University of Minnesota Board of Regents to meet in Rochester

What and when: University of Minnesota Board of Regents campus visit (Thursday, March 22) and meeting (Friday, March 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)

Where: Phillips Hall, Siebens Building, 100 2nd Ave SW, Rochester, MN 55902

Media note: Friday’s Board meeting will be available via live stream, which can be found on the Regents website. If you will be attending in person, please RSVP in advance to the contact information below so you can gain the proper access.

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents will hold its March meeting in Rochester to emphasize items of particular importance to the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) and southeastern Minnesota. The agenda will include the Board’s formal introduction to UMR’s newly-named Chancellor, Lori Carrell, and a discussion of the vision for the campus.

The conversation on UMR’s vision will feature highlights of the institution’s history, as well as an overview of campus goals and initiatives for the future, including enrollment management. Over the past decade, UMR has grown to approximately 700 undergraduate and graduate students. UMR’s future enrollment goals are a central component of the campus’ Strategic Growth Plan, which is set to be completed by June, in conjunction with the completion of the University of Minnesota Systemwide Strategic Plan.

Systemwide Strategic Plan: Research & Discovery

The Board is also expected to discuss the Research & Discovery focus area of the Systemwide Strategic Plan. President Eric Kaler and Vice President for Research Allen Levine will provide an overview of how University research priorities and investments are chosen, and initiatives included in the plan. The conversation will focus on how the University invests in research funding, talent recruitment, technology commercialization, research infrastructure and interdisciplinary collaboration.  

The presentation will also highlight successes of the University’s MnDRIVE (Minnesota’s Discovery, Research and InnoVation Economy) initiative, including the creation of sustainable fertilizer from wind energy and development of a deep brain stimulation device to treat Parkinson’s disease that has been approved by the FDA. Levine will outline emerging MnDRIVE research opportunities such as opioid addiction, aging, intelligent systems, social disparities and renewable energy. MnDRIVE investments are possible thanks to a partnership with the State of Minnesota.

This is the second of five systemwide strategic planning focus area presentations to the Board. The first update in February was focused on Outreach & Public Service, and the remaining updates include Medicine & Health; Teaching & Learning; and Supporting the Mission.

The Board is also expected to:

• Tour UMR on Thursday, March 22, visiting with students, faculty and staff from across the campus.
• Hear the annual report of the student representatives to the Board of Regents, which addresses four focus areas: 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.  

For more information, including future meeting times, visit the Regents website.