University of Minnesota Alumni Association : The Turning Point: CEO's Column


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The Turning Point: CEO's Column
By Margaret S. Carlson

Since the June 10 Board of Regents meeting, I have been proclaiming to alumni audiences that the golden days have returned to the University of Minnesota. What makes this a banner time for the U? First and foremost, the Board of Regents voted 11-1 to endorse University President Bob Bruininks' strategic planning recommendations, which are key to our quest to become one of the top three public universities in the world.

While it's far from the only reason for optimism, the regents' vote will be remembered as a turning point for the University. But it wasn't without controversy. Six colleges are affected in the first set of recommendations. Three of them-General College, the College of Human Ecology, and the College of Natural Resources-will no longer exist as free-standing academic units. And three-the College of Education and Human Development, the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and the College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences-will undergo substantial changes as academic units merge with them. But nearly every academic unit will undergo a transformation as the University makes strides toward its goal to be the best.

Some of Bruininks' recommendations were met with resistance, especially from supporters of the 73-year-old General College. The proposal to reduce the college to a department brought up familiar pain, disappointment, and fear. Twice before in recent decades U presidents had made motions to close the college, and both times its defenders mounted successful campaigns to overturn the recommendation. This year, General College supporters held peaceful, passionate demonstrations on Northrop Mall, in the president's office, and outside McNamara Alumni Center, where the regents meet. The local media covered the topic extensively. Supporters of General College sent hundreds of letters and e-mails to the regents, campaigning to keep the college open.

Many groups on campus, including the alumni association, knew that they needed to study the recommendations and publicly speak out. If we failed to do so, the General College issue could overshadow all other issues. The association's advocacy committee held numerous meetings, listening to and debating with University officials. The topic was discussed with Bruininks and provost Tom Sullivan at our board meetings this winter and spring.

Throughout the public debate over the recommendations, many people at the University and in the wider community asked that the process be slowed down and made more deliberate and consultative. The advocacy committee considered this as well. But Robert Stein, president-elect of the alumni association, knows something about large, complex organizations; he's executive director of the American Bar Association and former dean of the University's Law School. “The University can't afford to stand still in the face of changing demographic, economic, and global challenges,” he said. “The University can't be Minnesota's economic engine without getting ahead of those changes and that's why these recommendations are moving forward at exactly the right time.”

By a vote of 33-2, the alumni association gave its support of the president's recommendations at the May 7 national board meeting with the following resolution:

The University of Minnesota Alumni Association strongly endorses the University's vision to be one of the top three public research institutions in the world. To achieve this transformation, the University must think creatively, act boldly, and look beyond traditional academic and administrative structures. We have confidence in President Bruininks' wisdom, leadership, and courage, and we urge the Board of Regents to support his recommendations.

As the strategic positioning process moves into implementation, we encourage University leaders to continue to engage a wide array of people within the University and greater community and to establish and monitor measures of success. As representatives of the University's alumni, we pledge our support and assistance. We share the University's goal to continue to embrace change and to build a campus culture centered on excellence, diversity, and access to success.

After the board vote, 22 of the alumni association's past national presidents endorsed the association's resolution. And numerous other campus groups and coalitions endorsed the plan. Twenty of the 22 collegiate deans signed a statement that read, “The time is right to institute programmatic and cultural changes that will set the course for academic excellence.” Embracing a new transformational culture was endorsed by 31 of the U's 55 McKnight Distinguished professors. Forty-two current and former members of the University of Minnesota Foundation's Board of Trustees signed a full-page ad in the StarTribune stating, “This plan is a wise investment in the future of one of Minnesota's precious assets.” And the Faculty Consultative Committee voted its support 120-3, an unprecedented endorsement from the heart of the University.

Bruininks, a 37-year veteran of this institution, said that it would have been the easiest thing in the world not to lead this effort. But he knows this institution and the state deserve real leadership. The University has not done major restructuring since 1965, he pointed out, and the University cannot be reformed without attacking the curriculum. “Change is difficult, but the status quo is not an option,” Bruininks said. “If we stand still, we will surely fall behind.”

Thanks to President Bruininks and our regents, the U will neither stand still nor fall behind. I encourage you to send a note of thanks to Bruininks (upres@umn.edu) and our regents. Because of their vision and courage, the University is on the way to the top.

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