Photo by Rick Moore

A 7.25 percent tuition increase and internal cuts of $13 million highlight the 2009 fiscal year budget approved by regents June 13. Regents also voted to support the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit line going through campus on Washington Avenue. U officials had jhoped for  tunnel under Washington, which proved too expensive, or a northern route through Dinkytown, which did not meet federal criteria.
Read details on the votes here.
Read President Bruininks' comments here.
Read a Minnesota Daily Q&A with the President here.

Making a dent in that tuition inclrease is the news that for the first time, grant and scholarship aid to U students will top $200 million next year.

With classes out for the summer, attention turns to research and outreach. A plethora of research news came out in June:

• Climate extremes may bring about conditions that allow for major disease or virus outbreaks, according to U research out of Africa.
• Disturbed rest--not sleeping through the night--is a major indicator of death risk in otherwise healthy older Americans according to new U research.
• An innovative stem cell transplant appears to have saved the life of a child with a rare and fatal genetic disease.
• Naltrexone, a drug commonly used to control alocholism, seems to have similar results in helping compulsive gamblers, according to a new U study.
• A U researcher has quantified how lower-income Americans are hit harder by increases in food prices.

In a development sure to create future research news, the United States Department of Agriculture has approved a laboratory on the St. Paul campus that will conduct research on plant pests that cause diseases such as Asian Soybean Rust, Ug99 stem rust in wheat and Sudden Oak Death. Only three universities in the country have such a facility and the U will be the first in the Midwest. The University's Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture will jointly operate the facility. Click here for more.

Other research that may make future news:

• Bell Museum researchers are looking at the effects of bird collisions with buildings and how to avoid them.
• School of Nursing researchers are looking at how arm exercises may help fight leg pain.
• The Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, source of numerous findings on ecosystem balance and plant diversity, has a new ecology research facility, dedicated in June.

But this is also summer--the perfect time to visit campus. Adam Overland provides and overview of things to do and places to go on campus.

Not on

Why not visit the Scholars Walk this summer?

the list, but worth the trip are the campus monuments honoring great scholars and alumni that have been dedicated in the last few years. Starting at the corner of Oak and Washington, the Alumni Wall of Honor marks the names of recipients of the Outstanding Achievement Award, the U's top honor for alumni accomplishments. Crossing the Gateway Plaza northeast in front of the McNamara Alumni Center, visitors come to east entrance to the Scholars Walk. The 2,200-foot-long walkway features landscaping, benches and numerous kiosks honoring recipients of top scholarly awards. Near the east end is the Nobel Grove, honoring the U's Nobel Prize winners. further west. near the midpoint of hte walk is the Wall of Discovery, a spectacular artisitc representation of great moments of creative and scientific discovery.

You can also view progress (from afar) on TCF Bank Stadium. A major milestone was reached last week: topping out, the placement of the two highest steel beams in the structure. Click here for a report. See the latest stadium time-lapse video on our video page here.

In a separate but related development, the recipients of theTCF Bank Stadium Good Neighbor Fund grants were announced. The funds support projects and enhance and protect neighborhoods near the stadium project.

Gopher Sports are quiet in early summer, but big news for fans came from the agreement between the Big Ten Network and cable company Comcast.

The North Texas Chapter will see the U's new Solar car later this month. Photo by Patrick O'Leary

It means more Big Ten sports will now be available to more basic cable subscribers in Minnesota.

On the playing fields, big news came from the track, where Gopher alum and volunteer coach Shani Marks won her fifth overall national championship in the triple jump, this one earning her a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. For background, click here to see a StarTribune multimedia report on Marks produced a few days before she won the title.

Numerous alumni events for colleges and chapters are set for July. Here is a sampling:

• The Alumni Association offers members a special on the U of M Centennial Showboat July 8.
• The North Texas (Dallas-Ft. Worth) Chapter plans to greet the U's new solar vehicle as it participates in the North American Solar Challenge in the area July 12-13. The cahpter is also involved in a double do-good competition this summer: donating blood to win scholarship money.
• Golf scrambles are set for at least three college alumni societies: CFANS on July 7, Education and Human Development on July 15, and Dentistry on July 25.
• The Portland, Oregon, Chapter hosts its annual summer picnic July 27
• The very active Chicago Chapter hosts two events in late July: a meet and greet with Gopher football coach Tim Brewster and a concert trip to the Ravinia Festival.