Regents hear annual report of student representatives

At the March meeting held in Rochester, the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents heard the annual report of the student representatives to the Board. The focus areas of the report included improving diversity and inclusion efforts on campuses, including physical spaces and disability services; reevaluating student information privacy; ensuring consistency in credit transfer between campuses; and encouraging corporate social responsibility of University suppliers, including increasing the number of contracts awarded to local small businesses.    
 
The student representatives to the Board of Regents are a cohort of eight undergraduate and graduate students from across the University system. Their annual report provides the Board of Regents with perspective on the issues and concerns of students.
 
“The perspectives of the student representatives to the Board of Regents are invaluable.” said Board of Regents Chair David McMillan. “I appreciate their annual report, and I expect that the Board will continue their conversations on the student representatives’ stated priorities.”
 
University of Minnesota Rochester
 
The Board also toured the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) campus, focusing on the student experience. The Regents saw interactive classrooms, visited laboratories, attended a poster session of first-year undergraduate research projects, visited student housing on campus and engaged with UMR students, faculty and staff to learn about UMR’s distinctive and innovative approach to health sciences education.
 
The Board also:

• Discussed next steps in the M Health Agreement between Fairview Health Services and University of Minnesota/University of Minnesota Physicians, which is set to expire May 31, 2018. The Board is expected to continue this conversation at its May meeting.
• Officially welcomed Chancellor Lori Carrell, who began her tenure as the second chancellor of UMR in February 2018.
• Approved the appointment of Gary Anderson, DDS, MS as dean of the School of Dentistry. Dr. Anderson’s fixed term appointment will continue through December 31, 2019, with a plan to launch a national search for the next dean during spring semester 2019, for appointment in January 2020. Dr. Anderson has served as interim dean of the School of Dentistry since November 2016.

The Board of Regents will meet next on May 10–11, 2018 in Minneapolis. Visit regents.umn.edu for more information.