Speech

President's Report to the Board of Regents
  • Thank you, Chair Mayeron
  • I am now eight weeks into my presidency
  • And I am pleased to report that I have visited all of our Greater Minnesota campuses, where I had an opportunity to witness firsthand the extraordinary success our students, faculty and staff are generating across our state, nation and world
  • I have also been able to engage in a number of exciting opportunities across the state, including Farmfest
  • And tomorrow, I am headed to the State Fair
  • Throughout my recent travels, I am so grateful for the warm welcome that communities across the state have shown me
  • And I am constantly reminded of the tremendous impact this University has on people and the neighborhoods in which they live
  • As President, I am thrilled to help build on our positive momentum, especially as we embark on what will be exciting fall semester
  • I would like to take this opportunity today to update the Board and our broader University community on the plans we are developing to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for everyone this fall
  • First and foremost, we want our students, faculty and staff to use their voices to help make the world a better place
    • The University of Minnesota has a rich history of engagement and activism in ways that are consistent with our policies and laws
    • We will remain firmly committed to academic freedom and freedom of expression so that members of our University community are able to engage in respectful and robust conversations about important issues impacting the world around us
  • Second, we have a responsibility to ensure that all members of our University community are safe and feel safe so they can continue their important work without fear or intimidation
    • With freedom of expression comes the accompanying responsibility to refrain from interfering with or impeding upon the rights of others to speak, study, teach, work and learn
  • And lastly, as a University, we must be transparent so that our policies, and the consequences for violating those policies, are crystal clear
  • Given our timeline, I have been working intensely with members of my leadership team this summer to solidify our procedures — in alignment with existing policies — as it pertains specifically to spontaneous civic engagement at the University of Minnesota
  • To reiterate, these policies are not new, and they were not altered in response to the events of last spring
  • Instead, they were developed through shared governance and approved by our Regents years ago
  • I am a firm believer in transparency, which is why my team developed a clear and concise summary of those policies, which were published online this morning so that members of the University community can easily access them
  • We have also been having healthy and productive conversations about our policies and how we will enforce them with students, faculty and staff, including focus groups of faculty senators, chairs of staff consultative committees, and leaders of recognized student governance associations
  • Their feedback has been absolutely critical, and the engagement of our University community throughout this collaborative process will play a key role in our success this semester
  • I will not delve into all of the details this morning, but I can assure you that our framework is designed to support protests and free expression of ideas that align with University policies and local laws
  • Our framework aims to support all members of our University community, including those who believe their voices are silenced or not welcomed, and those who may feel intimidated at times when walking through campus
  • And our framework also includes planned responses for when protests veer beyond University policies, and move from civic engagement into civil disobedience
  • We all saw what took place last spring on college campuses across the country
  • I believe a shared understanding of University policies will help foster a safe and welcoming environment for everyone this semester
  • Our ultimate goal is to support our students and members of the University community as best we can can so that they can work to change the world
  • We are listening, and we heard from members of the University community that, when safety allows, early engagement efforts should not be led by our Department of Public Safety colleagues or local police
  • That is precisely why the University developed a tiered, strategic framework for how to respond to campus protests
  • Recognizing that we are, first and foremost, an educational institution, the University has developed guiding principles for how it will respond to civil disobedience
  • For example, as time and safety allows, our first response will always be to educate
    • We will prioritize for University officials — not members of our Department of Public Safety — to take the lead on early engagement with groups about how they can adjust their behaviors to comply with our policies for civic engagement and free expression
    • These initial conversations are crucial
  • They will provide reasonable opportunities for groups that are protesting to course correct and move into compliance, while clearly outlining the potential consequences for violating our university policies and local laws
    • I have worked in higher ed for nearly 30 years, and so I have always had a deep admiration for the passion and dedication that students, faculty and staff exhibit on a daily basis
    • I also understand that when members of a community feel so strongly about expressing their views, some individuals may be willing to violate University policies and local laws in order to take a stand and amplify their cause, and to then incur the consequences of those actions
    • In those instances, when protesters do not wish to alter their behavior and come into compliance with our policies, we will take action
    • This may include disciplinary actions, like interim suspensions, or legal actions, like trespass warnings and arrests
  • We will work diligently to maintain open lines of communication with student, faculty and staff advisory groups in real time so that we can all work together toward respectful conversation, mutual understanding and peaceful resolution
  • To expand and strengthen our lines of communication, this summer, I and members of my leadership team have been meeting regularly with student groups representing diverse views on the Middle East conflict
  • And throughout our conversations, I am struck by the respectful and peaceful dialogue we have been able to engage in together, especially when it involves such an increasingly complex situation
  • We will continue to work closely with our student groups, as well as our faculty and staff, throughout the fall semester so that, together, we can cultivate a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, while ensuring voices and ideas can be freely expressed
  • Our proactive approaches are designed to ensure all students, faculty and staff have the support and resources necessary to successfully navigate the fall semester
  • One of those proactive approaches comes in the form of the Gopher Equity Project
  • All undergraduate students are required to participate in this powerful training, which addresses issues of access and climate for individuals who may encounter barriers based on their religious or cultural expression, age, national origin, ethnicity, size or veteran status
  • Another example of our proactive approach is the newly created “Teaching in Times of Crisis” workshop, where we provide our instructors with a set of teaching methodologies designed to create a more supportive learning environment
  • The course, which is currently designed around the Middle East conflict and its impact on student learning, includes several examples for how instructors can address and interrupt harmful stereotypes if they arise during classroom discussions
  • This fall, our campuses will be filled with activities, conversations and educational opportunities related to civic engagement, freedom of expression and the responsibilities we share in creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone
  • As President, I can assure you that the safety, health and wellness of our University community is a top priority
  • And I am confident that the plans we have developed in preparation for the fall semester will help position the University — and our broader community — for continued success moving forward
  • In closing, I have been so impressed with how thoughtful, considerate and respectful our University community is
  • How we treat each other and express our views this semester will signal how we move forward together, as a community
  • As we embark on the fall semester, I am asking all students, faculty and staff to help foster an environment where diverse perspectives can coexist and where all members of our University feel heard and valued
  • We have a unique opportunity this semester to model what it truly means to lead with respect, while learning from others who have different life experiences and views than you
  • And together, we can build a stronger, healthier University of Minnesota, while generating positive impact across our communities
  • Thank you for your time and attention this morning
  • Chair Mayeron, that concludes my President’s Report