President's March Report to the Board of Regents

Thank you, Chair Mayeron and members of the board.

It has been a busy past few weeks here at the University of Minnesota.

And I have a number of systemwide updates that I would like to share with you today.

I would like to begin my President’s Report by focusing on the rapidly changing landscape in Washington, D.C.

My leadership team and I continue to navigate the uncertainty surrounding recent federal communications and executive orders.

First, let me reassure you that our values and mission remain unchanged.

The University of Minnesota has thrived for more than 170 years.

We will not waver in our commitment to training the next generation of leaders.

And we will strive to continue generating the knowledge and innovations our society so desperately needs.

In accordance with our mission, we will serve our state, nation and world to the best of our ability.

It is important, though, for us to acknowledge that severe cuts to federal funding would have drastic implications that extend far beyond our campuses.

The University of Minnesota is the fifth-largest employer in our state.

And we play an absolutely critical role in driving economic activity across all 87 counties.

Slashes to federal funding would undoubtedly affect the overall economic health of local communities of all shapes and sizes across Minnesota.

As well as our ability to deliver on our mission.

We are working diligently to measure the short- and long-term impact of this new federal landscape.

Chancellors, deans and central unit leaders are developing contingency plans for how the University may respond should the federal government follow through on its proposed cuts and mandates.

This includes careful evaluation of our multiyear financial commitments.

At the same time, we will not overreact to what remains a very fluid situation.

We are doing everything in our power to minimize disruptions or distractions.

For our students, our faculty and our staff.

We are also engaging members of our University community in this process.

Knowing that we are much more effective when we work together.

The University also is partnering with higher education associations to address the legality of federal directives that impact our mission.

We are also working diligently to address the stop-work orders placed on multiple federal grants.

To date, our University has received 15 terminations or full stop-work orders from federal agencies.

An additional 26 awards have been impacted by partial stop-work orders.

The University continues to look for opportunities to appeal these actions.

We are also assessing ways in which our University can support faculty and staff who are directly impacted by these orders.

To reiterate, the impact of these federal funding cuts would be significant.

As President, I am committed to ensuring our primary missions of teaching, research and outreach thrive.

And I will continue to advocate on behalf of this amazing institution.

As the University explores every avenue to aggressively address the challenges posed by the recent federal communications and executive orders.

I would now like to share some important leadership updates with you.

First, I am pleased to announce that, following a nationwide search, the University has selected Ryan Schmiesing to serve as vice president for strategic initiatives.

And I am appreciative of your support and approval of this hire.

As vice president for strategic initiatives, Ryan will play a primary role in advancing multiple cross-cutting initiatives that elevate our University’s shared mission and goals.

This includes supporting the Maroon, Gold and Bold systemwide strategic plan, in partnership with the steering committee and the broader University community.

I am also excited to share that John Morris has been selected to serve as CEO and President of the University Foundation.

John will join UMF on May 1.

As CEO and President, John will be responsible for leading the University’s development enterprise.

As well as ensuring oversight of the foundation’s two subsidiaries in real estate and investment management.

His work will leverage the foundation’s 45-member Board of Trustees and systemwide development community to ensure alignment with our Maroon, Gold and Bold strategic plan.

I also would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Kathy Schmidlkofer for the tremendous leadership she has provided UMF over the past 11 years.

Christine Kiel recently stepped into the role of Interim Director of Government and Community Relations.

Christine, who served as our Director of State Relations for many years, has a wealth of experience and expertise in this space.

Her leadership has ensured continuity in our advocacy efforts, which have been quite robust in recent weeks.

Senior leaders from across the University have been very active at the State Capitol.

Advocating on behalf of our students, faculty and staff.

And highlighting the many ways in which our University is positively impacting the state, nation and world.

I myself have testified multiple times in St. Paul in recent weeks.

Support from the state not only ensures a successful future for our University.

It ensures a successful future for our state and nation.

Under Christine’s leadership, I am confident that our Government and Community Relations team will continue to thrive.

I would also like to thank Melisa López Franzen for her leadership and dedication to the University.

Melisa left the University last month to pursue other leadership opportunities, and we wish her the best.

Lastly, we are in the process of conducting a national search for our next Executive Vice President and Provost.

Rachel Croson will step down at the end of the academic year.

This position is critical to our public mission and strategic vision.

Recruitment is actively underway.

The search committee will be interviewing candidates later this spring.

I would like to wrap up my President’s Report by acknowledging the questions and concerns raised by members of our University community as it pertains to institutional statements and academic freedom.

First, I would like to extend my appreciation to the Task Force on Institutional Speech.

The members of this task force put in countless hours of work—outside of their normal duties—to address the issue of unit statements or position statements on matters of public concern.

Regardless of the outcome from today’s board discussion, please know I am committed to upholding individual academic freedom.

We know that universities across the country are facing numerous challenges related to academic freedom.

I want to reiterate the core values that I have continued to express since I arrived here on campus last year.

The purpose of academic freedom is to ensure that our faculty and students can pursue the widest range of ideas and questions in their research and scholarship, teaching and learning, and campus dialogue.

It is essential to our core mission, as a University that produces new knowledge in service to our state, nation and world.

Academic freedom is the bedrock principle safeguarding open inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge.

Here at the University of Minnesota, critical inquiry and the pursuit of bold ideas have produced countless new discoveries and innovations that have improved lives.

I will continue to advocate for and protect the academic freedom of our individual faculty, staff and students.

Personally, I am a public health researcher who previously directed multiple centers that were designed to share evidence-based knowledge on critical societal challenges.

And so I fully appreciate the questions and concerns emanating from our University community.

Thank you for your time and attention.

That concludes my President’s Report.