UMD budget update (6/26/25)

 

Dear Colleagues, Over the last couple of weeks you have received communications from University of Minnesota leadership about our budget for the upcoming fiscal year. These messages and the approved budget represent a new strategy to navigate the financial challenges facing the university. This balanced budget addresses the constrained state funding, cuts to federal investments, and rising inflation. The budget includes solutions to meet the challenges of our current financial reality and to ensure the long-term well-being of UMD.   UMD FY26 Budget Under the approved University of Minnesota budget, UMD’s budget for FY26 is $301.1 million for all non-sponsored programs and operations, which is 4% higher than FY25. Net tuition revenue and state-appropriated operations and maintenance (O&M) funding represent about 58% of non-sponsored resources. Those critical resources remain relatively flat.  Navigating the profound challenges facing higher education will require difficult choices as well as investment in the people and programs that enable UMD to fulfill its mission. In particular, the U of M budget calls for a 7% reduction in O&M expenses over FY26 and FY27. That budget also invests in our outstanding faculty and staff, student success priorities, buildings and infrastructure, and research. Scope reductions will be uncomfortable and will affect every campus, college, and unit across the University. These changes will enable us to focus our resources on the programs and investments that are most essential to our identity and most impactful for those we serve. In partnership with UMD leaders, I will continue over the next several months to fine-tune our strategy and reduce our budget to meet the challenges of our current times.  Fall 2025 Tuition UMD’s resident and Midwest tuition rates will increase by 4% beginning fall 2025. With the increase, resident tuition will be nearly 12% lower than it was in 2014 after adjusting for inflation. That tuition adjustment helps sustain the experiential learning and research experiences that prepare our students for successful careers and lives. The value of a UMD education remains strong, and I am pleased that we were able to keep our change in tuition lower than the increases experienced at many other universities. We remain firmly committed to accessibility and affordability through the University, state, and federal financial aid programs. Additionally, University and donor-supported scholarships continue to make education accessible and affordable, so that our students graduate with an average loan debt far below the national average. Financial Path Forward I am grateful to the deans, research directors, and all unit leaders for their creativity and engagement in the UMD budget call process earlier this spring. We also appreciate the insights and guidance of shared governance leaders, department heads, the academic revisioning committee, and many others in campus conversations throughout this last year. There is no shortage of passion for this campus and for our students.   I ask for your continued participation and support as we navigate these financial challenges together. Working in partnership, I am confident that we will remain a strong institution for many years to come.  Thank you,

Charles Nies Chancellor

Announcing our new executive vice chancellor and provost (June 6, 2025)

 

Dear UMD community, I am excited to announce Rebecca Ropers as our new executive vice chancellor and provost. She has been serving in the interim role since July 1, 2024, and I am grateful for her leadership this past year and excited about the future. Dr. Ropers has been a scholar and educational leader for nearly three decades, first at Louisiana State University and for the last 18 years at the University of Minnesota. Beginning with her PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she has prioritized faculty development and organizational change to facilitate inclusive and engaged communities. She has held many leadership roles, including department chair, chair of the faculty governance executive body, and vice provost for faculty and academic affairs. Before joining UMD, she served as the senior advisor for academic leadership and conflict resolution on the Twin Cities campus. As EVC/Provost, Dr. Ropers serves as the chief academic officer for the campus and senior advisor to the chancellor. Provost Ropers will provide visionary leadership for academic programs and processes while collaboratively fostering a culture of connection, excellence, and innovation. Dr. Ropers has proven to be a thoughtful leader with tremendous dedication to our UMD community. I’m thrilled that she will continue to share her talents, insights, and curiosity with us into the future. Please join me in congratulating Rebecca on this important appointment, which will officially begin soon, upon approval by the Board of Regents. I also want to express my gratitude to the search advisory committee for their work in this process. The search was chaired by Matt Massman. Other committee members included Kim Dauner, Abel Knochel, Ryan Goei, Catherine O’Reilly, Brianne Vigen, and Aidan Zeissler. The search was supported by Jean Neibauer. Sincerely,

Charles Nies Chancellor

Envisioning UMD’s Mission and Values

 

Dear Colleagues, We write to follow up on the experience of nearly 200 faculty and staff who shared their views during our May 12th forum on Our Mission, Our Values, Our Community. Our time together was filled with honest reflection, powerful storytelling, and thoughtful connection. We are grateful for the insights, deep engagement, and generosity of spirit of those who attended. We’re excited to share two pieces that capture the heart of what emerged at the May gathering: The summary report by Jen Mein describes what we heard throughout our time together, including key themes, quotes, and collective hopes for UMD’s future. The graphic recording by Viola Clark brings our conversations to life in visual form in a way that is full of truth, clarity, and inspiration. This forum was part of a larger effort to align our mission and expressed values with who we are and where we’re headed. What was shared will shape how we plan our future and live into our purpose with clarity and care. Whether or not you attended, please know that we are in the process of co-creating UMD's future. You will receive invitations to join our strategic planning efforts, which will begin in earnest in the fall. We’re grateful for your voice, your vision, and how you show up for our campus community. Please reach out if you have thoughts, questions, or reflections you’d like to share moving forward. With deep appreciation, Charles Nies, Chancellor Rebecca Ropers, Interim Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs