State investment shows support for U of M’s education, outreach, research

University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler responded to the close of the Minnesota legislative session with the following statement:

We are grateful for the Governor’s and the Legislature’s support of the University this session. We are deeply appreciative of the trust they have placed in the University—we take that trust seriously and will use our funds efficiently, effectively, and with a focus on the greatest impact we can make on this state and for our students.

The Governor and the Legislature have shown great support for the University’s work in advancing healthcare for Minnesotans—from funding the Family Medicine residency program to the Mobile Dental clinic that travels across the state, from creating a Minnesota Cancer Clinical Trials Network that will bring leading cancer care to Minnesotans to funding a new Health Sciences Education Facility that will keep our health sciences graduates at the forefront of their practice.

The State has also shown its support for our research endeavors that enrich the economic wellbeing of Minnesota—from supporting the work of the Natural Resources Research Institute and our Chemistry and Advanced Materials Science Building on our University of Minnesota Duluth campus, to the Plant Growth Research Facility that will enrich biological science education and research on our St. Paul campus.

That said, state funding for the University of Minnesota was lower than what we fought for and need to benefit Minnesota’s students and families. Tuition increases, in combination with program cuts, are the only levers we have to maintain mission-driven activities of the University. The University's Board of Regents will review the budget for the coming year and make necessary decisions related to tuition or program cuts. As always, the University is committed to providing a world-class education that is accessible and affordable.

The University has a responsibility—consistent with our mission as a land-grant research university, as a state-chartered institution, and as one of the region’s largest employers—to enhance the wellbeing of the state, its economy and all Minnesotans. With partnership from the State, it is a legacy we look forward to continuing.