The following article summarizes the original event which is listed below the summary.
Shared governance is high on the agenda of the U’s executive vice president and provost
Opening the UMRA Forum on May 19, Gretchen Ritter commented on her affection for the state of Minnesota, established through her early canoe experiences in the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness and regional family connections.
Her major assignments in her first year as executive vice president and provost for the Twin Cities campus included advancing the University of Minnesota’s strategic roadmap, “Elevate Extraordinary 2030.” Ritter briefly presented its five components: student success, research and innovation, workforce investment, partnerships, and operational excellence. In every category, she noted examples from all five campuses within the University of Minnesota, thus underscoring the administration’s intention to increase interconnections and collaboration among them.
In the discussion that followed her opening remarks, forum attendees responded to Ritter’s observations about her time in office, initially focusing on the importance of shared governance. She indicated that its continued strength was high on her agenda. She also pointed out that the administrative cabinet kept in mind the importance of “radical listening,” which she described as listening, rethinking, and then doubling back to listen again.
An issue related to finding common ground between administrators and faculty was termed “institutional neutrality,” which she traced back to the Kalven Report at the University of Chicago in the 1960s. Noting its timing and context, Ritter pointed out that it was intended to underscore the importance of free speech on campus, in which the university stepped back to leave space for faculty and students to have a variety of opinions and to test them; thus the administration abstained from taking a stand.
Responding to a question about artificial intelligence, the provost pointed out that the University’s new AI Hub is designed to serve students, faculty, and the larger community in a research field with rapidly changing applications.
Throughout her talk, Ritter emphasized the importance of identifying and pursuing shared values and a common commitment among all members of the University.
—Sally Gregory Kohlstedt, UMRA president-elect and Program Committee chair
Meet the U’s chief academic officer and Twin Cities campus provost
Tue, May 19, 2026, at 11am
Gretchen Ritter
Executive Vice President and Provost for the Twin Cities campus
University of Minnesota
Midland Hills Country Club
2001 Fulham Street
Roseville, MN 55113
Managing the extensive portfolio of the executive vice president and provost (EVVP) is a daunting assignment, but Gretchen Ritter takes it all in stride. At the University of Minnesota less than a year, she seems to relish her role as the chief academic officer, with responsibilities that reach to all five campuses as they are all guided by the University’s strategic road map—Elevate Extraordinary 2030.
Ritter will discuss her role as the executive vice president and provost for the Twin Cities campus, and share her reflections on her first year at the University as the featured speaker for the UMRA Luncheon Forum on Tuesday, May 19, at Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville.
With degrees in political science from Cornell University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ritter brings expertise on issues of democracy and citizenship. Her book The Constitution as Social Design: Gender and Civic Membership in the American Constitutional Order explores the complexity and changing status of women in civic society. In her previous administrative positions at Syracuse University and The Ohio State University, she demonstrated a sustained interest in shared governance, with attention to academic freedom and civic engagement, and she intends to do the same at Minnesota.
Academic responsibilities are central to her office, involving multidisciplinary faculty across professional and liberal arts fields as well as students at every level, including the undergraduate curriculum. Ritter is particularly engaged in issues regarding rapidly advancing technologies and their intersection with the humanities as well as the sciences. Another major responsibility is helping the president to implement the strategic roadmap over the next five years.
Please register and attend the UMRA Luncheon Forum at Midland Hills on Tuesday, May 19. Reservations and payment are due May 9.
The forum will be preceded by UMRA’s 2026 Annual Meeting, when we will welcome UMRA’s new leadership and thank outgoing President Diane Young.
—Sally Gregory Kohlstedt, UMRA president-elect and Program Committee chair
Upcoming Events
Connect, explore new ideas for what it means to live and age well, and celebrate a community of continuous learning at the fifth annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis on Monday, June 8.
Abandoned and discarded is the theme for the UMRA Photo Club meeting in June. Newcomers are welcome.
Michael leads this hike at Afton State Park.
Pick a favorite book and bring a brief synopsis of the book to the breakfast and share with the group.
UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss In Winter’s Kitchen by Beth Dooley when it meets via Zoom on Friday, June 19. Kathryn Sedo will lead the discussion.
We will gather in the Waterfall Room for an in-person, summer social and luncheon for UMRA members and guests on June 24th. Our event will include social time; a plated, seated lunch; and the always popular Summer Social Trivia Game with quizmasters Dave Dorman and Mark Jenson.
This event will include social time; a plated, seated lunch; and the Summer Social Trivia Game.
There are three entree options - all include dessert (or GF desert) and a choice of sodas, lemonade, and coffee or water.
Cash bar available inside the Dock & Paddle.
Kayaking at Lake Bde Maka Ska.
Two major conferences, one organized by the Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE) and the other by the Big Ten Retirees Association (BTRA), will take place this year. The AROHE conference will be held in Florida and the BTRA conference will be hosted by UMRA on the UMN campus.
The AROHE conference invites all interested retirees and university faculty and staff to reimagine retirement. You are invited to register if interested at https://www.arohe.org/2026-Conference.
The BTRA is being hosted by UMRA this year. Leadership of retiree organizations around the US will convene to share competencies. Attendance is restricted.
Bev leads the Nokomis walk to Minnehaha Falls.
Nanette leads a trail of two cities hike.