The University of Minnesota will receive $110.6 million in new state money for the 2002–04 biennium. The amount includes $90.7 million in new state general funds and $19.9 million from tobacco-settlement proceeds for a new Academic Health Center endowment.

Regents were to vote July 12 on a two-year budget with a total of $174 million in new spending. Tuition and fees would increase more than 13 percent in each year under the plan, presented by University President Mark Yudof to the Board of Regents in June. The budget also calls for $30 million in central administration cuts. The majority of the budget increase, about $110 million, would go to increase faculty pay an average of 5.5 percent and staff salaries by 3 percent. Other priorities include hiring faculty to expand freshman seminars, improving student advising, and covering maintenance costs associated with opening new and renovated buildings.

Maureen Reed was elected chair of the University’s Board of Regents and Robert Bergland vice chair for a two-year term beginning July 1. Reed, who has served four years on the board, is a physician and executive with Health Partners. Bergland, who was elected to the board in 1997, is a former U.S. secretary of agriculture and member of Congress.

The state legislature adjourned its special session June 30 without selecting regents for five seats. By statute, Governor Jesse Ventura will now select regents for the Fifth Congressional District seat, three at-large positions, and the student regent. Ventura has said he will likely select new regents in late July or early August. Although the terms of the current regents expired on June 30, they will continue serving until replacements are named.

The Board of Regents reported on President Yudof’s annual performance review, noting accomplishments in academic leadership, administrative management, fiscal management, planning, fund raising, and relationship building with internal and external constituencies. The board encouraged Yudof to develop a plan to demonstrate the University’s accountability.

The Board of Regents approved a new set of health plans for University nonbargaining unit employees beginning January 1, 2002. The Interim Health Benefits Committee (IHBC), consisting of academic and professional staff, civil service staff, and faculty, recommended the new plans. IHBC and the President’s Administrative Working Group concluded that the University objectives for greater control are better met in a University-managed system than the state-administered plan in which the University had previously participated. "If we self-insure, we can add and remove benefits based on [recommendations from] a permanent employee health benefits committee," said Frank Cerra, senior vice president for health sciences. By working more closely with employee groups, "we can design plans that better meet their needs." Details on plan design and cost are not yet available, as contract negotiations with the four plans are under way.

The regents approved an additional $20,890,000 for the Coffman Union renovation project. The original $50 million budget allocation proved insufficient following a January 2001 reprogramming and redesign. The project consists of remodeling about 338,000 square feet and adding, among other things, new food service and a central University Bookstore. "Not having Coffman for two years has deeply impacted student involvement," said Venora Hung, student representative to the Board of Regents.

Fund-raising efforts are under way for the Gateway Plaza, featuring a monument at the corner of Oak Street and Washington Avenue. The regents approved schematic plans for the $3 million plaza March 9 and approved design of the monument on June 7. The monument, which will cast light on the plaza, consists of two towers—91 feet and 71 feet—about six feet apart. The plaza and its monument will be built with private donations. The plaza should be finished before winter, but "it would take three to four years before we can erect the [monument]," said University Gateway Corporation CEO Larry Laukka.

The University received a $4.7 million grant to map the U.S. population. Minnesota Population Center researchers will use the National Science Foundation grant to electronically compile census-related data from 1790 to the present. Currently, most historic census data only exist on paper and in obsolete computer formats. The project will take five years to complete.

The youngest-ever Minnesota recipient of a cochlear implant underwent the procedure June 8. University Medical School otolaryngologist Frank Rimell performed the surgery on 12-month-old Zachary Revenig, whose hearing impairment was discovered when he was two days old. The procedure involves surgically implanting a device consisting of a microphone, signal processor, external transmitter, and receiver under the skin above and behind the ear.

Dave Winfield received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the University June 9 before a Minnesota Twins game. Winfield, who played basketball and baseball at the University and is the first Gopher student-athlete to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, was cited for being a gifted athlete, philanthropist, humanitarian, and role model.

Brenda Oldfield was hired as Gopher women’s basketball coach June 8. Oldfield replaces Cheryl Littlejohn, who was fired May 14. Oldfield was head coach at Ball State and a former assistant at Iowa State. Littlejohn was fired following a University investigation that revealed NCAA rules violations in three categories: improper offers, inducements, or impermissible benefits; interference in a prior investigation; and practice time and evaluation of prospects. The University has taken corrective actions, imposed limits on recruiting, and turned the investigation over to the NCAA enforcement office.