Progress on Campus Priorities

Dear Colleagues:

Despite remnants of winter weather over the past few weeks, UMD’s summer season is upon us. Not only did our graduates recently cross the finish line, but we also moved many campus initiatives forward this year. At the start of this academic year, I presented six priorities. I am pleased with the progress we made and ask for your continued support as we drive these forward. As a recap of the priorities and progress:

1. Reinforcing our commitment to a healthy campus climate and building on the prevention of sexual misconduct training.
In terms of campus climate, we launched the It’s More Than That campaign, continued training and development programs, and launched a new diversity and inclusion module.

It’s More Than That highlights many of the projects, efforts, and initiatives already underway at UMD. Please take time to explore the It’s More Than That website where you can find more information about the campaign, suggested actions steps, and take your own pledge.

UMD has contracted with Everfi to offer diversity and inclusion online training modules to students, staff, and faculty. Two modules were deployed to campus leaders this spring with a plan for a full campus rollout next fall. In the fall, students will also be invited to complete the Diversity & Inclusion module. The training will provide staff, faculty, and students with important skills and resources to help foster a more inclusive and engaging campus.

In addition, we continue to provide face to face training and development offerings to staff and faculty across campus. For fall term offerings and a link to sign up, go to Campus Climate: Training and Development website.

Related to our efforts to prevent sexual misconduct, we continue to provide online training to new employees. The UMD Sexual Violence Response Team held several follow-up sessions this year where participants were able to meet members of the team, ask questions about the Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct training and/or the University's Administrative Policy: Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Relationship Violence, and explore scenarios based on different faculty and staff campus roles. The It Ends Here campaign also brought further awareness to the initiative and will roll into next year.

I am also happy to share that UMD is one of the sponsors to the Zeitgeist Arts Year of the Womxn celebration. The YOTW is a series of programming to recognize and celebrate women and I encourage you to review and participate in the event series.

2. Continue to make progress on the implementation of the UMD strategic plan and coordinate with systemwide strategic planning efforts.
This year, various campus groups were asked to submit ideas for objectives and key performance indicators related to our strategic goals. This summer the leadership team will use these ideas to draft a concise set of objectives with measures that can be tracked over time. The campus will have an opportunity to review these items and provide feedback in the fall. Once finalized, we will provide the information on our strategic planning website and regularly publish progress toward goal attainment.

In terms of systemwide strategic planning efforts, several individuals from UMD are serving on systemwide planning groups and continue to move forward with their efforts.

3. Moving our retention and graduation rate to new levels of success.
Improved undergraduate student success rates remain a central priority, and annual benchmark indicators show improvements in both student persistence and four-year graduation. Our campus first-to-second year retention rate for the 2017 entering cohort was 78.7%; up 1.7% compared to the previous year. Our campus four-year graduation rate for the 2014 cohort was 42.5%; up 4.9% compared to the previous year. These improvements are the result of your collective actions to address high DFW rates in gateway courses, implementation of mentorship programs, an expanded emphasis on strengths-based advising and coaching, proactive use of hardship grants to prevent stop-outs, enhanced student debt education, and numerous other initiatives.

Continued improvement of student persistence and graduation remains a priority for the BOR and for all of us. Moreover, enrollment will remain an ongoing challenge as we face increased competition and changing student demographics – making retention of our current students even more important. Whether through interactions with individual students, implementation of large-scale initiatives or delivery of services and facilities, we all have an impact on the success of our students. Many of the joyful stories I heard from recent graduates were about individual staff or faculty connections or opportunities for involvement or leadership roles that made a difference in their lives and persistence to graduation. We will continue to strive for all our students to have these experiences.

4. Expanding UMD's International Education programs and alliances.
UMD has expanded its partnership footprint with exchange, transfer, and training programs in Asia (China, South Korea, Vietnam); the Americas (Canada and Mexico); and Europe (Croatia, Ireland). The university has also invested in securing a dedicated international student recruiter.

5. Expanding UMD's public engagement reach.
UMD spent the last year conducting an inventory on community engagement initiatives and public service activities. We will look to reinforce our position, consistent with the strategic plan, as a key partner to the region via its research, education, and volunteer programs. These collective efforts are also consistent with UMD’s connection to the Association of Public Land-grant Universities’ Economic Development and Community Engagement projects.

6. Expand research and doctoral education.
We continue to make progress and have productive conversations with System administration in regards to doctoral education. We also continue to refine and appropriately expand other graduate education offerings.

Fundraising.
In addition to these six priorities, we continue to have another record-breaking year in UMD fundraising. Our goal for private contributions during fiscal year 2019 is $12 million. As of May 15, 2019 we have raised $12,522,530. Our current campaign total for private contributions is $89,052,079 towards a goal of $100 million, and we still have two years left in the campaign. Our fundraising needs continue to be great, especially in scholarships, so we will continue to work hard to surpass the $100 million goal. I am pleased that 719 UMD faculty and staff have contributed $13,824,562 to the campaign, and I give my most sincere thanks to those who are helping us fund UMD’s most critical needs.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions. I will send a budget campus communication later this summer after the Board of Regents approves the fiscal year 2020 budget. Thank you again for another great year.

Sincerely,


Lendley C. Black
Chancellor

Save the Date: Fall 2019 Faculty & Staff Welcome

Dear Colleagues,

As we get ready to send off yet another graduating class of Bulldogs, we are also looking forward to next semester.  Please mark your calendars for the Fall 2019 Faculty & Staff Welcome:

Monday, August 19th from 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Ward Wells Fieldhouse

Thank you for all of your dedication this year, and best of luck to our graduates.

Lendley Black
Chancellor

It’s More Than That, Campus Climate Campaign

Dear Colleagues,
 

As we continue to take actions to improve our campus climate, it is clear this work is complex and multi-layered. It’s More Than That focuses on the complexities of our strategic plan Goal 2 as we advance equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice within the campus community.

This campaign highlights many of the projects, efforts, and initiatives already underway at UMD. It also challenges us to support the work happening around campus and to find new ways to create a more inclusive, safe, and engaging campus.
 

Through this initiative, we invite all members of the campus community to explore topics of diversity, inclusion, bullying, and more – with greater depth. We often do not understand the full story of someone’s reality, because it’s complex. It’s more than what appears on the surface. It’s More Than That!

In this email we are introducing It’s More Than That to the campus community, raising awareness about campus climate initiatives, and asking for your support.

We invite you to start by exploring the It’s More Than That website where you can find more information about the campaign. We encourage you to explore the suggested actions steps, give them some thought, and take your own pledge indicating “What will I do to further my own growth and action toward Goal 2 at UMD?” This pledge will allow you to coordinate with colleagues across campus for support and to share accountability using the resources provided.

We want to recognize BlackBird Revolt, a Duluth based branding and media design company who are dedicated to promoting social change through conscious creativity, for designing this campaign.

Sincerely,
 

Chancellor Lendley Black

Susana Pelayo-Woodward and Paula J. Pedersen (Campus Climate Co-Chairs)

Faculty, Staff, and Years of Service Awards Ceremony

Dear Campus Community,

Please join us for the Faculty, Staff, and Years of Service awards ceremony.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Kirby Ballroom

Awards include:
Faculty Advisor Awards
Graduate Faculty Advisor Award
Tezla Teacher/Scholar Award
Outstanding Staff Awards
Outstanding Staff Team Award
Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching
Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Research/Creative Activity
Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Public Service
Faculty & Staff Years of Service Awards for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40+

Refreshments will be served. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our UMD employee community!

Sincerely,

Lendley Black
Chancellor

Campus Update: UMD's Budget Status

Dear Colleagues:

I hope you had a Happy New Year, and I wish you the best for an outstanding spring semester.  As we enter the second half of this academic year, I wish to give you an update and review of the status of UMD’s budget and strategies for moving forward.

From 2001 to 2011, UMD’s undergraduate and graduate enrollment grew by 1,876 students.  During this time of student growth, the undergraduate resident tuition rate also increased significantly from $5,070 to $11,322 for fall and spring semesters combined.  However, UMD’s base operating budget did not grow substantially, and UMD became over-dependent on tuition revenues to fund basic operating expenses.

Our enrollment declined in Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013 occurred on the heels of cuts in state funding for all University of Minnesota campuses.  As a result of these declines in both state and tuition revenues, coupled with required expenses which were out of our control, we had a structural imbalance of $9.4 million by the end of Fiscal Year 2014.

That $9.4 million structural imbalance has been reduced to an estimated $3.9 million projected for the end of Fiscal Year 2019 (June 30, 2019).  This drastic reduction is the result of several actions taken at UMD and assistance from the University of Minnesota leadership in the Twin Cities.  First, UMD’s enrollment has rebounded over the past few years, and we are working diligently to continue an incremental enrollment increase over the next several years.  This has provided much needed increases in tuition revenues.  In addition, we have cut expenses and made difficult decisions, including reducing the numbers of faculty, staff and administrative positions at UMD.  Specifically, we reduced our recurring expenses by $4.1 million Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019.  These cuts are in addition to over $2 million in additional personnel reductions made since Fiscal Year 2014.  In addition, we have benefited greatly from yearly assistance from the University of Minnesota senior leadership, which has provided additional allocations to UMD to help reduce the structural imbalance, increase funds for facility renovations, and provide additional allocations for critical initiatives.

UMD’s senior leadership is working with our colleagues in the Twin Cities on a multi-year plan to resolve the structural imbalance within the next few years.  Although incremental enrollment increases help our financial bottom line, we cannot solve this challenge with enrollment increases alone.  Our tuition is high compared to our major competitors, and so tuition increases are not the answer either.  Hence, we have had productive discussions about a preliminary draft proposal to increase our state allocations, as we continue to reduce expenses in a strategic and thoughtful way.  These discussions are ongoing, and I am optimistic that we will find solutions that over time will place UMD in a stronger financial position.

I am pleased that our faculty and staff are interested in these issues, and I appreciate people’s passion and concern.  However, it is not helpful to unduly cast aspersions or make satirical criticisms against the university leaders in the Twin Cities who are helping us.

As UMD’s Chancellor, I will continue to advocate strongly for additional funding for UMD.  I do that with a focus on collaboration and on maximizing future opportunities, not on blaming others or focusing on past issues.  Structural imbalance simply refers to our budgeted recurring expenses outpacing our budgeted revenues.  However, UMD is still paying its bills and we have substantial non-recurring funds that carry forward from one fiscal year to the next.  These carryforward funds will not sustain us indefinitely, and so we need to resolve the imbalance soon.

In spite of the budget challenges we face, UMD has continued to reach new heights of excellence in the achievements of our students, faculty, and staff.  Budget challenges are a distraction and the reductions are painful.  However, we continue to move forward and adjust to changing times.  Our reputation is strong and our alumni and supporters are breaking records in giving back to this incredible institution that has had such a positive impact on their lives.  Each of us helps tell the UMD story by highlighting these successes and in turn promoting ongoing investment in UMD from our alumni, donors, elected officials, and University of Minnesota System leaders.  I ask for your ongoing support and assistance.

If you have questions about our budget, feel free to contact me our one of the vice chancellors.

Sincerely,

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor 

2018-19 Holiday Break

Dear Campus Community, 

This year, the holiday period from Monday, December 24, 2018 until Wednesday, January 2, 2019, includes 5 holidays, 2 weekend days and 2 regular work days.  Wherever possible, departments are encouraged to allow staff to have the 9 consecutive days off, by utilizing 2 days of vacation.  As in past years, this decision is entirely voluntary for both employees and departments, but strongly encouraged for sustainability reasons.

As in recent years, this holiday 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 holiday 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.

Have a great holiday break!

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor

Presidential Search Update

Dear Colleagues,

Last week our campus community had a chance to participate in listening sessions related to the search for the new President of the University of Minnesota. In Duluth, representatives of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee met with students, faculty, staff, and community members. I want to thank those of you who were able to attend and who provided valuable insight to the committee. Multiple committee members told me the comments and questions from UMD were thoughtful and displayed extreme passion for our mission and our students. Thank you for representing UMD so well.

If you did not have a chance to attend, please consider providing your input online through the presidential search website (scroll down to the form at the bottom of this community input page).

I would also like to recognize and thank Rajiv Vaidyanathan and Lynne Williams who were selected to serve on the presidential search committee. Nearly 400 individuals were nominated to serve on this important and time-intensive committee. If you are interested, you can review the full list of committee members.

As the search proceeds, I encourage you to follow search updates on the Presidential search website.

Best wishes,


Lendley C. Black
Chancellor