Meeting with Presidential Search Advisory Committee chair was candid and cordial
UMRA members participated in a special session about the U of M presidential search with Regent Mary Davenport, chair of the Board of Regents Presidential Search Advisory Committee, on October 20. Regent Davenport outlined a search process that begins with extensive community input, including visits to each of the five campuses in the U of M System.
A search firm will help the search committee identify two to four lead candidates by the end of January 2024, Davenport said. The board will formalize finalists from that list, and the finalists will participate in interviews on each campus. Davenport expects the regents will name the new president by the end of February or early March 2024.
UMRA members quizzed Regent Davenport about whether the job was too big for one person (not yet, she said), and whether the plan for an open process will stand (she said that’s what they are informing all candidates.) Members asserted the importance of a president being able to communicate the value of the University to the Minnesota Legislature and to all Minnesotans; a college education is a public benefit. An academic background would be of value in a candidate, as well as an understanding of the complexity of the University.
Regent Davenport emphasized that this is a great job and a great state, and the position should attract strong leaders who are willing to be known as candidates.
The Board of Regents is encouraging UMRA members who were not able to attend the special session to submit their thoughts to the Presidential Search website, or join one of the open listening sessions on October 23 and 24.
The candid and cordial session with Regent Davenport at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs in Minneapolis was a great example of how UMRA and University retirees generally can share their knowledge and experience in a meaningful way with current University leadership.
—Julie Sweitzer, UMRA president-elect and Program Committee chair
Help guide the Regents’ search for a new University president
Fri, Oct 20, 2023, 9am
301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis 55455
Do you want to help guide the Regents' search for a new University president?
The Board of Regents has invited UMRA members to a session with Regent Mary Davenport, who chairs the Presidential Search Advisory Committee. Board of Regents Chair Janie Mayeron will also share her thoughts on leading the Regents.
The event will be from 9 to 10 a.m. on Friday, October 20, in Room 180 at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs on the West Bank of the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis.
You will be able to share your thoughts on what makes a great U of M president.
Information on parking facilities and more is available from University Parking and Transportation Services.
If you plan to attend, please email me to let me know.
—Julie Sweitzer, UMRA president-elect and Program Committee chair
Upcoming Events
UMRA's special event for this winter will again be a celebration of brighter days and the approaching end of winter. We'll have food, fellowship, and music provided by Urban Sound, one of the U of M’s premier student a cappella ensembles.
Our February 3 hike will be around Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, with an option to add Bde Maka Ska, weather permitting. No matter how far we hike, let’s go to Isles Bun & Coffee for treats after the hike. Their buns are delicious!
Cabinets of Curiosity will seek out the University of Minnesota Herbarium on the St Paul Campus. Collections Manager Tim Whitfeld will share his knowledge of that amazing collection and explain its critical importance in the 21st century. Botanists study these pressed plants, individually and collectively, to establish a history of plant life, often over centuries, because they contain compelling evidence of the ever modulating geographical distribution of plants and evidence of how climate, pests, and other factors have changed species over time.
"Things that drive me crazy" will be the theme when the UMRA Photo Club meets on February 11. Newcomers are welcome.
Many life challenges that get in the way of quality of life and good health at home have little to do with medical issues. Cathy Lauring, our presenter for UMRA’s February 18 workshop, will explore a variety of resources to assist in keeping us healthy at home—including physical, emotional, cognitive, and financial services.
John Bantle will lead the discussion of A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson when the UMRA book club meets via Zoom on February 21.
Join UMRA members to watch two of the best hockey teams in the nation. UMRA has negotiated a discounted ticket price of $33.
Barbara Klick, RN, MBA, the presenter for UMRA’s February 25 Forum, has decades of experience working in human and veterinary medicine, and will bring her wisdom and perspective to our discussion about what we can learn from our pets about facing end-of-life challenges and decisions.
The Fourth Friday Book Club will meet via Zoom on February 28 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. CST to discuss The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
Will Craig discusses using local sources for family history.
The UMRA Hiking Club will explore wildlife along the Mississippi River in Fort Snelling State Park. The 3.9-mile Pike Island Loop is generally considered an easy route and takes just over an hour. Hikers can leave at that point, or stay to add another short loop. The trail is located below the bluff on which the historic fort sits. The last time we were there we saw a lot of deer, and the river always provides fascinating views.
The University of Minnesota Archives, with its major holdings largely tucked away in two huge underground caverns along the Mississippi River under the West Bank campus, holds the essential records of our University of Minnesota’s past. University Archivist Erik Moore will explain the holdings and role of our extensive university archive and bring out a sampling of what it holds. At the end of our visit, he will conduct a tour of the literally cool caverns (Minnesota Library Access Center), revealing where these precious materials are housed, including the original tapes of KUOM, now Radio K.