Schools

Minnesota is home to dozens of institutions of higher learning. There are six University of Minnesota campuses, 37 schools in the MnSCU system, 17 members of the Minnesota Private Non-Profit Council, plus for-profit and online schools.

Interim president Kennedy named to lead MSCTC

More presidential action from MnSCU.

Here’s the official announcement:

Peggy Kennedy Appointed President
of Minnesota State Community and Technical College

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees today appointed Peggy Kennedy as president of Minnesota State Community and Technical College, which has campuses in Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead and Wadena.
Kennedy has served as interim president of the college since July 1, 2011. Previously, she served as a vice president of academic affairs and student development, and dean for business and general education programs at Saint Paul College.

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FILED UNDER: Schools, Minnesota State Community and Technical College

May 16, 2012 | 3:24 PM | By Alex Friedrich

Mankato provost, ex-MnSCU exec named Winona prez

I’ve been out doing interviews today, so didn’t have time to post this morning’s news. Here’s Winona State University‘s press release:

Scott R. Olson Appointed President
of Winona State University

Connie J. Gores to serve as interim president

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees today appointed Scott R. Olson as president of Winona State University. Olson becomes the 15th president of the university and begins his duties July 16, 2012.

Olson has served as provost and vice president for academic and student affairs at Minnesota State University, Mankato since 2003. In addition, he served as interim vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities in 2010-11.

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FILED UNDER: Schools, Winona State University

May 14, 2012 | 4:41 PM | By Alex Friedrich

What some U regents said about executive compensation

I’ve been at the second of three meetings of the University of Minnesota‘s Board of Regents’ special committee on executive compensation and administrative transitional leaves.

They’re reviewing the U’s policy on the subject, and how it compares to peer universities’. It comes after an uproar over news that former President Robert Bruininks’ paid out $2.8 million to 10 top administrators in leave and other compensation.

A lot of it was nuts-and-bolts stuff. Chairman Richard Beeson said the board hopes to wrap things up by the end of next session, which is May 25.

He sees three areas they’ll focus on:

Eliminating the separate administrative leave policy. He said they’ll consider rolling it into the faculty-sabbatical policy to make things easier.
Enforcing the requirement that administrators return to the U after their leave.
More detail and transparency on the hiring of administrators.
Initiation of an annual compensation report. The board would approve any significant changes.

Regents acknowledged the public outcry over the payouts. But they also said they didn’t want to get unnecessarily bogged down in administrative detail that should be delegated. Beeson said they shouldn’t be in the job interview business, but they need to find the right balance of accountability and delegation.

Regent John Frobenius told the committee:

“I don’t want to tie the president’s hands. But I also don’t want to answer media requests with, ‘I was not aware of that.’ “

President Eric Kaler’s chief of staff, Amy Phenix, said other public universities had common practices, but there didn’t appear to be any standard policy.

Beeson said toward the end:

“It’s ironic that in (in the area of executive compensation policy), we’ll end up with more structure and clarity than our peer groups. It’s a little concerning.”

FILED UNDER: Money, Schools, administrative pay, Board of Regents, University of Minnesota

May 10, 2012 | 1:52 PM | By Alex Friedrich

St. Thomas president Dease retiring June 2013

University of St. Thomas

Stepping down next year

University of St. Thomas officials said last year that they would consider a layman to be president.

Looks like it was a prelude to this announcement today in the university’s Bulletin:

Father Dennis Dease, president of the University of St. Thomas since 1991, announced today that he will retire on June 30, 2013, upon the completion of his 22^nd year in office.

Dease, who turns 69 this month, began the 14^th presidency of St. Thomas on July 1, 1991, and is the second-longest-tenured president in St. Thomas’ 127-year history. He succeeded Monsignor Terrence Murphy, who held the office for 25 years.

Dease informed the St. Thomas Board of Trustees about his retirement during its plenary session this morning and told the faculty at its spring semester meeting over the noon hour.

“The timing for my retirement next year will be right for a number of reasons,” Dease said. “We will complete our $500 million Opening Doors capital campaign this October, and our preparation for our decennial accreditation visit by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association will conclude next year. Also, I will turn 70 next May, and I have other interests I would like to pursue.”

In addition to post-presidential St. Thomas responsibilities that Dease and the board will determine over the next year, he plans to continue his work with health-care projects in Uganda, with projects related to Armenian culture and education, and work with the University of Havana in Cuba. He will have an office in O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center on the university’s St. Paul campus.

Trustee John M. Morrison will chair the search committee for Dease’s successor. The committee of trustees, three faculty members and one staff member will be appointed by early June, but the initial steps in the search will occur with seven open forums Monday and Thursday for faculty, staff and students to express their opinions on qualities they want in a new president. Sara Gross Methner, general counsel and chief human resources officer at St. Thomas, will staff the search committee. (See separate story below for information on forums).

The university’s bylaws allow only a Roman Catholic – priest, religious or lay person – to serve as president. All 14 presidents of St. Thomas have been priests.

Read the full story here.

FILED UNDER: Schools, University of St. Thomas

May 4, 2012 | 9:42 AM | By bwareham

Appeals court rules for U of M in Turkish Coalition lawsuit

Alex is on vacation, but he’s written about this lawsuit against the University of Minnesota here, here, here, here and here. Now the U.S. Court of Appeals has weighed in, according to this release from the U:

U.S. Court of Appeals rules in favor of the University of Minnesota in case involving the Turkish Coalition of America

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (05/03/2012) —The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled in favor of the university today in a closely watched case involving First Amendment and academic freedom claims. The plaintiff in the case, Turkish Coalition of America, claimed that statements on a university department website that suggested that the Turkish Coalition’s information about the Armenian genocide was “unreliable” violated its free speech rights and were defamatory. A university student also allegedly feared he would be subjected to academic reprisals if he used information from the organization’s website in his own work.

The federal district court had previously granted the university’s motion to dismiss the claims, based principally upon its finding that the university’s website contained statements of faculty scholarly opinion and critique that were protected by the doctrine of academic freedom.

The Court of Appeals today affirmed the District Court’s dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims. It found the Turkish Coalition free speech claim failed because it could not show it had suffered any restrictions on its speech activities. The Court of Appeals also found that the Turkish Coalition’s defamation claims failed because the university faculty’s statements were either true or were statements of opinion, which cannot support a defamation claim. The Court of Appeals also found the student had no standing to bring any claims because he could not show he suffered any injury.

The case has been watched closely by scholars around the United States and the world because of its implications for principles of academic freedom.

U of M General Counsel Mark Rotenberg stated, “Today’s federal court decision confirms the right of universities and their faculty to offer scholarly criticism and critique on websites without fear of legal exposure. This protection is especially important when the scholarly opinions expressed by the faculty are controversial. We are very pleased to have successfully defended this important academic interest.”

FILED UNDER: Schools, academic freedom, University of Minnesota

April 27, 2012 | 8:56 AM | By Alex Friedrich

Copies of the lawsuits against Globe University

You may have heard my story today on the two deans who are suing the Minnesota School of Business / Globe University. They say they were fired for complaining about deceptive practices at the school.

You can get the full details in the lawsuits above.

FILED UNDER: Schools, for-profit colleges, globe university

April 26, 2012 | 9:33 AM | By Alex Friedrich

Candidates to lead University of Minnesota – Crookston

University of Minnesota - Crookston via Facebook

Three on the way

This just in — and all of the candidates (in bold) are from out of state:

U of M announces candidates to interview for the position of chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Crookston

University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler and U of M System Senior Vice President for Academic Administration Robert J. Jones have announced candidates and the public interview schedule for the position of chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC). Public interviews will begin Tuesday, May 1.

A 13-member search committee held confidential interviews last weekend with a select group of candidates for the UMC chancellor position. Based on the candidate materials and interviews, the search committee recommended candidates to meet with key university stakeholder groups next week.

The following candidates have been invited to the Crookston campus for public interviews (in order of appearance on campus):

STEVEN S. HARDIN
Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
Public forum: 9-10 a.m. Tuesday, May 1, Bede CDE, U of M, Crookston

KARLA V. HUGHES
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Morehead State University, KY
Public forum: 9-10 a.m. Thursday, May 3, Bede CDE, U of M, Crookston

FRED E. WOOD
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, University of California-Davis
Public forum: 9-10 a.m. Friday, May 4, Bede CDE, U of M, Crookston

During their public interviews, each candidate will deliver a presentation, “Opportunities and Challenges Facing the University of Minnesota, Crookston.” The forums will provide an opportunity for the greater university community to meet and hear from the candidates. They will be recorded and posted on the chancellor search website soon after the presentations are held.

In addition to the public forums, each of the candidates will interview with select university stakeholder groups on the Crookston and Twin Cities campuses.

The candidate vitae, the position profile and evaluation forms are posted on the search website, www.crk.umn.edu/chancellorsearch.

FILED UNDER: Schools, University of Minnesota - Crookston

April 13, 2012 | 12:22 PM | By Alex Friedrich

How the state will handle the UMN unionization complaint

The state Bureau of Mediation Services has announced (above) how it will handle some graduate-assistants’ complaint of unfair election practices against the University of Minnesota.

The U’s summary:

The procedure and timeline are as follows:

The union will provide information and evidence regarding their charge by April 23
The University will provide a written response by May 3
The BMS will determine if a hearing is required
If required, a hearing will be scheduled during the month of May