University of Minnesota President Cunningham sat down with the Minnesota Daily to discuss pertinent issues this semester, such as press-police relations, suicide prevention and protests on campus. 

The Minnesota Daily: Provost Croson announced her decision to end her tenure as Executive Vice President and Provost yesterday. What will the search process look like for a new EVPP? 

President Rebecca Cunningham: “We’re just getting started on that process now, but we’ll engage in national search with the search firm that, you know, works on national higher ed searches like we have before. I’m starting to think about putting together what that search committee will look like, but we’ll certainly have representation across our faculty and student groups, etc., and there will be a process for community input along the way, and so kind of broad outlines. We’re just getting it going right now, but I’m hoping that we’ll kick off in full by January so that we can, you know, we hope to have a new provost in place before the start of the next academic year.”

Daily: Was the “no-confidence” vote in June a deciding factor in her decision to leave the University?

Cunningham: “You’d have to ask her if it was a deciding factor for her in her decision to leave. So, I have not heard that it was. Provost Croson has served five years, which is longer than any Big Ten provosts in recent times. It’s typical after this sort of course, and after a five-year period that provosts decide to move on to next roles or to do something different. It’s very typical, but you’d have to ask her what made her make her decision.”

Daily: How long are the temporary measures for suicide prevention on the Washington Avenue Bridge going to be up? 

Cunningham: “They will be up until there are permanent measures in place. We’re working with the county as you and others know, we don’t own the bridge, so we can’t decide to put permanent measures on the bridge, but we’re working with our county partners. Everybody wants to do the right thing here. We all know the success of fencing and suicide prevention measures to save lives, and I think we’re all focused on working towards that.”

Daily: You disapproved of the Morrill Hall occupation on Oct. 21, SDS took similar actions to the Morrill Hall occupation in 1969 which resulted in the African and African American Studies department. How do these two differ in your view? 

Cunningham: “First of all, it’s 2024. We have to consider the actions and what’s happening currently in the current context that we live in. I wasn’t here in 1969, and I can’t speak to that particular occupation of the hall, but in our current context, I have spent months since I got here talking with you and others about what our policies were here, policies that I didn’t create, but policies that are our University policy, that are our shared community code, that shared governance have put forth, and that we’ve said, ‘These are the rules that we will live by together as a community’. These are our policies. And I’ve worked hard to sit down with students, have been meeting with the students and the faculty across this issue for months to make it really clear how they could use their important voices for free expression. That they could protest things that they felt needs the world’s attention, and the ways that they can do that and be within our policy here at the University, as well as within, you know, local, the city and state and national laws. 

So I made those things really clear in 2024, and these actions were not peaceful protest. They crossed the line. There’s no First Amendment rights, or right to vandalize things, to break things and to cause the kind of fear that my staff felt that day. Those are not protest actions. Those are actions that violate our codes and our policies. 

So also remind people there were a lot of people that protested outside that day. They used their voices, they protested, they used their free expression. They did not come under any disciplinary action. That’s protest. That is within what we allow at the University — trespassing, breaking things, blocking exits, barricading things. That’s not protest, that’s vandalism, obstruction of work and a violation of our community code. 

I encourage folks to think about a cause that you do not agree with, and then say, ‘President Cunningham, if people with X cause that I really don’t agree with did this with the building,’ would people think, ‘Do you want me to judge this on the morality of the cause?’ Because that’s not the way the law works, and that’s not the way our civil code works, and that’s not the way our community Code of Conduct works.”

Daily: Seven SDS students were suspended from the University for up to two and a half years. They don’t have access to their official transcripts and credit records, and they’re not able to transfer colleges without forfeiting previously earned credits. How is this response appropriate? 

Cunningham: “First of all, I can’t comment on any of the students’ individual code of conduct violations. Those are protected policy. I will say you’re having misinformation. However, it is not the University’s policy to hold transcripts. I can’t speak to these students. In general, students that are suspended are not held from their transcripts, and if they want to take them and transfer, they can. That confusion was widely clarified. And so, I think that was some early confusion that was put around here. And again, I can’t speak to these individual students, but I will tell you that is not accurate information.”

Daily: This information we learned from the students themselves. They said that they were told they weren’t allowed their official transcript.

Cunningham: “So what I would say, you might revisit that, because there’s been clarifying information about what I think was a confusing communication. We have a student code of conduct process, and students who violate our code of conduct, regardless of what it is, we have students that violate our code of conduct on other days as well, and there’s a typical process at the University. Students will go through that process the same way they would if they violated our code of conduct in some other way. And with 68,000 students, it’s not infrequent that there’s some student that has violated our code of conduct in some manner, and you have a standard process for that, and it’s fair and honest and in the same way it would be for any student.”

Daily: Moving into 2025, how are you working to ensure that students have the free expression to protest on campus while ensuring that there aren’t disruptions, as we saw this semester?

Cunningham: “I continue to meet with students. I’ve, you know, made it really clear the ways that people can protest and stay on the right side of our community code and on the right side of our state and local laws. I applaud students for caring about the world and wanting to change the world, but there are ways that we can do that is protected free speech. Then there’s ways to do that that cross over the line. And what I’ve tried to do is to make that line very bright and very clear, because I don’t want students to face consequences or to be in trouble with the law. What I want to do is help them be really clear on what they can and can’t do, and I think I’ve done work to do that over the past months. Still, I have met all along with the students and said, you know, since the beginning meetings we had here in June and July, that trespassing and occupying buildings and vandalism wouldn’t be tolerated. So not new information. Perhaps people didn’t believe me.”

Daily: The Minnesota Daily reporter Tyler Church was briefly detained. Thankfully, he got his things back. Thankfully, it was a very brief period, and no one’s the worse the wear. But I am curious what is being done to resolve tensions between press and police on campus?

Cunningham: “I mean, you know, let me say at the outset, we believe in a strong, free press. Free inquiry is really important in this time that we live in, especially. I think it’s, you know, certainly unfortunate, and I’m glad it was rectified quickly because it’s not in keeping either with what the University wants to have happen or with what our police department wants to have happen. I’m glad it was rectified quickly.

The Daily is important. We love the Daily. And I know that our police force also respects the free press. And things got a little chaotic there, and they rectified it quickly. But there was no malintent there, by any means. And I’m glad, you know, other universities have had things go much further, and they’ve arrested student reporters and things like that. And we, fortunately, are far more savvy and cautious than that here, and didn’t get anywhere near that place. We’ll continue to do better work.”

This article was edited for clarity and conciseness.

Provost Rachel Croson announced she will not return to the University of Minnesota for summer 2025 in a systemwide email Monday. 

This decision approaches Croson’s five-year anniversary as Executive Vice President and Provost, according to the email. 

“I am so grateful for the collaboration, camaraderie, and support you all have shared with me, but especially your continued commitment to this amazing University,” Croson said in her email. “In our agreements and disagreements, consultations and conflicts, brainstorming and decision-making, I know that each of you was motivated by what you feel would be the best for this institution, as was I.” 

Croson joined the University in March 2020 as chief academic officer of all five campuses. 

In her role, Croson oversaw promotion and tenure, academic policies and practices, and academic programs. She collaborated on the University’s academic planning and budget and hired 13 academic deans and six vice provosts during her tenure.

Croson worked closely on MPact 2025, the University’s systemwide strategic plan, and the President’s Initiative for Student Mental Health. 

Croson chaired on the Big 10 Academic Alliance Board of Directors. 

On June 26, the College of Liberal Arts Assembly voted “no-confidence” in Croson for her involvement in the retraction of Raz Segal’s job offer as director of the Center of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. 

President Rebecca Cunningham thanked Croson for her years of service at the University in another systemwide email. 

“I am eternally grateful to Rachel for her guidance, her support and her collegiality, all of which have benefited me immensely during the early parts of my presidency,” Cunningham said in the email. “I am confident Rachel will continue to thrive as a national leader in higher education, and I look forward to whatever great opportunity comes next for her.”

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents unanimously approved the appointment of the new Vice President of Communications at a special meeting Nov. 15.

President Rebecca Cunningham announced Chris Gade’s employment Nov. 14 in a system-wide email, pending approval from the Board. The University hosted a nationwide search for a new Vice President of Communication that launched May 17.

“His familiarity with academic research, clinical care, health sciences workforce development and the state of Minnesota all position him to dive into our work immediately,” Cunningham said in a Nov. 14 press release.  

Gade will oversee the University’s public relations teams across all five campuses, with its 60 employees and $8.5 million budget, according to the position profile. He will be responsible for the University’s branding and reputation, developing marketing, outreach and engagement strategies. 

Gade will also serve as a senior advisor to President Cunningham, Provost Rachel Croson and campus chancellors on all communication matters, according to the position profile. 

For more than 30 years, Gade worked at the Mayo Clinic in communication before working as the Vice President of Marketing and Engagement at the Rush University Medical Center.

“I’ve been fortunate to serve in organizations that are committed to leveraging education and research to serve the public good, and nowhere is this more true than the University of Minnesota,” Gade said in a press release. 

Gade will start his position Nov. 25, according to Cunningham’s email.

Police drew guns and arrested people outside Identity Dinkytown apartments on 15th Avenue SE and SE 4th Street Thursday afternoon. 

According to witnesses, around three University of Minnesota and Minnesota Police Department vehicles were on the scene. Officers drew guns before arresting the individuals.

This is a developing story.

A HAZMAT incident at the University of Minnesota was reported to local authorities, according to a SAFE-U Emergency alert sent at 5:37 p.m. Sunday, which has been resolved. 

A person in Amundson Hall noticed a warning indicator outside of a room and contacted 911, according to University spokesperson Jake Ricker in an email to the Minnesota Daily. 

The University Police Department, Minneapolis Fire and University hazardous materials personnel evacuated and tested the area for possible hazards, Ricker said. The building was reopened roughly 40 minutes later when no safety risks were found. 

Information about this incident’s SAFE-U notifications can be found here.

In a systemwide email sent July 15, University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham appointed Provost Rachel Croson to create a faculty-led committee to review hiring and academic freedom policies and how they intersect.

Cunningham reiterated her decision in an interview with the Minnesota Daily on Aug. 29, where she said she hopes creating a shared understanding will build faculty trust in her administration. 

This decision follows the “no-confidence” vote Chief Academic Officer Croson and former Interim President Jeff Ettinger received on June 26 from faculty governance for the rescinding of Raz Segal’s offer to be the director of the Center of Holocaust and Genocide Studies (CHGS).

Croson received 80% of the “no-confidence” vote from the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Assembly and 53% from the Faculty Senate, CLA Assembly Chair Michael Gallope said. 

In more than 10 letters to Ettinger, Croson and Cunningham, faculty said the decision to revoke Segal’s directorship offer was a clear violation of hiring and academic freedom policies.  

A “no-confidence” vote means a change in leadership, Gallope said. 

Gallope said Ettinger consulted with very few people before publicly announcing the CHGS director search pause at the Board of Regents meeting on June 12. Gallope added Ettinger did not consult with the Faculty Consultative Committee, CLA Dean Ann Waltner or the directorship search committee. 

“The decision was made by the President in conversation with Provost Croson,” Gallope said. 

Gallope said Croson had a special responsibility to ensure Ettinger’s decisions were compliant with academic policies.

“There is no academic freedom at Hormel Foods,” Gallope said about Ettinger’s former position as CEO of Hormel Foods. 

The CLA constitution outlines the dean is the sole hiring authority for center directorships. 

According to the Board of Regents Academic Freedom and Responsibility policy, academic freedom applies to everyone and protects them from institutional discipline or interference from discussing issues of public concern in an academic setting. 

By rescinding Segal’s job offer based on his expert opinion calling Gaza a “textbook case of genocide,” Croson violated the University’s hiring and academic freedom policies, Gallope said.

Twin Cities Chapter President for the American Association of University Professors William Jones said academic freedom is not simply free speech, but the right to study, to conduct research and to teach and publish based on one’s expertise without interference from authorities. 

To not hire Segal based on his statements about the Israel-Hamas war means that the question is off the table for scholarly debate, which has serious implications for CHGS and other centers. 

“How can an academic center fulfill its mission without the freedom to discuss issues related to its mission openly?” Jones said. 

Jones said Cunningham’s systemwide email completely overlooks the concerns faculty raised about academic freedom violations. 

The University has an Academic Freedom and Tenure committee nominated by the Faculty Senate leadership and charged with protecting academic freedom on campus, Jones said. 

“It doesn’t make sense to have someone at the center of the conflict appointed to solve the conflict,” Jones said. 

The legitimacy of the decision to remove Segal’s job offer should not be questioned by a committee hand-picked by Croson, Gallope said. 

Gallope said this is “as flagrant as it gets for conflicts of interest.” 

Croson did not respond in time to comment. 

In an email to the Minnesota Daily, University Director of Public Relations Andria Waclawski wrote, “If you’re hearing from sources there’s a conflict of interest in that, it was the President’s decision, not the Provost, who is taking on those tasks after being directed to do so by her boss.”

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated Andria Waclawski’s position and misspelled her name.

On Thursday, University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham discussed her administration’s goals regarding affordability, increasing legislative support, supporting student activism and free expression, and campus safety. 

Cunningham also shared the steps she took to rebuild trust with students and faculty after former Interim President Jeff Ettinger’s decision to postpone the search for the director for the Center of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. 

Former Minnesota Daily reporter Bianca Caputo conducted the interview. 

Minnesota Daily: As reported by the Minnesota Daily, students will see a tuition increase of up to 5.5%. With widespread inflation, students may struggle to meet costs. What are your presidency’s goals for reducing tuition costs for students and what programs are in place to support middle-income and low-income students?

Rebecca Cunningham:  “Affordability is really important. And I know I’ve shared with you and the University community that I was a first-generation student — the first in my family to go on to college right after high school and did so with the help of Pell Grants and scholarships. So affordability is certainly a really important part of the University for me, and then public education and with that, the cost of a public education that is available and accessible to many people is really important to me.

I did see the tuition increase this past year by the Board. I also mentioned, and I think you heard me say yesterday, that one of the things I’ve been delighted to find out here is that, even with that, the University of Minnesota really maintains a commitment to support those who need the most support. 

And so the University of Minnesota, there’s what we see for sticker price, and then there’s what students actually pay. And I know those can be really confusing, both for families and for students, but because we provide such a rich array of financial aid and scholarships, that actually families that make under $110,000 a year, our middle class and less resourced families, we’re actually the most affordable four-year option for school in the state of Minnesota. And I’m certainly really, really excited about that. And certainly, as a goal to maintain that affordability for students, especially for our students who need the most support.

So I do understand that costs are up and costs are up everywhere. And with that, the costs of running the University are also up. And we want to make sure that, with the funding that we have, we can provide the services that students need and this top premier education that we offer and to maintain that.”

Daily: In past meetings, the Board addressed decreases in legislative support which have postponed several University goals, like the return of the Fond du Lac land. What plans do you and the Board have for increased legislative support? 

Cunningham: “Last year, our government relations team hired a new director, Melisa López Franzen, and she certainly has been building that team appropriately, and I’ve been out and about and working to meet our legislators and our state representatives. In fact, at the fair yesterday, I got a chance to meet with some and I’ve certainly been over the Capitol a number of times even before I started to build those relationships. But we do, as a state’s public university, we do receive state funding from the legislature. And when that does not happen, that does mean we have less funds, and when we have less funds of fixed costs, it does lead to either not doing things and or increasing other ways that we have to raise money, which I think you saw in tuition.” 

Daily: Will certain University goals be reviewed to see if they can be achieved without support from the legislature?

Cunningham: “So we’re always reviewing what our priorities and goals are in the face of our current budget and budget limitations. So that’s pretty much a constant wheel. You know, we don’t receive all of our funds from the states. We obviously have the revenue sources, as we talked about, as well as research funds, etcetera, and philanthropic funds as well. We’ll launch a new campaign next year at the University. So we’re always looking at all the ways that we can bring money and resources to the University, and then we’re constantly also reviewing what that means for what we have the funds to do, and where our hopes and dreams can be for new, exciting initiatives. And then what things we need to stop doing so that we can afford to keep our budget balanced, which we do every year, provide a balanced budget to the state.”

Daily: Do you feel confident, with the new team coming in, that we’ll be able to achieve more legislative support this year, or is that up in the air? 

Cunningham: “I think it’s always up in the air. So we’re in partnership with the state and we will continue to work on our end to be good partners to the state. I think we also really need to think about the value, the amazing value, that we bring to the state, whereas a leading public research university, one of the top 10 in the country, we bring a value to the state of Minnesota that is really important for the people in Minnesota and gives the tremendous value for the students in Minnesota to then come here, which then many stay and call Minnesota home after they graduate, and with that, continues to drive economic viability and sustainability and success for the state of Minnesota. 

So, I think that’s the other way to think about how we partner with the state. I think, you know, not only that, but the University also in our research and discovery mission, we’re bringing new innovations to the state. We rolled out 230 startups since 2006. Those create small businesses that stay in Minnesota. These are things that bring value to the state and those are the kinds of conversations that I also have with state legislators, in addition to conversations about what we’re asking from the state, about the amazing value that we provide. You know, how we’re in every county in Minnesota when you count all of our extension programs, our five campuses across the state. So these are a constant conversation, but a sustainable budget has to balance state investments and affordability, fair compensation as a large employer, excellence in education and research engagement.” 

Daily: Recently the Board of Regents adopted a position of neutrality on investment decisions regarding the consolidated endowment. What are the administration’s plans for handling campus protests in the fall?

Cunningham: “I mean, first of all, the University of Minnesota has always been a welcoming place for students to have a voice heard, whether it be protests or pickets or other means of free expression. And I think we can see that by the fact that, for a long time, you’ve had policies here on how to support free speech and expression. Other universities have required for a long time that for any such protests, there be a permit, for example, and that’s not the University of Minnesota’s policies. So, you know, I just can’t say loudly enough, I’m thrilled that our students want to use their voices to try to change the world in all kinds of ways. And the world will continue to change in ways we don’t yet imagine, as we sit here in August, between now and next July, and student voices are an important part of that, as are our staff and faculty voices. So I just really want to, you know, encourage that continued enthusiasm and interest in being involved in our communities and working to change the world. As a public university, we have also a mandate and a fundamental focus on First Amendment speech and free speech, and that’s allowed and is mandated by law that it be allowed. 

So with that, we also want to make sure we have a safe and welcoming environment for all of our community. And with that, the University of Minnesota has had long-standing policies that are not new. What’s rolled out the other day, I just can’t say loudly enough: We did not create those policies. Those are policies that the University of Minnesota has had that shared governance created over the last 10 years. What the team did this summer was simply try to consolidate those and make them really visible and clear. Because, I don’t know if you’ve tried to poke around on our policies on our web pages, but they’re confusing. Sometimes you have to kind of dig here and dig here and dig here. So what we wanted to do was to try to make it really clear to our community what the policies were to support their free expression so that they could do that and still be well within the bounds of our university policies and also of local laws.”

Daily: At the Board of Regents Retreat you mentioned a ‘no confidence’ vote in Interim President Ettinger’s leadership. What is your plan to increase confidence in university administration this fall as students return?

Cunningham: “Well, I think there’s a long commitment here of academic freedom. And you know, if we want to reiterate that, I know Provost Croson is going to be launching a great series on the topic. We’re bringing in speakers and helping to share ideas on the topic, and that’s by no means to mean that people here don’t already know those concepts. It’s just that there’s different examples around the country and around the world right now of how those are playing out, and I think University of Minnesota can be on the forefront in terms of leading how we discuss those.

I think the other thing to do is, you know, I’m new here, I’m out in the community. I’ve been meeting tons of people, trying to be really transparent about the decisions that we’re making. I mean, hence the policies, for example, that we put forth. I’ve traveled to all five campuses just in the eight weeks that I’ve been here so far, trying to get to know communities and our staff and students and teams across those communities. Meeting with shared governance, met with the student leaders and faculty leaders you know, working to get to know the community and trying to have good, open lines of communication and lots of transparency.” 

Daily: Faculty raised concerns over academic freedom after the postponement of the director search for the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. How will you rebuild trust with faculty members in your administration? 

Cunningham: “You know, I’m out and talking to lots of different folks. I think that that decision was certainly made before I was President, and I know Interim President Ettinger weighed that decision carefully on a number of different factors. In the message, right in July after I became president, I outlined two proactive steps that we’re taking with our faculty to further explore academic freedom and shared governance. I’ve asked Provost Croson to appoint a diverse faculty-led committee to review and to create a shared understanding of those policies and how those policies and academic freedom intersect so that we can all be on the same page about it. I think there was some confusion about it by many different people, and I think we should get a shared understanding.

And then again, we’re looking to, in consultation with faculty staff and academic leaders, arrange some robust conversations about the current national landscape and challenges around academic freedom and shared governance. So hopefully that, as well as working with the community on the exciting visioning and strategic planning we’re doing moving forward. I think one of the best ways to build trust is to create a shared vision together and then work really hard towards it. 

And I’m really looking forward to a broad, robust, community-engaged process over the course of the next year, where students and faculty and staff and even our community and alumni will have the opportunity to help dream and vision together about where we want to be in the next five and 10 years, and then we can start to chart the course together towards that. And hopefully, both that process and then the implementation of it will begin to build trust.” 

Daily: Safety has been a major concern for students when deciding on their universities. What are your new plans for addressing safety and security on campus?

Cunningham: “There’s a couple things here. I mean, first of all, overwhelmingly, the numbers that I’ve seen (show) the campus itself – the University campus itself – is incredibly safe. So I just really want to reassure, first of all, our community about that. We are in an urban area, and all urban areas, and every community, actually rural or urban, when you put 65,000 people or so together, does have an assortment of human interactions that happen in it. The statistics I’ve seen recently have [shown] that crime numbers and incidents have been reduced in the communities surrounding, which I think is great. I think there’s a number of things that the University has done over the past year. You know, we’re really enhancing the Safe Walks and the Safe Rides. There’s a new safety center that is opening in Dinkytown next week, where we’re trying to help have our Department of Public Safety be closer to some of the areas where there’s been more incidents to make sure that we can support the local police in their job and responding.

Yeah, I think that those are some of the pieces. You know, so I just say the Twin Cities is a far safer city than an awful lot of cities all across the country, including many that I’ve lived in. And one of the great benefits that students and faculty have coming and being here is that it is an urban environment, and we have amazing arts and theater and community and restaurants and great things to do. And so I think that that urban environment is a great benefit as well and I think our students feel that.” 

Daily: Outside of the things that I’ve asked and brought up, what are your other major goals for your administration?

Cunningham: “One of the first things I’m focusing on, I’m really excited about, is the University had MPact 2025, which is coming to an end, and with that, we get to chart a course together for what the next strategic plan will be for the University. And, I think in addition to having great initiatives and things that we measure together like MPact 2025 did, I’m really looking forward to also having the University help create really a shared vision about who we want to be and what uniquely sets us apart from many other universities. And there are some great differentiators we have here, and opportunities for our students and faculty to be here, and why they should be here, and how we can highlight those and lean into them more. So I think that’s a really exciting part of my focus for this next year. 

I’m also very focused a fair amount on how we operate a system. So we have five great campuses. Those offer each an opportunity for students to find the right end for them, all across the state, with totally different environments, different opportunities, different communities, different sizes, different urban, rural focus, there’s really a place for any student’s interests and preferences across our University of Minnesota system. How we work together as a system and are efficient as a system is part of my interest, and that’s one of the reasons I’ve been to all five campuses now in my first eight weeks. You don’t really know what places until you get to walk it, right? So I’m excited that I got to do that. 

Certainly, we have a focus on health and the total health of Minnesota. Minnesotans are looking to the U of M to lead the future of health for our states, and we’re really well-equipped to deliver on that. We’re providing great world-class care for patients and innovations that lead to so many life-saving treatments. We’re also the biggest trainers of our health care workforce for not only the state of Minnesota but certainly provide an amazing workforce, even beyond. But as Minnesota faces where all states do, which is our workforce decreases and challenges in rural health, I’m focused on how the University of Minnesota can help respond to that. So there’s a great opportunity. When I’m talking about health, health in Minnesota means many things, not just health for people. It means health in animals, health of our soil, health of our agricultural, sustainability health. It means mental health. So also how art and the humanities help health. I mean, there’s lots of ways to think about this, and the University of Minnesota, is one of the four schools in the country that has a full suite of Health Sciences schools, is really uniquely able to deliver on that promise of improved health across Minnesota and to be leaders in the nation on this.” 

Editor’s note: This article was edited for readability, conciseness and clarity.

Protestors attended the University of Minnesota Board of Regents special meeting Tuesday, asking the regents to vote no on a resolution establishing “institutional neutrality” on divestment requests of consolidated endowment fund holdings regarding Israel.

The resolution passed with eight votes yes, one vote no and three absences.

The decision to approve the resolution followed two previous Board meetings discussing the University’s endowment fund and potential neutrality as well as conversations with community members. 

Protestors affiliated with UMN Divest Coalition and Students for a Democratic Society shouted several chants after the resolution’s approval, including “shame shame shame” and “Regents you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.”

The resolution supports previous decisions made by the Board to divest from Sudan and fossil fuels, but declined requests to divest from “certain investments related to Israel.”

The resolution does not prevent future requests for divestment, Board Chair Janie Mayeron said.

“The resolution acknowledges that divestment in the future of certain investments held in our endowment may be appropriate in rare circumstances,” Mayeron said.

The Board tasked President Rebecca Cunningham with developing a process for submitting and evaluating future requests for divestments that aligns with four key provisions outlined in the resolution.

Future requests for divestments must show the investment is fundamentally incompatible with the University’s core mission and values, there must be a broad consensus and the process of evaluation must consider the potential social, political and financial impacts, according to the resolution.

Mayeron said the resolution does not address or prohibit students’ ability to protest.

Regent Robyn Gulley proposed alternate amendments pertaining to the word “neutrality” in the resolution and other language.

“It makes my brain spin to figure out how we are neutral and how we have other positions that are not neutral,” Gulley said.

The motion to amend the resolution failed. Gulley was the only Regent to vote no.

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved one of two proposed resolutions for the implementation of the 2024 Title IX regulations for sex and sex-based discrimination at a special meeting Monday.

During a brief presentation on the current legal landscape and policy changes, the Board was provided two alternative options. Both options approved the amended policies, but the first option allowed President Rebecca Cunningham to immediately implement the new Title IX regulations when legally permissible and the second option required a special meeting to direct the implementation of the new policies. 

Regents unanimously decided to have Cunningham implement the new Title IX regulations after the injunction lifts, following a brief discussion and a recommendation from Senior Associate General Counsel Carrie Ryan Gallia. 

“There is a possibility, I don’t like to think about it, that the injunction could be lifted and another court could step in two weeks later, three weeks later, and rejoin the regulations,” Ryan Gallia said. “Rather than calling multiple special board meetings to implement, or rather un-implement, the President can sort of direct that action a little quicker.” 

Since the July 10 meeting, several changes were made to the Title IX policy, Title IX Coordinator Tina Marisam said. Those changes include the Title IX or Equal Opportunity office being responsible for record-keeping and overseeing the University’s compliance with federal and state nondiscrimination laws, as well as revising policies and associated procedures to apply to all reports of prohibited conduct, among other changes. 

Marisam said the office will prepare for the policy’s implementation between July 23-31, should the injunction. However, it is unclear when the new policies and procedures will take effect. 

During the meeting, Regent Mary Turner asked if the Title IX office was clearly communicating with the Graduate Labor Union and other unions at the University. 

Marisam said the office sent a letter to all University unions about policy changes and will be scheduling a follow-up meeting after the Board meeting. 

The Board unanimously approved the policy for the University’s Eastcliff residence, which includes an approximately $6 million improvement plan.  

At the Board of Regents meeting May 10, community members raised concerns about the University of Minnesota’s complicity in the genocide in Gaza through its investments in Israel and weapons manufacturing companies, while others shared fears about increasing anti-semitic rhetoric on campus. 

On May 9, administrators presented the annual operating budget for the fiscal year 2025, which saw an increase in tuition and compensation, and the board reviewed proposed changes to student service fee exemptions. 

Public Forum and Student Representatives

The public forum was an opportunity for the community to voice their concerns about the recommended operating budget, according to Board Chair Janie Mayeron. There were 18 speakers and each had three minutes to speak. 

Sixteen community members, mostly students, at the public forum urged the University to divest from Israeli companies and weapons manufacturers to better align with student values. Students referenced past divestments from companies, like the South African apartheid in 1985 and the Darfur genocide in Sudan in 2007. 

Students said they love the University community and the education they are receiving but were ashamed about the University’s complicity in war crimes and the arrest of student protestors on April 23. 

Nate Wulver, an undergraduate individualized studies student, said the current budget does not reflect the values of diversity, equity and education.

“I am really concerned by the fact that it feels like the money I am paying as a student for tuition is currently going towards human suffering as opposed to bettering the world,”  Wolver said 

Donia Abu, a fourth-year student with family in Gaza, said she was disgusted that the University budget is being used to kill her family and people in Palestine. 

“Twelve members of my family have been senselessly murdered by the Israeli regime,” Abu said. “For the past seven months, I have had to witness photos of my family’s injuries and their charred bodies circulate on the internet.” 

Abu criticized the University’s use of students of color to portray an image of diversity and inclusion but bullies and arrests them when they demand the University listen to their concerns.

A student was threatened with arrest by a University police officer for trying to enter the board meeting, according to Mira Altobell-Resendez, an access specialist at the Disability Resource Center and the staff member arrested on April 23. 

Student representatives from UMN Divest Coalition and Minnesota Hillel were given an opportunity to share their concerns about the University’s current ties to the Israel-Palestine conflict. 

The students from the UMN Divest Coalition continued the same sentiments from the public forum asking the University to divest from war manufacturing companies, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and continue increasing its transparency around investments.

“No student should have to grapple with the fact that the University they attend is invested in the suffering of their own people,” said Gracelyn McClure, a fourth-year student and member of Students for Climate Justice. 

After the UMN Divest Coalition representatives finished speaking, students and other community members who had packed the board room cheered. 

Charlie Maloney, the incoming student president for Minnesota Hillel, the Jewish Student Center on campus, said he did not want to be at the Board meeting to fight and defend Jewish identities or explain the Jewish connection to Israel, but that he had been forced to do so. 

“The last seven months have been scary for most Jewish students,” Maloney said. “Even though most of us have sadly been desensitized to harmful and anti-Israel rhetoric on campus, this year has been filled with more hatred targeting Jewish students based on our identities than ever before.” 

Students laughed after Maloney said Jewish voices and histories were being erased and replaced by token Jewish voices and Hamas propaganda. He added  Hillel and other Jewish organizations provide students the opportunity to engage with Israel and have productive dialogue around the conflict in Gaza. However, he said the University is not providing space for this type of engagement. 

Alex Stewart, the student president for Hillel, said UMN Divest and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) engaged in anti-semitic behavior several times in recent years. 

According to Stewart, SJP ran a campaign in 2017 called Skip the Trip which targeted and harassed Jewish students on campus who were interested in participating in educational trips to Israel. She also referenced the Vote No campaign launched by UMN Divest after a referendum on the all campuses ballot asked if the University should define anti-semitism. 

Maloney said the University should not heed the calls for divestment. 

“We will continue to work with you and others as we try to work through these very important, complicated and volatile issues for our University, for the nation and for the world at large,” Mayeron said. 

No action on the competing calls has been taken yet.

Student Service Fees

Calvin Phillips, the vice president for student affairs, and Julie Tonneson, the interim senior vice president for finance and operations presented the Board of Regents Policy Tuition and Fees review of proposed amendments, which has not been updated in 10 years. 

Student service fees are a separate cost from tuition that students taking six or more credits during the spring and fall semesters must pay to access services like the RecWell Center and health and wellness services. Students taking three or more credits for the summer semester are required to pay the fees. 

These fees are not based on individual student interest or usage, according to Phillips. 

Those exempt from paying student service fees are non-degree-seeking students, high school students and students taking fully online or mid-career programs, Phillips said. 

Phillips recommended revising the criteria for charging fees to students by removing the exclusion of off-campus distance courses and excluding students studying abroad for a full semester. 

These changes were made based on the students’ relationship with campus and their need for community support and wellness services, Phillips said. 

Niko Vasilopoulous, a third-year student representative, said he appreciated the proposed exemption of study abroad students to the student service fees policy. 

“Being a Carlson student, as was mentioned earlier, who’s required to study abroad, I really want to appreciate adding the exemption for students,” Vasilopoulos said. “That makes a lot of sense and I know a lot of students are really going to be happy with that decision.” 

Annual Operating Budget 

According to Tonneson, the University is projected to receive $4.8 billion in revenue to cover $4.7 billion in anticipated expenses for the next fiscal year (FY). 

The budget focused on providing fair pay for faculty, staff and student employees with a 3% increase. 

“Even though it’s less than we originally planned, the proposed increase for FY25 exceeds what we have been able to provide in most years since FY11,” Tonneson said. 

FY11 had a 2% general increase in compensation, and over the last 12 years there have been two freezes, Tonneson said. The 3% increase exceeds previous investments in employee compensation with the exception of  FY23 and FY24, which saw increases of 3.85% and 3.75% respectively. 

The core mission budget request to the legislature was not approved, which resulted in reduced services and programs and increased tuition, according to Interim President Jeff Ettinger. 

Tuition will increase by 4.5% for graduate and undergraduate resident students and 5.5% for graduate and undergraduate nonresident students on the Twin Cities campuses in 2025, Tonneson said. The tuition increase is projected to bring $42.2 million in revenue. 

“We have difficult decisions ahead of us and going forward we will continue to urge our state partners to support adequate and increased funding,” Ettinger said. 

A final decision on the recommended changes to student service feels and the annual operating budget will be made at the board meeting June 13-14.