles.  Sincerely,

Dave McMillan Interim Chancellor

Leadership Updates (sent 6/20/23)

Dear colleagues, I hope that you are all enjoying the summer season so far. It sure does feel different on campus without all the energy and activity of the academic year. I am writing to provide updates on some important leadership roles. Human Resources As I noted in a May 3rd email, Mark Yuran, associate vice chancellor for human resources, accepted a new position outside of UMD. His last day was Friday, June 16. Mark worked closely with the vice chancellors and me to ensure a smooth transition. I am pleased to share that Lindsey Klegstad and Kayleigh Karppinen will serve as interim directors for human resources. They will oversee the office and provide strategic leadership for human resources, reporting directly to me, and serving as part of my leadership team. Development While this news has been shared with several of her colleagues already, Tricia Bunten has notified me of her intent to retire towards the end of this summer. Over the course of Tricia’s successful 22-year career at UMD, she has been involved in several substantial projects that will undoubtedly continue to impact this campus for decades to come. During her time here she was part of the team who worked to secure funding for the Swenson Science building, Swenson Civil Engineering building, the Heikkila Advanced Materials Science building and many other philanthropic funds and projects. Tricia brought experience and skill together to lead UMD’s philanthropic efforts, including leading the Driven capital campaign which raised over $144 million for our campus. Tricia has been a central part of UMD’s leadership team, bringing a steadiness and strategic perspective. She will be greatly missed, and I wish her the very best in the adventures ahead. While Tricia has graciously offered some flexibility on her last day with us, we have begun the search for her replacement. I want to thank UMD Vice Chancellor Lisa Erwin and Assistant Dean for Advancement Louis Clark from the Twin Cities College of Liberal Arts, for agreeing to co-chair the search. Other search committee members include Suzanne Anderson, Matt Duffy, Forrest Karr, Katie Laaksonen, and Wendy Reed. Enrollment Management Interim Executive Vice Chancellor Amy Hietapelto also recently concluded a successful search, led by LSBE Interim Dean Praveen Aggarwal, to hire Trevor Eagle as our new associate vice chancellor for enrollment management. Trevor will be joining UMD in early August and brings a breadth of experience including most recently serving as deputy enrollment officer in enrollment management at University of California Davis, and previously as director and special advisor in enrollment services at Arizona State University. Please join me in welcoming Trevor to campus later this summer. Chancellor’s Office Within the Chancellor’s Office, Bob Borden, who has served as executive secretary for 17 years, will also be retiring. Bob has provided a variety of excellent support and service within the Chancellor’s unit over his time here, including support to Development, UMPR, and our governance bodies. I am grateful for his time here at UMD and all his support and dedication. A retirement celebration will be held for Bob on July 24 from 2-4 p.m. in the garden room. Carlee Williams will oversee a search to fill this position. Please join me in wishing Mark, Tricia, and Bob well and thanking them for their time here at UMD. As always, let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely,

Dave McMillan Interim Chancellor

How Legalized Marijuana Impacts Your Job at the University of Minnesota

Dear Faculty and Staff,

As you may have read or seen in the news, Governor Walz recently signed a bill into law legalizing the use of marijuana for recreational purposes by adults age 21 and over, as well as the right to grow up to eight plants for personal use. The new law will also decriminalize its possession and expunge misdemeanor marijuana offenses from criminal records.

While the new law may begin to shift societal norms outside the workplace,  University employees will still be expected to follow the University’s Drug-Free policy, Smoke- and Tobacco-Free policy, and Code of Conduct, which outlines the responsibilities of employees to “act according to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct” and “be personally accountable for individual actions.”

As has been the standard procedure in the past, employees who violate these policies and perform work while impaired due to the use of controlled substances are subject to disciplinary action, including termination. Additionally, while the new law allows for the growing of cannabis plants at home, no such plants grown for personal use are allowed on any University property nor should such plants be visible on camera during remote work. Please also note that the legalization of marijuana at the state level does not change the Federal DOT Drug policy for drivers, of which the University has about 100 employees. All members of our University community are responsible for encouraging compliance with these policies.

If you, or someone you are concerned about, need help with substance misuse, the University has resources available to you, including confidential counseling and chemical health consultation through the Employee Assistance Program and mental health resources for University employees and their dependents enrolled in the medical plan.

We appreciate your awareness and compliance with this issue in support of protecting the health of our entire community.

Sincerely,

Mark Yuran
Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources

This email was sent to UMD Faculty and Staff on behalf of the Department of Human Resources by UMD Office of the Chancellor, Darland Administration Building 515, 1049 University Drive, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Read our privacy statement.

Drug-Free Policy Update

Dear Bulldogs, I’m writing to give you an update about recreational cannabis at UMD, as the state of Minnesota’s recreational cannabis law has recently changed. It’s important for you to know that the University is required to follow federal cannabis laws. This means it is still illegal to possess, use, distribute, or grow cannabis on campus. Additionally, the University’s Drug-Free policy, Smoke- and Tobacco-Free policy, and Student Conduct Code have not changed and still prohibit these behaviors on campus. If you, or someone you are concerned about, need help with substance misuse, the University has resources available to you: UMD Health Services Cannabis Resources Sober Champs - a student substance recovery group that meets during the academic year UMD Counseling Services (mental health resources) I hope you have a great summer no matter where your plans take you. Sincerely, Lisa Ann Erwin, PhD Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Dean of Students

This email was sent to all students on behalf of the Vice Chancellor for Student Life by UMD Office of the Chancellor, Darland Administration Building 515, 1049 University Drive, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Read our privacy statement.

End of Academic Year Updates

Dear colleagues, It’s here - spring semester finals week. I want to start by thanking all of you for a great academic year. I sure learned a lot this last year and was consistently inspired by our students, faculty, and staff. The energy, passion, and pure brilliance of this campus community is captivating. This Saturday, I am looking forward to presiding over my first commencement as UMD’s interim chancellor. We have over 2,000 students graduating this academic year and each of you helped play a role in supporting them in their success. Thank you. I am looking forward to an enjoyable, but busy summer as we continue to move important initiatives forward. I’ll take this time to note a few updates. Leadership Searches After careful consideration and in consultation with the search committee and consultant, I have decided to pause the search for UMD’s senior level culture and inclusion officer. A lot of great groundwork has been done and I plan to circle back to this process at the beginning of the fall semester when the campus can be fully involved. I want to thank search committee co-chairs Jeremy Leiferman and Lin Xiu for their leadership and I extend my gratitude to the search committee members. In late April, four strong finalists for the associate vice chancellor for enrollment management position visited campus. I’d like to thank search committee chair Praveen Aggarwal, members of the search committee, and the campus community for their active participation in this process. This is an important leadership role for campus and I know EVCAA Amy Hietapelto hopes to extend an offer to a finalist in the next month. In other leadership transition news, Mark Yuran, associate vice chancellor for human resources, has accepted the senior associate vice president of human resources and chief human resources officer position at the University of Toledo and will be leaving UMD around the middle of June. Mark has provided solid leadership to our Office of Human Resources since November 2018. Mark brought strategic insight to me and my leadership team and has been a strong UMD advocate with the U of M System. I wish Mark the best in his new role and I am grateful to him for all he’s done as a senior leader for this campus. I will provide more information on next steps as we work to ensure a smooth transition in this important role. Budget and Strategic Planning Over the summer, we will continue to move ahead with the budget and structural review plan as discussed in the town halls a couple of weeks ago. This will include implementing our near-term action items along with creating work groups to further design frameworks for the mid and long term plans. This summer, these groups will gather information and conduct analytical assessments which will then be shared with the campus community for input and further action in the fall semester. To help guide this work, we will continue to refer back to both the UMD strategic plan and the systemwide MPact 2025 plan. I am pleased to share our recently completed UMD strategic plan performance update which provides highlights and accomplishments towards our plan goals and initiatives. Please take some time to review the strategic plan performance update. While this plan is still a work in progress, we have made important progress and this update does a great job at highlighting a variety of them. Thanks to Jen Mencl, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, for her leadership with our strategic plan and the performance update. While the to-do list is never done, this week let’s enjoy the conclusion of the academic year and celebrate the success of our students. I hope you have a good end to the academic year. Thanks for all you do for UMD and our students. Sincerely,

Dave McMillan Interim Chancellor