In their report-heavy December meeting, the Board of Regents heard updates on MPact 2025 and a report from the Faculty Consultative Committee (FCC).

The Board also reviewed the effectiveness of on-campus public safety during the fall semester and was interrupted by a Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) protest.

At the end of the public session, the regents convened for a non-public meeting to further discuss legal strategies for the eight ongoing lawsuits against the University due to the data breach in July.

Public safety after the Dinkytown shooting

The Board was presented with an update on public safety on campus during the fall semester, given by Myron Frans, senior vice president for finance and operations.

Newly implemented public safety initiatives on campus, like the turnstiles in Pioneer Hall, have proven successful so far, Frans said. Housing and Residential Life will also begin adding turnstiles elsewhere across campus, starting with Middlebrook Hall on the West Bank and 17th Avenue Residence Hall on the East Bank.

Regent Penny Wheeler said she also heard positive student responses about safety on campus through the blue light and turnstile systems and an increased UMPD presence.

According to Frans, these investments have also seen a positive return in off-campus safety. He said statistics show crime in the Marcy-Holmes area has slowly been declining.

Frans said the next steps are to dedicate more time to making more specific crisis response and emergency preparedness plans. He said having existing plans in place in the event of another incident like the Dinkytown shooting the weekend of Dec. 2 can save lives.

Interim President Jeff Ettinger agreed that even though public safety on- and off-campus has greatly improved over the fall semester, the shooting in Dinkytown underscored how the University’s work in ensuring an even safer campus is far from over.

“There’s always more to do, and I will not waver on safety being a top priority,” Ettinger said.

An interruption by SDS

The meeting was interrupted almost immediately by an SDS protest denouncing Israel’s attacks on Palestine. During Ettinger’s report, the protestors raised painted-red hands and chanted, “Board of Regents, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide.”

Chair Janie Mayeron called a Board recess during the interruption.

The protest only lasted around three minutes. As the protestors marched out of the conference room, their chants changed to, “Not another penny, not another dollar, no more money for Israel’s slaughter.”

An update on MPact 2025

Ettinger and Rachel Croson, executive vice president and provost, gave the Board a presentation on the University’s five-point systemwide strategic plan MPact 2025 showcasing how close the University is to completing its promised goals under the program.

Out of the systemwide 30 goals outlined in MPact 2025, two have been fully completed and 24 are nearing completion. Ettinger said he was grateful to see this active strategic plan when he stepped into his role and is excited to help see it to fruition.

Croson said MPact 2025 has helped serve Minnesotans and raised the University to a new level of accomplishment.

“One thing we should think about in receiving these reports is what’s next,” Regent Kodi Verhalen said. “Especially because this [plan extends to] 2025, and we’re already less than 30 days to 2024.”

Report from the Faculty Consultative Committee

Mark Bee, chair of the Faculty Consultative Committee (FCC), delivered a report to the regents that sounded an “alarm bell” on items the regents need to consider.

According to the FCC Report on Faculty Compensation, the University has the lowest faculty salary of the top 10 public universities in the country. The report shows UMN faculty salary averaging around 20% below peers.

Bee said the University’s willingness to offer an increased salary is key to helping faculty feel valued and retaining a strong workforce. He recounted a story where his wife, a faculty member at the University, was offered a similar position at Ohio State University.

“She went to her department and sought what we thought was a reasonable retention package,” Bee said. “Their response was: go to Ohio State.”

Ettinger thanked the FCC for compiling their report. He said it identifies some true problems the University needs to address.

Bee said these alarms are being sounded at a “pivotal moment,” when the Board is preparing to select the next University President.

“There is some hope that our next president will put us on a new strategic path that genuinely and successfully pursues excellence,” Bee said. “I think I speak for many faculty and staff, and I hope students too, in saying that the alternative is not something any of us are very interested in.”

Fairview Health Services provided official notice Monday that it would not be renewing its current contract with the University of Minnesota, instead opting to work with the University to reach a new agreement before the current one expires.

The original agreement between Fairview and the University will still remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2026, giving both parties around three years to settle on a new contract before the current one expires.

The announcement will not change how the partnership is currently managed, and there are currently no changes being made to M Health Fairview, with Fairview and the University still operating under the joint brand.

Fairview CEO James Hereford said in an email to employees Monday afternoon this announcement is not an indication of ending the partnership with the University, but “this current agreement cannot be what carries us into our future.”

“Going forward, we will continue to negotiate in good faith to reach a new agreement, one that delivers on the unique promise of academic and community medicine,” Hereford said.

The University affirmed the partnership is not affected with this announcement, and that patients will continue to receive the same level of care in M Health Fairview facilities.

“Our focus remains on delivering the health care services Minnesotans need and expect from us in these facilities,” the University said in a statement Monday.

The relationship between Fairview and the University began in 1997 when Fairview acquired the University’s East Bank Medical Center. Fairview has invested over $1 billion in University facilities since, including $100 million this year.

The current contract between Fairview and the University would have automatically renewed for the next 10 years on Dec. 31 if neither party objected to its renewal.

Regent Penny Wheeler said Tuesday the Board of Regents will be sharing an update on M Health Fairview as part of their December meeting.

Hereford said in his Monday email to employees he is scheduled to speak on Tuesday at a meeting for the University’s task force on academic health. The meeting will focus on the challenges Fairview is currently facing, chances for a new partnership and opportunities for more state-supported medicine.

The Board of Regents unanimously approved the profile for the 18th University of Minnesota president and reviewed the financial plan for their agreement with CentraCare at a special meeting on Thursday.

Candidates for University president will be narrowed to two to four finalists by late January. There was no action taken on the approval of the CentraCare financial plan, but the Board will decide at their next meeting in December.

The Presidential Position Profile

The Board voted unanimously to approve the position profile the Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC) will use to narrow down candidate finalists for the University’s 18th president.

Chris Uggen, vice chair of the PSAC, said the Board will be looking for someone who will embody the University’s mission and act as a vigorous long-term advocate for the University’s interests.

According to the University’s webpage, their mission is to generate knowledge through research, share that knowledge through education and extend that knowledge to the community through public outreach.

“It’s a huge, wide-ranging job, but it’s also the coolest job in the world for the right candidate,” Uggen said.

Uggen said the PSAC has every intention of recruiting a “world-class leader” to serve as the University’s next president. The PSAC held a total of 21 public listening sessions systemwide from Oct. 17 to Oct. 24.

Mary Davenport, chair of the PSAC, said they received nearly 800 comments across different platforms that helped them build the position profile.

The Academic Affiliation Agreement

The Board reviewed the financial plan for the Academic Affiliation Agreement (AAA) between the University and CentraCare that was approved by the Board at their meeting on Oct. 12.

The agreement will establish a new regional medical school campus in St. Cloud and expand opportunities for post-graduate residencies at CentraCare facilities.

Bill Sibert, senior associate dean of the University Medical School, said the AAA was created to address the need for more physicians in rural Minnesota.

Sibert said the AAA expects a $1.5 million loss per year once the program is fully operational. CentraCare will be covering any deficits, but a joint fundraising campaign led by the University and CentraCare will help lower the deficit.

According to Sibert, it is a financially sustainable plan. The model he proposed during his presentation is already in use at the Twin Cities and Duluth medical schools.

“We’ve done this before. We’re doing it now and we believe we’ll do it even more successfully in another location,” Sibert said.

19-year-old University of Minnesota student Sumith Maddi, who was reported missing last week, was found dead in the Mississippi River.

Bruce’s Legacy, a volunteer search and rescue organization, said in a Facebook post they received a call from Maddi’s family on Oct. 22 asking them to help find their missing son. The search crew arrived early the next Thursday morning and found Maddi soon after.

The post from Bruce’s Legacy said they were able to return Maddi to his family with help from the Hennepin County Water Patrol.

According to an obituary from White Funeral Homes in Burnsville, Maddi passed away on Oct. 21, the same day he was last seen. He was last seen leaving the 17th Avenue Residence Hall at 2:40 a.m.

The University Department of Public Safety asked for help locating Maddi last week. They confirmed in a follow-up to their original tweet on Oct. 22 that “this is no longer a missing person.”

The exact circumstances of Maddi’s death are still unknown.

A visitation and funeral service for Maddi was held on Monday. He is survived by his parents, sister, grandparents, and other family and friends.

Maddi graduated from Eastview High School in Apple Valley before attending the College of Liberal Arts.

The Board of Regents took action on several high-priority items during this week. They voted unanimously to approve a partnership with CentraCare and a $500 million request to the state legislature towards building upkeep.

The regents continued their discussion about the search for the 18th University of Minnesota president, talked about how to improve diversity and equity on campus and awarded three University faculty members the Regents Professorship, the highest honor for faculty.

After the public session concluded, the regents held a non-public meeting to discuss the eight ongoing lawsuits against the University as a result of a July data breach.

The University’s partnership with CentraCare

The Board held a special committee meeting on Thursday to summarize the discussions from the task force on academic health. They also talked about the University’s partnerships with Fairview Health and CentraCare.

The Board voted unanimously in their meeting Friday to approve a proposed Academic Affiliation Agreement (AAA) with CentraCare. The agreement would see a new medical school campus based in a CentraCare facility in St. Cloud.

The passing of the motion means the University can begin recruiting students and faculty in preparation for the start of classes in fall 2025.

The partnership between the University and CentraCare comes at a critical time when University and state officials are heavily focused on developing Minnesota’s health care workforce.

Kenneth Holmen, CEO of CentraCare, said at the meeting Thursday there is a notion in greater Minnesota about “giving your best acre.” According to Holmen, CentraCare wants to “give [its] best acre” by advancing infrastructure for the good of the community in its partnership with the University.

“They [Minnesotan settlers] gave their best acre to create an opportunity for tomorrow, and that’s really what all this is about,” Holmen said.

HEAPR funding requests

The Board of Regents voted unanimously to approve a proposed $500 million request for Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) funding Thursday.

HEAPR funding is designated specifically for repair work on older buildings. The University’s goal with the funding is to restore older buildings and consolidate classes to free up more space on campus.

Previously, the Board would request a blend between HEAPR funding for basic repairs and other funding for more specific projects, like Fraser Hall. This year the entire request will be for HEAPR funding because many buildings need repairs.

The request for HEAPR funding from the state is pivotal this year. Alice Roberts-Davis, vice president of University Services, said conversations with Gov. Tim Walz and other state legislators had shown support for the request.

“The situation is such that we really need this asset preservation money and if we can get the asset preservation money, we won’t ask for anything else,” Roberts-Davis said.

Of the $500 million request, $417 million would be put toward restoration work on the Twin Cities campus. The rest would be divided between the Crookston, Duluth and Morris campuses.

“It is an investment in students, faculty, researchers and staff who will lead Minnesota’s future success and competitiveness,” Board Chair Janie Mayeron said.

The search for the 18th president continues

The University is continuing its efforts to find candidates to fill the position of president.

The search advisory committee assisting the University is now fully formed. The Board unanimously approved the search committee as a part of the presidential search process and its duties.

Out of nearly 200 people who applied to be a part of the presidential search committee, only 24 made the cut. The committee consists of students, faculty, alumni, staff and regents, with regent Mary Davenport serving as committee chair.

The search committee’s job is to engage with the University community, recruit candidates and narrow the field down to two to four candidates for the Board to consider.

“I can say I am confident in the process, and the individuals [on the search committee],” Davenport said.

The search committee will host listening sessions across campus starting next week. These sessions are open to the public and let people outside of the search committee voice their recommendations.

The task force on the future of academic health at the University of Minnesota held their second meeting on Wednesday to discuss its recommendations to the governor.

The meeting featured presentations on the current state of Minnesota’s healthcare system, recommendations based on the 2015 Blue Ribbon Commission and the University’s five-point vision for academic health.

University Board of Regent member, Penny Wheeler, Dean Jakub Tolar of the Medical School and Dean Connie Delaney of the School of Nursing were named as members of the task force at the end of September. All three attended the meeting.

In her opening statement, former State Health Commissioner and task force chair Jan Malcolm said the current Minnesota health care system wasn’t designed for the challenges the state is facing today.

“This is the critical moment in time both to respond to some present challenges, but also it’s a great time to think bigger and envision the system we want for all Minnesotans,” Malcolm said.

Nearly one-third of rural physicians plan to leave the workforce within the next five years, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Work satisfaction has dropped among nearly all healthcare professionals over the past four years.

“What we’ve been feeling in health care, we now are seeing,” Wheeler said. “The health care system in general is maxed out.”

According to Wheeler, the University has a massive impact in healthcare across the state. One of the bigger talking points of the meeting was improving healthcare delivery in rural areas.

Minnesota has a lot of unique assets and strengths, and recognizing them will help implement a stronger healthcare system, Wheeler said.

Douglas Peterson, a legal officer at the University, said recommendations to the task force are based on the University’s five-point plan for improving health care.

The five-point plan was introduced in January as a part of MPact 2025. The vision aims to help the University develop a world-class healthcare system where they are in control of University medical facilities while providing opportunities for partnerships with other healthcare systems.

Peterson said the five-point plan recommends a new state-of-the-art hospital to be built on East Bank campus. The current facilities on East and West banks are aging and a new hospital complex would help advance medicine for at least the next half-century, he said.

According to Peterson, partnerships like M Health Fairview and the proposed University-CentraCare program are essential to ensuring the University’s success in health care.

“The University cannot be an island,” Peterson said. “If we do this in isolation, we’re going to fail.”

The partnership between the University and CentraCare would place another regional University Medical School campus in St. Cloud by fall 2025.

Kenneth Holman, CEO of CentraCare, said at the Board of Regents meeting Thursday that he was excited to enter into the partnership with the University and hopes their collaboration will help support rural health in Minnesota for the next few decades.

“If this gets approved holistically, we are serving a profound community effort across all of Minnesota,” Wheeler said in response to Holman’s comments.

The University’s partnership with CentraCare is in its infancy, but there is still concern about the relations between the University and Fairview Health.

University representatives are meeting with Fairview leaders weekly to discuss the future of the partnership, Tolar said.

According to Wheeler, the task force can give recommendations, but Fairview and the University must reach a final decision between themselves.

The task force will hold its next meeting Oct. 25. Meetings will continue biweekly until Jan. 10, 2024, five days before the task force must submit its final recommendations.

The task force on the future of academic health at the University of Minnesota held their second meeting on Wednesday to discuss its recommendations to the governor.

The meeting featured presentations on the current state of Minnesota’s healthcare system, recommendations based on the 2015 Blue Ribbon Commission and the University’s five-point vision for academic health.

University Board of Regent member, Penny Wheeler, Dean Jakub Tolar of the Medical School and Dean Connie Delaney of the School of Nursing were named as members of the task force at the end of September. All three attended the meeting.

In her opening statement, former State Health Commissioner and task force chair Jan Malcolm said the current Minnesota health care system wasn’t designed for the challenges the state is facing today.

“This is the critical moment in time both to respond to some present challenges, but also it’s a great time to think bigger and envision the system we want for all Minnesotans,” Malcolm said.

Nearly one-third of rural physicians plan to leave the workforce within the next five years, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Work satisfaction has dropped among nearly all healthcare professionals over the past four years.

“What we’ve been feeling in health care, we now are seeing,” Wheeler said. “The health care system in general is maxed out.”

According to Wheeler, the University has a massive impact in healthcare across the state. One of the bigger talking points of the meeting was improving healthcare delivery in rural areas.

Minnesota has a lot of unique assets and strengths, and recognizing them will help implement a stronger healthcare system, Wheeler said.

Douglas Peterson, a legal officer at the University, said recommendations to the task force are based on the University’s five-point plan for improving health care.

The five-point plan was introduced in January as a part of MPact 2025. The vision aims to help the University develop a world-class healthcare system where they are in control of University medical facilities while providing opportunities for partnerships with other healthcare systems.

Peterson said the five-point plan recommends a new state-of-the-art hospital to be built on East Bank campus. The current facilities on East and West banks are aging and a new hospital complex would help advance medicine for at least the next half-century, he said.

According to Peterson, partnerships like M Health Fairview and the proposed University-CentraCare program are essential to ensuring the University’s success in health care.

“The University cannot be an island,” Peterson said. “If we do this in isolation, we’re going to fail.”

The partnership between the University and CentraCare would place another regional University Medical School campus in St. Cloud by fall 2025.

Kenneth Holmen, CEO of CentraCare, said at the Board of Regents meeting Thursday that he was excited to enter into the partnership with the University and hopes their collaboration will help support rural health in Minnesota for the next few decades.

“If this gets approved holistically, we are serving a profound community effort across all of Minnesota,” Wheeler said in response to Holmen’s comments.

The University’s partnership with CentraCare is in its infancy, but there is still concern about the relations between the University and Fairview Health.

University representatives are meeting with Fairview leaders weekly to discuss the future of the partnership, Tolar said.

According to Wheeler, the task force can give recommendations, but Fairview and the University must reach a final decision between themselves.

The task force will hold its next meeting Oct. 25. Meetings will continue biweekly until Jan. 10, 2024, five days before the task force must submit its final recommendations.

The task force on the future of academic health at the University of Minnesota held their second meeting on Wednesday to discuss its recommendations to the governor.

The meeting featured presentations on the current state of Minnesota’s healthcare system, recommendations based on the 2015 Blue Ribbon Commission and the University’s five-point vision for academic health.

University Board of Regent member, Penny Wheeler, Dean Jakub Tolar of the Medical School and Dean Connie Delaney of the School of Nursing were named as members of the task force at the end of September. All three attended the meeting.

In her opening statement, former State Health Commissioner and task force chair Jan Malcolm said the current Minnesota health care system wasn’t designed for the challenges the state is facing today.

“This is the critical moment in time both to respond to some present challenges, but also it’s a great time to think bigger and envision the system we want for all Minnesotans,” Malcolm said.

Nearly one-third of rural physicians plan to leave the workforce within the next five years, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Work satisfaction has dropped among nearly all healthcare professionals over the past four years.

“What we’ve been feeling in health care, we now are seeing,” Wheeler said. “The health care system in general is maxed out.”

According to Wheeler, the University has a massive impact in healthcare across the state. One of the bigger talking points of the meeting was improving healthcare delivery in rural areas.

Minnesota has a lot of unique assets and strengths, and recognizing them will help implement a stronger healthcare system, Wheeler said.

Douglas Peterson, a legal officer at the University, said recommendations to the task force are based on the University’s five-point plan for improving health care.

The five-point plan was introduced in January as a part of MPact 2025. The vision aims to help the University develop a world-class healthcare system where they are in control of University medical facilities while providing opportunities for partnerships with other healthcare systems.

Peterson said the five-point plan recommends a new state-of-the-art hospital to be built on East Bank campus. The current facilities on East and West banks are aging and a new hospital complex would help advance medicine for at least the next half-century, he said.

According to Peterson, partnerships like M Health Fairview and the proposed University-CentraCare program are essential to ensuring the University’s success in health care.

“The University cannot be an island,” Peterson said. “If we do this in isolation, we’re going to fail.”

The partnership between the University and CentraCare would place another regional University Medical School campus in St. Cloud by fall 2025.

Kenneth Holman, CEO of CentraCare, said at the Board of Regents meeting Thursday that he was excited to enter into the partnership with the University and hopes their collaboration will help support rural health in Minnesota for the next few decades.

“If this gets approved holistically, we are serving a profound community effort across all of Minnesota,” Wheeler said in response to Holman’s comments.

The University’s partnership with CentraCare is in its infancy, but there is still concern about the relations between the University and Fairview Health.

University representatives are meeting with Fairview leaders weekly to discuss the future of the partnership, Tolar said.

According to Wheeler, the task force can give recommendations, but Fairview and the University must reach a final decision between themselves.

The task force will hold its next meeting Oct. 25. Meetings will continue biweekly until Jan. 10, 2024, five days before the task force must submit its final recommendations.

The task force on the future of academic health at the University of Minnesota held their second meeting on Wednesday to discuss its recommendations to the governor.

The meeting featured presentations on the current state of Minnesota’s healthcare system, recommendations based on the 2015 Blue Ribbon Commission and the University’s five-point vision for academic health.

University Board of Regent member, Penny Wheeler, Dean Jakub Tolar of the Medical School and Dean Connie Delaney of the School of Nursing were named as members of the task force at the end of September. All three attended the meeting.

In her opening statement, former State Health Commissioner and task force chair Jan Malcolm said the current Minnesota health care system wasn’t designed for the challenges the state is facing today.

“This is the critical moment in time both to respond to some present challenges, but also it’s a great time to think bigger and envision the system we want for all Minnesotans,” Malcolm said.

Nearly one-third of rural physicians plan to leave the workforce within the next five years, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Work satisfaction has dropped among nearly all healthcare professionals over the past four years.

“What we’ve been feeling in health care, we now are seeing,” Wheeler said. “The health care system in general is maxed out.”

According to Wheeler, the University has a massive impact in healthcare across the state. One of the bigger talking points of the meeting was improving healthcare delivery in rural areas.

Minnesota has a lot of unique assets and strengths, and recognizing them will help implement a stronger healthcare system, Wheeler said.

Douglas Peterson, a legal officer at the University, said recommendations to the task force are based on the University’s five-point plan for improving health care.

The five-point plan was introduced in January as a part of MPact 2025. The vision aims to help the University develop a world-class healthcare system where they are in control of University medical facilities while providing opportunities for partnerships with other healthcare systems.

Peterson said the five-point plan recommends a new state-of-the-art hospital to be built on East Bank campus. The current facilities on East and West banks are aging and a new hospital complex would help advance medicine for at least the next half-century, he said.

According to Peterson, partnerships like M Health Fairview and the proposed University-CentraCare program are essential to ensuring the University’s success in health care.

“The University cannot be an island,” Peterson said. “If we do this in isolation, we’re going to fail.”

The partnership between the University and CentraCare would place another regional University Medical School campus in St. Cloud by fall 2025.

Kenneth Holman, CEO of CentraCare, said at the Board of Regents meeting Thursday that he was excited to enter into the partnership with the University and hopes their collaboration will help support rural health in Minnesota for the next few decades.

“If this gets approved holistically, we are serving a profound community effort across all of Minnesota,” Wheeler said in response to Holman’s comments.

The University’s partnership with CentraCare is in its infancy, but there is still concern about the relations between the University and Fairview Health.

University representatives are meeting with Fairview leaders weekly to discuss the future of the partnership, Tolar said.

According to Wheeler, the task force can give recommendations, but Fairview and the University must reach a final decision between themselves.

The task force will hold its next meeting Oct. 25. Meetings will continue biweekly until Jan. 10, 2024, five days before the task force must submit its final recommendations.

The task force on the future of academic health at the University of Minnesota held their second meeting on Wednesday to discuss its recommendations to the governor.

The meeting featured presentations on the current state of Minnesota’s healthcare system, recommendations based on the 2015 Blue Ribbon Commission and the University’s five-point vision for academic health.

University Board of Regent member, Penny Wheeler, Dean Jakub Tolar of the Medical School and Dean Connie Delaney of the School of Nursing were named as members of the task force at the end of September. All three attended the meeting.

In her opening statement, former State Health Commissioner and task force chair Jan Malcolm said the current Minnesota health care system wasn’t designed for the challenges the state is facing today.

“This is the critical moment in time both to respond to some present challenges, but also it’s a great time to think bigger and envision the system we want for all Minnesotans,” Malcolm said.

Nearly one-third of rural physicians plan to leave the workforce within the next five years, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Work satisfaction has dropped among nearly all healthcare professionals over the past four years.

“What we’ve been feeling in health care, we now are seeing,” Wheeler said. “The health care system in general is maxed out.”

According to Wheeler, the University has a massive impact in healthcare across the state. One of the bigger talking points of the meeting was improving healthcare delivery in rural areas.

Minnesota has a lot of unique assets and strengths, and recognizing them will help implement a stronger healthcare system, Wheeler said.

Douglas Peterson, a legal officer at the University, said recommendations to the task force are based on the University’s five-point plan for improving health care.

The five-point plan was introduced in January as a part of MPact 2025. The vision aims to help the University develop a world-class healthcare system where they are in control of University medical facilities while providing opportunities for partnerships with other healthcare systems.

Peterson said the five-point plan recommends a new state-of-the-art hospital to be built on East Bank campus. The current facilities on East and West banks are aging and a new hospital complex would help advance medicine for at least the next half-century, he said.

According to Peterson, partnerships like M Health Fairview and the proposed University-CentraCare program are essential to ensuring the University’s success in health care.

“The University cannot be an island,” Peterson said. “If we do this in isolation, we’re going to fail.”

The partnership between the University and CentraCare would place another regional University Medical School campus in St. Cloud by fall 2025.

Kenneth Holman, CEO of CentraCare, said at the Board of Regents meeting Thursday that he was excited to enter into the partnership with the University and hopes their collaboration will help support rural health in Minnesota for the next few decades.

“If this gets approved holistically, we are serving a profound community effort across all of Minnesota,” Wheeler said in response to Holman’s comments.

The University’s partnership with CentraCare is in its infancy, but there is still concern about the relations between the University and Fairview Health.

University representatives are meeting with Fairview leaders weekly to discuss the future of the partnership, Tolar said.

According to Wheeler, the task force can give recommendations, but Fairview and the University must reach a final decision between themselves.

The task force will hold its next meeting Oct. 25. Meetings will continue biweekly until Jan. 10, 2024, five days before the task force must submit its final recommendations.