Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Revised Proposal for a New Shared Governance Model
TO: UMD Campus Community
RE: Revised Proposal for a New Shared Governance Model
Attached you will find the most recent revised proposal for a new shared governance structure for UMD. The proposal is based upon feedback we received from faculty, staff, and students since the last proposal was distributed on March 22. We will discuss this latest proposal at the Campus Assembly meeting on May 14, and it will be voted on by Campus Assembly members soon after that meeting.
Some people have asked why we need to keep voting on a change in campus governance and why only members of the Campus Assembly can vote. Our current Campus Assembly governance structure is imbedded in the UMD constitution, and the constitution is referenced in the UEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Any change in the constitution requires a two-thirds vote of the members of Campus Assembly. Even though the actions of the Campus Assembly are advisory actions to the chancellor, the chancellor cannot unilaterally change or void UMD's constitution. A change can only be made by a two-thirds vote of the current Assembly members.
You will note that this latest proposal returns to a system of voting membership on all committees. Although some people liked the non-voting aspects of the March 22 proposal, there was significant opposition to a system that eliminates voting from the work of the committees. We can make this voting system work well, if we focus on a collaborative shared governance process that values diverse opinions.
The attached documents include: 1) committee descriptions and membership, 2) the comparison of representatives in the current and proposed structure, and 3) a new graphic display of the proposed structure. Please review these documents and contact me or a member of the Campus Assembly if you have questions or comments. A list of the Campus Assembly members and our current constitution may be found at: http://www.d.umn.edu/committees/
The Campus Assembly meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14th at 2:00 p.m. in the Kirby Ballroom. There will be a social beginning at 1:30. After this Assembly meeting, we will conduct another vote of the Assembly membership, using the same electronic voting process we used before. It is important that every member of Campus Assembly vote. Since we need two-thirds of the membership to approve the constitutional change, if you do not vote or if you abstain, it's the same as a "No" vote.
Thank you again for your input and for your interest in having an effective and collaborative shared governance process at UMD.
<Governance Comparison of current and proposed 0Governance Structure 050813.pdf50813-1.pdfGovernance Comparison of current and proposed 050813-1.pdfCommittee Descriptions and Membership 050813.docx
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Graduate Rates Improve at UMD
To UMD Faculty and Staff,
You are to be congratulated. Thanks to your hard work and support, UMD has experienced an increase in graduation rates. Comparing data reported in 2011 and 2012, our campus has achieved a four and a half percent increase in our four-year graduation rate and a six percent increase in our five-year rate. Without you, this significant change in graduation rates would not have been possible.
Along with your efforts working with students on an individual basis, a concerted effort has been made to engage students in planning their degree progress using tools such as the Academic Progress Auditing System (APAS), the Graduation Planner as well as the 30-60-90 Student Success Roadmap. This fall, 68 percent of students were enrolled in 15 or more credits and more students are meeting the 30-credit annual benchmark, a key measurement in the 30-60-90 Roadmap. The use of APAS and the Graduation Planner confirms to students that they are taking the correct credits. It is through the individual conversations taking place between students and their faculty and advisors that these tools become meaningful and support our ongoing goal of increasing student success.
Finally, we must not forget about students' own desire and dedication to reduce their time to graduation to help lessen their educational costs. The quality learning experiences you provide continue to validate that persistence to graduation is a worthwhile investment for our students and their families.
I want to thank all of you for giving your time and energy to this effort. I am proud of you and these excellent results.
Chancellor Lendley C. Black
You are to be congratulated. Thanks to your hard work and support, UMD has experienced an increase in graduation rates. Comparing data reported in 2011 and 2012, our campus has achieved a four and a half percent increase in our four-year graduation rate and a six percent increase in our five-year rate. Without you, this significant change in graduation rates would not have been possible.
Along with your efforts working with students on an individual basis, a concerted effort has been made to engage students in planning their degree progress using tools such as the Academic Progress Auditing System (APAS), the Graduation Planner as well as the 30-60-90 Student Success Roadmap. This fall, 68 percent of students were enrolled in 15 or more credits and more students are meeting the 30-credit annual benchmark, a key measurement in the 30-60-90 Roadmap. The use of APAS and the Graduation Planner confirms to students that they are taking the correct credits. It is through the individual conversations taking place between students and their faculty and advisors that these tools become meaningful and support our ongoing goal of increasing student success.
Finally, we must not forget about students' own desire and dedication to reduce their time to graduation to help lessen their educational costs. The quality learning experiences you provide continue to validate that persistence to graduation is a worthwhile investment for our students and their families.
I want to thank all of you for giving your time and energy to this effort. I am proud of you and these excellent results.
Chancellor Lendley C. Black
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Campus Governance
Campus Community:
A site has been set up for those who wish to provide anonymous feedback on the revised governance proposal that was sent last week:
http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/governance_comment_form.html
The email that was sent last week along with links to the proposal structure and committee details can be found here:
http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/campus_governance.html
Please take a few moments to review this proposal and provide feedback. The deadline for comments is April 1st.
A site has been set up for those who wish to provide anonymous feedback on the revised governance proposal that was sent last week:
http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/governance_comment_form.html
The email that was sent last week along with links to the proposal structure and committee details can be found here:
http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/campus_governance.html
Please take a few moments to review this proposal and provide feedback. The deadline for comments is April 1st.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Academic Calendar Change
To: UMD Campus Community
From: Chancellor Lendley C. Black
Subject: Academic Calendar Change
After significant input from the UMD Campus Community, the Chancellor's Cabinet has approved changing the Academic Calendar, effective fall of 2015.
Fall semester classes will begin the Monday before Labor Day, and there will be a mid-semester break on a Thursday and Friday in October.
Spring semester classes will begin the Wednesday before the observance of the Martin Luther King holiday on the third Monday in January.
The 2015-16 calendar is available at: http://www.d.umn.edu/calendar/academic_cal_15-16.html
From: Chancellor Lendley C. Black
Subject: Academic Calendar Change
After significant input from the UMD Campus Community, the Chancellor's Cabinet has approved changing the Academic Calendar, effective fall of 2015.
Fall semester classes will begin the Monday before Labor Day, and there will be a mid-semester break on a Thursday and Friday in October.
Spring semester classes will begin the Wednesday before the observance of the Martin Luther King holiday on the third Monday in January.
The 2015-16 calendar is available at: http://www.d.umn.edu/calendar/academic_cal_15-16.html
Campus Budget Forum
To: UMD Campus Community
From: Chancellor Lendley C. Black
Subject: Campus Budget Forum
You are invited to a Campus Budget Forum on Tuesday, February 19 from 12-1:30 p.m. in the Kirby Ballroom.
For the first half of the forum, Mike Seymour, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations, will join me in providing an update on the legislative process and its impact on the upcoming biennial budget. We will also provide an overview of how the UMD budgeting model is being changed to best meet the campus needs. During the second half of the forum, faculty and staff will meet in smaller groups within their administrative areas to discuss the impact of the change in the budgeting process.
We encourage you to join us for this important discussion. I hope that your semester is going well, and I would like to thank you again for all that you do for UMD and the success of its students.
From: Chancellor Lendley C. Black
Subject: Campus Budget Forum
You are invited to a Campus Budget Forum on Tuesday, February 19 from 12-1:30 p.m. in the Kirby Ballroom.
For the first half of the forum, Mike Seymour, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations, will join me in providing an update on the legislative process and its impact on the upcoming biennial budget. We will also provide an overview of how the UMD budgeting model is being changed to best meet the campus needs. During the second half of the forum, faculty and staff will meet in smaller groups within their administrative areas to discuss the impact of the change in the budgeting process.
We encourage you to join us for this important discussion. I hope that your semester is going well, and I would like to thank you again for all that you do for UMD and the success of its students.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Make Your Mark: Angels for a Cause
Students, Faculty and Staff -
Please join me on Saturday, February 9 to attempt to break a world record in the snow while raising money for clean drinking water in Ethiopia.
Make Your Mark: Angels for a Cause will bring thousands of people to campus to break the Guinness Book of World Records' standard for the most snow angels made simultaneously. The current record is 8,963, set in North Dakota.
Duluth can break the record with your help!
UMD has a challenge with the College of St. Scholastica and Lake Superior College to see which college can get the largest percentage of its students, faculty and staff out for the Make Your Mark event. Be sure to wear your UMD colors and tell the gate attendant that you are representing UMD.
Gates to Malosky Stadium will open at 9:30 a.m. and the record attempt will be at 11:00 a.m. in the various athletics fields on the UMD campus.
The suggested donation is $5 for individuals or $10 for families.
The Rotary Club of Duluth and Proctor High School DECA have organized this event, and 100% of the profits raised from Make Your Mark will go to the Global Team for Local Initiatives, an organization that supports the indigenous people in Ethiopia affected by climate change.
You can register in advance online at makeyourmarkduluth.com and get updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/makeyourmarkduluth. Anyone who registers online will be automatically eligible to win $1,000 in cash. Registration is also available at the door.
I look forward to seeing many of you there to show the world that Those Who Can, Duluth!
Lendley Black
Chancellor
Please join me on Saturday, February 9 to attempt to break a world record in the snow while raising money for clean drinking water in Ethiopia.
Make Your Mark: Angels for a Cause will bring thousands of people to campus to break the Guinness Book of World Records' standard for the most snow angels made simultaneously. The current record is 8,963, set in North Dakota.
Duluth can break the record with your help!
UMD has a challenge with the College of St. Scholastica and Lake Superior College to see which college can get the largest percentage of its students, faculty and staff out for the Make Your Mark event. Be sure to wear your UMD colors and tell the gate attendant that you are representing UMD.
Gates to Malosky Stadium will open at 9:30 a.m. and the record attempt will be at 11:00 a.m. in the various athletics fields on the UMD campus.
The suggested donation is $5 for individuals or $10 for families.
The Rotary Club of Duluth and Proctor High School DECA have organized this event, and 100% of the profits raised from Make Your Mark will go to the Global Team for Local Initiatives, an organization that supports the indigenous people in Ethiopia affected by climate change.
You can register in advance online at makeyourmarkduluth.com and get updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/makeyourmarkduluth. Anyone who registers online will be automatically eligible to win $1,000 in cash. Registration is also available at the door.
I look forward to seeing many of you there to show the world that Those Who Can, Duluth!
Lendley Black
Chancellor
Thursday, December 20, 2012
End of Semester Message from Chancellor Black
Dear UMD Campus Community:
Thank you for another great year at UMD! Our students continue to excel in academics, athletics, and many other areas of student life. Our faculty, staff, and alumni are amazing in their achievements and in their support of UMD.
2012 was also a challenging year. We made great progress in our efforts to create a positive and inclusive campus climate, but we had incidents of racism and other harmful behaviors that are counter to our core values and university goals. We will continue to be diligent in advancing equity, diversity and social justice, and we will not stop until we have a safe and welcoming campus for everyone.
I also want to thank you for your involvement in the Duluth community. Every week I hear stories about the difference our faculty and staff are making through research, volunteering, and contributing time, expertise, and financial support to agencies that need our help.
I am proud of our donations to CHUM's Food Shelf and to the Union Gospel Mission during our End of Semester Buffet. You gave 515 pounds of food for CHUM's Food Shelf and $706.44 to the Union Gospel Mission. It would be impossible to meet the needs of our neighbors without the generous support of community partners. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
You have my best wishes for a safe and enjoyable holiday season. While we celebrate this time of year in many different ways, I hope that you will have a chance to rest with those who are close to you and to work for peace and an end to violence in this country. The children and families who were affected by the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut are in particular need of our best wishes and commitment to create a safer space for everyone.
I look forward to great things in 2013, and I am proud to be your Chancellor and your colleague.
Sincerely,
Lynn Black
Thank you for another great year at UMD! Our students continue to excel in academics, athletics, and many other areas of student life. Our faculty, staff, and alumni are amazing in their achievements and in their support of UMD.
2012 was also a challenging year. We made great progress in our efforts to create a positive and inclusive campus climate, but we had incidents of racism and other harmful behaviors that are counter to our core values and university goals. We will continue to be diligent in advancing equity, diversity and social justice, and we will not stop until we have a safe and welcoming campus for everyone.
I also want to thank you for your involvement in the Duluth community. Every week I hear stories about the difference our faculty and staff are making through research, volunteering, and contributing time, expertise, and financial support to agencies that need our help.
I am proud of our donations to CHUM's Food Shelf and to the Union Gospel Mission during our End of Semester Buffet. You gave 515 pounds of food for CHUM's Food Shelf and $706.44 to the Union Gospel Mission. It would be impossible to meet the needs of our neighbors without the generous support of community partners. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
You have my best wishes for a safe and enjoyable holiday season. While we celebrate this time of year in many different ways, I hope that you will have a chance to rest with those who are close to you and to work for peace and an end to violence in this country. The children and families who were affected by the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut are in particular need of our best wishes and commitment to create a safer space for everyone.
I look forward to great things in 2013, and I am proud to be your Chancellor and your colleague.
Sincerely,
Lynn Black
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