Strategic Imperative 1
Prepare students to be fully engaged and active in our state, nation and world
Today Minnesota, higher education, our nation and world face many extraordinary challenges. The University of Minnesota has always been in the business of finding solutions to challenges, no matter how extraordinary, by developing remarkable, determined and engaged problem solvers. We will transform the student experience to prepare our students on all campuses and degree types to be active and knowledgeable citizens ready to engage in meaningful work and make responsible contributions to their communities. We will prioritize exceptional in- and out-of-classroom experiences across the University of Minnesota in collaboration with our business and nonprofit partners, Extension programs, and Research and Outreach Centers. And by identifying effective ways to ensure we support student mental health and food security, we will holistically support students in these efforts.
Focus Areas:
Prepare students to be engaged in a diverse democracy. Minnesota is a leader in civic engagement
To sustain that legacy and ensure our students contribute to a thriving, diverse democracy, we will create and expand innovative programs that increase skills in civil discourse on difficult global and local topics.
Key early actions:
Engage new students in core civic skills to gain knowledge about free expression and the positive role that it can play in their education.
Implement opportunities for all new students to participate in a facilitated community conversation on a topic of public interest designed to improve civic engagement skills.
Provide workshops and curriculum development resources for instructors to create educational exercises that develop student skills and broaden their engagement in public service.
Provide training opportunities and resources for registered student organizations to develop civil discourse and civic engagement skills and bring those skills to the broader campus community.
Make career preparation and experiential and immersive learning an expansive and defining strength of the University of Minnesota experience for all students.
The University of Minnesota offers a wealth of academic programs that provide a comprehensive education, subject-matter knowledge and critical thinking skills to prepare students for their chosen careers or continuing education. Immersive learning experiences such as study abroad, study away, undergraduate research, internships and community engaged learning opportunities allow students to be energized and active participants in their education. In addition to the skills and content knowledge specifically associated with these learning opportunities, such experiences can also enhance cultural competency, broad problem-solving skills, self-awareness, and life and career goals.
Our programs will continue to evolve, informed by a university-wide employer engagement strategy and in collaboration with community partners, to ensure our students excel in the modern world and thrive in its workplaces. Building on this foundation, we will strengthen programming to make immersive learning an essential part of the student experience.
Key early actions:
Identify, develop and implement strategies to create and integrate immersive learning experiences for students.
Ensure every student is educated in their first years to develop a career plan, articulate skills, connect with alumni and employers and locate career-related experiences.
Increase alumni engagement to enhance student understanding of careers and opportunities.
Increase early (first- and second-year) and ongoing participation in career preparation experiences including internships, co-ops, micro-internships, job shadows, simulations and student employment, beginning early and while removing financial obstacles.
Identify resources and reduce financial barriers for students seeking to participate in immersive learning experiences
Develop short-term and flexible programs that account for unique student needs and circumstances to ensure broad participation in immersive learning experiences.
Bring to life “One University on Five Campuses” to ensure student access to resources and opportunities regardless of home campus.
The University of Minnesota comprises five campuses, which allow individual students a unique set of resources, cultures and locations to earn a University of Minnesota degree. By recognizing and respecting the distinctiveness of each campus, we will further enhance the student experience — regardless of a student’s home campus.
Key early actions:
Adopt the Okanagan Charter, prioritizing commitment to health and well-being across the University of Minnesota in support of student success.
Expand mental health prevention and treatment for students on each campus.
Develop new solutions or grow existing strategies to expand access to food options on all campuses.
Enable the highest quality of life by supporting students’ mental health and food security so they can focus on thriving, not simply surviving.
The University of Minnesota has long prioritized the well-being of our students across all campuses, and that work has continued to evolve. We are now well positioned to build on this important, student-identified priority and have an even greater positive impact on student mental health and food security.
Key early actions:
Adopt the Okanagan Charter, prioritizing commitment to health and well-being across the University of Minnesota in support of student success.
Expand mental health prevention and treatment for students on each campus.
Develop new solutions or grow existing strategies to expand access to food options on all campuses.
Prepare students to be engaged and active citizens
Preparing students is about giving them opportunities to use the knowledge and practice the skills they have gained. By developing knowledgeable and engaged students through immersive, hands-on experience working through demanding issues, the University of Minnesota will ensure that our graduates are ready to engage in meaningful work and make purposeful contributions to our communities and the world with the confidence, competence, and collaborative spirit required.