Minutes of the University Council Meeting
The fall 2007 University Council meeting was convened at
Mr. Petros, Chair of University Senate, opened the meeting with a report on the University Senate. He first described the purpose of the University Council and the fact that the University Senate is elected from the University Council. He also explained that the University Council could overturn decisions of the University Senate. Mr. Petros called attention to the Senate web site for information regarding Senate and Senate committee business. He introduced Jon Jackson as vice chair of University Senate.
Mr. Petros introduced a short video regarding UND. The video contained visual images of UND using the following words as themes: innovative, creative, entrepreneur, spirit, and the spirit of UND.
President Kupchella updated the University Council on the state of the University. He opened indicating that this was his last State of the University address.
· He introduced the president and vice president of the student body, Jay Fisher and Jordan Buhr, indicating that students are what we are all about.
· The President stated that the University is moving closer to the celebration of the 125th anniversary of its founding and remains committed to liberal arts and being student and learning centered.
· President Kupchella reported that the state of the University is exceptional:
o Sponsored programs have surpassed the $100 million goal.
o UND is currently in the greatest run of new and remodeled facilities ever.
o UND serves approximately 25,000 students each year, 15,000 degree seeking. The new class was slightly smaller, but summer enrollment was up 4 percent.
o UND
is one of 146 institutions with accredited schools of law and medicine. Our
o The expenditure budget surpassed $350 million.
o The rating agencies, Washington Monthly, US News and World Report, and Princeton Review, rate UND among the best. UND also ranks fifth best in rural medicine and one of the ten best in entrepreneurship according to Forbes.
o Our athletic program is highly ranked on the field and in the classroom.
· The 125th anniversary theme is “From Tradition to Tomorrow.” President. Kupchella then described the founding of the institution and cited some of the events and celebrities who will participate in the anniversary celebration that will begin in February 2008.
·
UND has faculty, staff, and students from over
60 countries across our many programs and the Strategic Plan calls for
increasing that number. President
Kupchella, having recently returned from a visit to the
· President Kupchella stated that UND is based on innovation and creativity. The founding of the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and the philanthropy of Chester Fritz were highlighted. Recent philanthropy was highlighted as well, e.g., the Aldephi Fountain and the Hopper Danley Chapel.
· UND is now in a silent phase of a major capital campaign. The campaign goal is to increase the endowment ultimately to $500 million.
· President Kupchella stated that UND is outstanding. It has outstanding faculty, students, facilities, and signature programs.
o Facilities: Since 2000 there has been over $400 million invested in new and remodeled buildings. These facilities have been funded by student fees, state bonds, and private donations. UND now covers approximately a square mile.
o Faculty and staff: Many faculty have made outstanding accomplishments and have participated in outstanding research. President Kupchella recognized faculty and staff from all aspects of the institution, e.g., all colleges, student services, alumni/development, athletics, continuing education, research, EERC, and several centers.
o Students: President Kupchella recognized UND’s outstanding students, specifically citing College of Business and Public Administration students in experiential learning and the Dakota Venture Group; all athletes for academic and athletic accomplishments; and Studio One awardees.
o Programs: UND has top notch programs for top notch faculty to attract top notch students.
In summary, President Kupchella stated that UND is at the crossroads of tradition and tomorrow. Higher education is an investment and we need to carve out UND’s place in higher education. To do this, the next administration will need additional resources. UND is running at about half the resources per student compared with peer institutions. We will need to develop public/private partnerships, increase state funding, gain more research dollars, strive for better salaries, and obtain a minimum endowment of $500 million. UND has financial needs, e.g., accomplishing the move to Division I athletics. We need to be more aggressive in packaging and marketing UND. We need to consider our academic programs, remodel where appropriate, delete as necessary, and add as we think we should. The tradition is proud, the possibilities are great, and we are entrepreneurial people.
Mr. Kupchella indicated that he is in the last eight months of his presidency. He thanked the Council for their support and stated that we can get much done before his tenure at UND is done.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Suzanne Anderson, Council Secretary