By: Janice Bitters

The Minnesota Daily sat down with University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler Monday for its monthly Kickin’ It with Kaler interview.

Kaler talked about the new $190 million athletics facilities plan and the potential Teach for America partnership with the College of Education and Human Development.

You seemed optimistic [about Norwood Teague’s $190 million facilities plan] during the July 10 Board of Regents meeting, however … what concerns might you have?

Let me sort of talk about that in a little bit different way. So, in my view there are three things you have to do if you want to get something accomplished. The first is figure out what it is you need. The second is figure out how do you pay for it and the third is do it. And so right now we have done step one of those things. … We don’t intend to ask the state for help in that — we think the state dollars should be used for academic priorities, so it’s a private fundraising activity. It might be enhanced by other ticket sales or media revenue. It’s primarily a private fundraising goal.

Congress has agreed on a solution to lower student loan rates for the coming year.  I’m interested to know how you feel about the agreement they have come to.

You know, I’m glad they have reached an agreement. I’m glad the loan rates are lower than they potentially could have been, but it’s a compromise agreement and I think it’s probably the best Congress could do under the current conditions. And I think it provides some certainty so students know what is coming ahead, and that’s a good thing.

Do I wish the rates were lower? Sure I do. I think it is probably all in all a good outcome.

The Board of Regents have a new academic health committee that they started this year … What specific topics do you personally hope they’ll address through this new committee?

Well, this is aimed at really helping the board become more educated about what we do in the academic health space. So it is really a committee about what is the future of academic education, research and patient care at the [University]. So it’s meant to be forward-looking, but also a way for board members to become more broadly educated about what we do in the academic health enterprise.

The University recently submitted a bonding request … for more than $230 million. What are the chances, do you think, that all of that will be met by the state?

Well, I think historically we don’t get all that we ask for, but this will be … a normal bonding year and the expectation is that it will be a pretty robust bonding bill, all in all, and the University should get a good share of that.

In terms of the [TFA] and [CEHD] potential partnership, as you may be aware, that has been a somewhat controversial discussion … Do you think this [partnership] is a good idea?

I think we need a balanced approach. I think [TFA] has some very positive aspects, and I think having that program at the University in collaboration, cooperation or co-existence … with our other teaching programs would be fine. The ultimate decision on this is [CEHD Dean] Jean Quam’s.  

… I understand the reasons that some people are opposed to it, but in the community there are a lot of people who are in favor of [TFA] so I think a balanced approach is something that makes sense for the University.

Read Wednesday's Daily for Kaler's thoughts on alchohol sales at Coffman Memorial Union and his plans for the coming academic year.

By: Roy Aker

The American Historical Association is asking graduate programs and university libraries to adopt a policy allowing history PhD graduates to embargo the digital form of their dissertation, preventing the work from appearing online for up to six years.

In a statement released July 22, the association said the policy is needed to enable recent PhD graduates to publish books based on their dissertations.

According to the statement, putting dissertations online can create a problem for PhD graduates because university presses may be reluctant to offer publishing contracts if the digital version is already available for free.

An increasing number of higher education institutions —including the University of Minnesota — encourage graduate students to submit electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) and are subsequently providing open access to these works online.

Henning Schroeder, the University’s vice provost and dean of graduate education, said the AHA statement encompasses a larger conversation about free online access to historical work.

He cited a study in the journal College and Research Libraries that found that more than 80 percent of journal editors and more than 50 percent of university press directors welcome manuscripts that are revised versions of openly accessible ETDs — or at least consider them on a case-by-case basis.

What’s more, Schroeder said, keeping dissertations from appearing online could actually be detrimental for graduate students. If their work is not accessible online, he said, presses may be unaware of it and so may not offer them a publishing deal.

For graduate students' reactions, read Wednesday's Minnesota Daily.

By: Roy Aker

The American Historical Association is asking graduate programs and university libraries to adopt a policy allowing history Ph.D. graduates to embargo the digital form of their dissertation, preventing the work from appearing online for up to six years.

In a statement released July 22, the association said the policy is needed to enable recent Ph.D. graduates to publish books based on their dissertations.

According to the statement, putting dissertations online can create a problem for Ph.D. graduates because university presses may be reluctant to offer publishing contracts if the digital version is already available for free.

An increasing number of higher education institutions — including the University of Minnesota — encourage graduate students to submit electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) and are subsequently providing open access to these works online.

Henning Schroeder, the University’s vice provost and dean of graduate education, said the AHA statement encompasses a larger conversation about free online access to historical work.

He cited a study in the journal College and Research Libraries that found that more than 80 percent of journal editors and more than 50 percent of university press directors welcome manuscripts that are revised versions of openly accessible ETDs — or at least consider them on a case-by-case basis.

What’s more, Schroeder said, keeping dissertations from appearing online could actually be detrimental for graduate students. If their work is not accessible online, he said, presses may be unaware of it and so may not offer them a publishing deal.

For graduate students' reactions, read Wednesday's Minnesota Daily.

By: Roy Aker

A bill that would limit the authority of the U.S. Department of Education passed a key committee of the U.S. House of Representatives July 24.

The bill, Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act, would repeal the department's “gainful employment” rule and would eliminate consumer protection regulations for students.

It’s opposed by a number of major associations representing public colleges, including the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities — which the University of Minnesota is a member of.

Opponents say the bill protects the interests of for-profit colleges by eliminating financial aid regulations that protect students.

A particularly controversial part of the bill would repeal regulations that require colleges and universities to meet benchmarks regarding graduates’ debt-to-income ratios and repayment of student loans.

Currently, schools must meet these requirements in order to be eligible to participate in federal student aid programs. If a school’s graduates have low loan-repayment rates and high debt-to-income ratios, then its federal student aid can be cut off.

In 2012, for-profit college students made up 13 percent of all U.S. college students but accounted for nearly 50 percent of all student loan defaults.

According to campaign records, Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., who co-sponsored the bill, has received donations from numerous Political Action Committees that represent for-profit colleges.

Of his top five campaign donors in 2011-12, three were PACs that represent for-profit colleges including DeVry Inc., Rasmussen Inc. and the Apollo Group — which the University of Phoenix is a subsidiary of.

Capella University and Herzing College were also listed as contributors.

No date has been set for the House vote.

By: Roy Aker

A bill that would limit the authority of the U.S. Department of Education passed a key committee of the U.S. House of Representatives July 24.

The bill, Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act, would repeal the department's “gainful employment” rule and would eliminate consumer protection regulations for students.

A number of major associations representing public colleges have declined to endorse the bill — including the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, which the University of Minnesota is a member of.

Opponents say the bill protects the interests of for-profit colleges by eliminating financial aid regulations that protect students.

A particularly controversial part of the bill would repeal regulations that require colleges and universities to meet benchmarks regarding graduates’ debt-to-income ratios and repayment of student loans.

Currently, schools must meet these requirements in order to be eligible to participate in federal student aid programs. If a school’s graduates have low loan-repayment rates and high debt-to-income ratios, then its federal student aid can be cut off.

In 2012, for-profit college students made up 13 percent of all U.S. college students but accounted for nearly 50 percent of all student loan defaults.

According to campaign records, Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., who co-sponsored the bill, has received donations from numerous Political Action Committees that represent for-profit colleges.

Of his top five campaign donors in 2011-12, three were PACs that represent for-profit colleges including DeVry Inc., Rasmussen Inc. and the Apollo Group — which the University of Phoenix is a subsidiary of.

Capella University and Herzing College were also listed as contributors.

No date has been set for the House vote.

By: Roy Aker

A bill that would limit the authority of the U.S. Department of Education passed a key committee of the U.S. House of Representatives July 24.

The bill, Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act, would repeal the department's “gainful employment” rule and would eliminate consumer protection regulations for students.

It’s opposed by a number of major associations representing public colleges, including the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities — which the University of Minnesota is a member of.

Opponents say the bill protects the interests of for-profit colleges by eliminating financial aid regulations that protect students.

A particularly controversial part of the bill would repeal regulations that require colleges and universities to meet benchmarks regarding graduates’ debt-to-income ratios and repayment of student loans.

Currently, schools must meet these requirements in order to be eligible to participate in federal student aid programs. If a school’s graduates have low loan-repayment rates and high debt-to-income ratios, then its federal student aid can be cut off.

In 2012, for-profit college students made up 13 percent of all U.S. college students but accounted for nearly 50 percent of all student loan defaults.

According to campaign records, Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., who co-sponsored the bill, has received donations from numerous Political Action Committees that represent for-profit colleges.

Of his top five campaign donors in 2011-12, three were PACs that represent for-profit colleges including DeVry Inc., Rasmussen Inc. and the Apollo Group — which the University of Phoenix is a subsidiary of.

Capella University and Herzing College were also listed as contributors.

No date has been set for the House vote.

By: Hailey Colwell

The University of Minnesota announced Wednesday that it will extend benefits coverage to employees’ same-sex spouses and their children starting today, Aug. 1.

Previously, this coverage was offered only to employees’ registered same-sex domestic partners, and the benefits were taxed as income — creating an extra cost for those employees.

Beginning today when same-sex marriages will be recognized in Minnesota, University employees who provide documentation of their marriage will no longer have to pay an extra tax to cover same-sex spouses and dependents under age 26, according to an email sent to University employees by Kathy Brown,  vice president for human resources.

The benefits changes apply to University employees living in Minnesota and other states where same-sex marriage is legal.

In March, University staff member Steff Yorek legally married her partner, Jess Sundin, in Washington. Yorek said she was pleased to hear about the change, which will allow her to include Sundin as a spouse on her employee benefits plan.

“I’m glad that things are the way that they should be,” she said.

In the email, Brown said the University’s Office of Human Resources has received  a lot of questions about whether same-sex domestic partners can still be covered by employees’ benefits plans. She said she will hold discussions with affected employees about this and other aspects of the law change.

“Our goal is to ensure equitable benefits offerings to all of our employees,” Brown said in the email.

For now, employees with registered same-sex partners on their plan will continue to have the value of their benefits taxed as income unless they get married.

The University is asking employees with a same-sex spouse already registered as a domestic partner to provide a marriage license to cover their spouse on their benefits plan. It’s also requesting that newly-married employees who aren’t registered as same-sex domestic partners sign up for marriage benefits within 30 days of their marriage or before Aug. 30, if they were married before Aug. 1. Couples who don’t sign up during the 30-day window will have to wait until the next open enrollment for University benefits in November.

The University still awaits federal and state regulations that may result in more changes, the email said. For example, the University is waiting for federal guidelines on whether to tax married same-sex couples who work at the University but live in a state where same-sex marriage is not legal.

Emma Nelson contributed to this report.

By: Hailey Colwell

The University of Minnesota announced Wednesday that it will extend benefits coverage to employees’ same-sex spouses and their children starting today, Aug. 1.

Previously, this coverage was offered only to employees’ registered same-sex domestic partners, and the benefits were taxed as income — creating an extra cost for those employees.

Beginning today when same-sex marriages will be recognized in Minnesota, University employees who provide documentation of their marriage will no longer have to pay an extra tax to cover same-sex spouses and dependents under age 26, according to an email sent to University employees by Kathy Brown,  vice president for human resources.

The benefits changes apply to University employees living in Minnesota and other states where same-sex marriage is legal.

In March, University staff member Steff Yorek legally married her partner, Jess Sundin, in Washington. Yorek said she was pleased to hear about the change, which will allow her to include Sundin as a spouse on her employee benefits plan.

“I’m glad that things are the way that they should be,” she said.

In the email, Brown said the University’s Office of Human Resources has received  a lot of questions about whether same-sex domestic partners can still be covered by employees’ benefits plans. She said she will hold discussions with affected employees about this and other aspects of the law change.

“Our goal is to ensure equitable benefits offerings to all of our employees,” Brown said in the email.

For now, employees with registered same-sex partners on their plan will continue to have the value of their benefits taxed as income unless they get married.

The University is asking employees with a same-sex spouse already registered as a domestic partner to provide a marriage license to cover their spouse on their benefits plan. It’s also requesting that newly-married employees who aren’t registered as same-sex domestic partners sign up for marriage benefits within 30 days of their marriage or before Aug. 30, if they were married before Aug. 1. Couples who don’t sign up during the 30-day window will have to wait until the next open enrollment for University benefits in November.

The University still awaits federal and state regulations that may result in more changes, the email said. For example, the University is waiting for federal guidelines on whether to tax married same-sex couples who work at the University but live in a state where same-sex marriage is not legal.

Emma Nelson contributed to this report.

By: Hailey Colwell

The University of Minnesota announced Wednesday that it will extend benefits coverage to employees’ same-sex spouses and their children starting today, Aug. 1.

Previously, this coverage was offered only to employees’ registered same-sex domestic partners, and the benefits were taxed as income — creating an extra cost for those employees.

Beginning today when same-sex marriages will be recognized in Minnesota, University employees who provide documentation of their marriage will no longer have to pay an extra tax to cover same-sex spouses and dependents under age 26, according to an email sent to University employees by Kathy Brown,  vice president for human resources.

The benefits changes apply to University employees living in Minnesota and other states where same-sex marriage is legal.

In March, University staff member Steff Yorek legally married her partner, Jess Sundin, in Washington. Yorek said she was pleased to hear about the change, which will allow her to include Sundin as a spouse on her employee benefits plan.

“I’m glad that things are the way that they should be,” she said.

In the email, Brown said the University’s Office of Human Resources has received  a lot of questions about whether same-sex domestic partners can still be covered by employees’ benefits plans. She said she will hold discussions with affected employees about this and other aspects of the law change.

“Our goal is to ensure equitable benefits offerings to all of our employees,” Brown said in the email.

For now, employees with registered same-sex partners on their plan will continue to have the value of their benefits taxed as income unless they get married.

The University is asking employees with a same-sex spouse already registered as a domestic partner to provide a marriage license to cover their spouse on their benefits plan. It’s also requesting that newly-married employees who aren’t registered as same-sex domestic partners sign up for marriage benefits within 30 days of their marriage or before Aug. 30, if they were married before Aug. 1. Couples who don’t sign up during the 30-day window will have to wait until the next open enrollment for University benefits in November.

The University still awaits federal and state regulations that may result in more changes, the email said. For example, the University is waiting for federal guidelines on whether to tax married same-sex couples who work at the University but live in a state where same-sex marriage is not legal.

Emma Nelson contributed to this report.

By: Hailey Colwell

The University of Minnesota announced Wednesday that it will extend benefits coverage to employees’ same-sex spouses and their children starting Aug. 1.

Previously, this coverage was offered only to employees’ registered same-sex domestic partners, and the benefits were taxed as income — creating an extra cost for those employees.

Beginning Aug. 1, when same-sex marriages will be recognized in Minnesota, University employees who provide documentation of their marriage will no longer have to pay an extra tax to cover same-sex spouses and dependents under age 26, according to an email sent to University employees by Kathy Brown,  vice president for human resources.

The benefits changes apply to University employees living in Minnesota and other states where same-sex marriage is legal.

In March, University staff member Steff Yorek married her partner, Jess Sundin, in Washington. Yorek said she was pleased to hear about the change, which will allow her to include Sundin as a spouse on her employee benefits plan.

"I’m glad that things are the way that they should be," she said.

In the email, Brown said the University’s Office of Human Resources has received  a lot of questions about whether same-sex domestic partners can still be covered by employees’ benefits plans. She said she will hold discussions with affected employees about this and other aspects of the law change.

“Our goal is to ensure equitable benefits offerings to all of our employees,” Brown said in the email.

For now, employees with registered same-sex partners on their plan will continue to have the value of their benefits taxed as income unless they get married.

The University is asking employees with a same-sex spouse already registered as a domestic partner to provide a marriage license to cover their spouse on their benefits plan. It’s also requesting that newly-married employees who aren’t registered as same-sex domestic partners sign up for marriage benefits within 30 days of their marriage or before Aug. 30, if they were married before Aug. 1. Couples who don’t sign up during the 30-day window will have to wait until the next open enrollment for University benefits in November.

The University still awaits federal and state regulations that may result in more changes, the email said. For example, the University is waiting for federal guidelines on whether to tax married same-sex couples who work at the University but live in a state where same-sex marriage is not legal.