Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost
May 8, 2008
Dear faculty, students, and staff,
As this academic year draws to a close, I would like to share with you an update on the University’s strategic positioning initiative, Transforming the University. Many people ask me about progress being made in our new strategic positioning efforts. I'm pleased to report that task force recommendations continue to be implemented. Here is an important list of major academic accomplishments during the past year. Next week, I will be meeting with the task force co-chairs at my May “Conversations with the Provost” to provide a more in-depth update on our progress.
Research expenditures: As reported in the most recent National Science Foundation (NSF) Survey of Research Expenditures at U.S. universities, the University of Minnesota logged the second largest increase (8.4%) in research expenditures in 2006 among the top 20 universities in the country. The University currently ranks 8th among public research universities according to the 2006 NSF Survey of Research Expenditures report, with nearly $600 million in research expenditures.
Multi-year fellowships for graduate students: Competing nationally for the best students depends on assembling multi-year financial packages during the recruitment phase. Recruiting the most outstanding graduate students through competitive, multi-year packages is an essential component to our goal of becoming one of the top three public research universities. The University has been working to increase multi-year funding from two to three years.
Institute on the Environment: This new, interdisciplinary institute has completed an outstanding inaugural year. Besides its many activities, the Institute received a $2.1 million gift from an anonymous donor. The Institute also has awarded money to student groups, as well as faculty research through Discovery Grants. The Founding Director of the Institute will be announced later this spring. Visit the Institute Web site for more information.
Faculty awards: University faculty continue to win major awards, including the Nobel Prize and the Guggenheim Fellowship. In addition to the Nobel Prize won last fall by Regents Professor Leo Hurwicz, three professors were just awarded prestigious Guggenheim Fellowships: Professor Doug Arnold, Regents Professor Kathryn Sikkink, and Professor Robin Stryker. In the last two years, the University has had seven faculty receive Guggenheims. Additional information about our newest Guggenheim Fellows.
Liberal Education Requirements: The new liberal education requirements for undergraduate students have been revised, and adopted by the Twin Cities Faculty Senate in April 2008. The new requirements include seven Core areas (Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Historical Perspectives, Literature, Mathematical Thinking, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences) and five Theme areas (Civic Life and Ethics, Diversity and Social Justice in the United States, the Environment, Global Perspectives, and Technology and Society). New requirements go into effect for students entering in Fall 2010, and will be integrated with student learning and development outcomes.
Globalization of the University: During the 2006-2007 academic year, 28% of graduating seniors systemwide had participated in a study abroad experience, an increase of 103% over the past five years. In addition, more than 4500 international students and scholars studied on the Twin Cities campus this academic year.
Time-to-degree: The University has implemented aggressive undergraduate graduation rate goals. Beginning with the Class of 2012, expected graduation rates for students on the Twin Cities campus are: 60% in four years, 75% in five years, and 80% in six years. In addition, the University is monitoring time-to-degree for graduate students, focusing on timely completion of masters and doctoral programs.
Graduation Planner: The University of Minnesota is the first university in the nation to develop and implement an interactive online tool to help students navigate their academic career and graduate in four years. Graduation Planner, also known as “Grad Planner” accesses all available course information and degree requirements so students can create a plan that includes required courses, when to take the courses, and how to fulfill requirements in order to graduate on time. The Planner also lets students try out their “what if” scenarios, such as considering different majors and determining how their graduation date would be impacted by a switch. Grad Planner is a key communication tool between students and their advisers.
Baccalaureate Writing Initiative: 175 sections of first-year writing were given during the academic year by the new Department of Writing Studies in the College of Liberal Arts. This department brings together faculty and staff from Rhetoric, Communications Studies, English, and Postsecondary Teaching and Learning.
Profile of entering undergraduate students increased: For the 11th consecutive year, the profile of the incoming undergraduate class improved. Additional information about the Class of 2011.
Undergraduate research: Participation in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) increased 20% during the past year. This year, 606 students participated in UROP, compared with 507 students who participated last year. We're continuing to increase the participation rate.
University Honors Program: This new, campuswide program integrates the current collegiate-based honors program into an exciting, unified curriculum. The University Honors Program is designed to attract the very best students, and strengthen, expand, and diversify the honors opportunities for all undergraduate students on the Twin Cities campus. The inaugural class of students was admitted this spring, and will begin study in the fall.
Welcome Week: This new event, required for all new first-year, full-time undergraduate students on the Twin Cities Campus, will change how students are introduced to the University. This in-depth, extended orientation program should assist with the recruitment and retention of students.
Academic Support and Performance for Student-Athletes Task Force: Four out of the five recommendations from this task force have been implemented during the year, with the fifth scheduled for implementation during the next academic year.
Congratulations to our graduates, and best wishes for your future. I look forward to seeing the rest of you on campus in the fall. And, to all, I am reminded what Woodrow Wilson once said regarding the role of a college or university, as quoted in Anthony Kronman's new book, Education's End (p. 73, 2007), that it should be about "not so much learning as the spirit of learning." I hope you take time to experience summer in the Twin Cities; enjoy an outdoor concert at Sommerfest, attend a sesquicentennial event at one of our many historic sites, or relax in one of our many parks.
Sincerely,
Tom Sullivan
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