University of Minnesota, Morris
Campus Resources & Planning Committee Minutes

 January 12, 1998

Members present:  Andy Lopez, Lynn Schulz, Karen Fischer, Gwen Rudney, 
Chris Wenner, Wade Bronson, Jason Anderson, Jennifer Wright, Maddy 
Maxeiner, Rod Oto, Jennifer Dose, Alan Fierro, Lowell Rasmussen.

Guests: David Johnson, Sam Schuman, Gary McGrath.

The minutes of the 11/24/97 meeting were approved as distributed.

Chancellor David Johnson spoke on a budgeting process initiated by 
President Yudof called compacts, which are contracts created from dialog 
between UMM and UM where the campus states specific goals to be pursued 
in return for appropriate funding.  The committee reviewed a potential 
set of goals Johnson described as easily remembered and articulated.  
They are paraphrased as:

1.  2000 students by the year 2000
2.  Alliances with UMTC professional and graduate schools.
3.  Strengthening of UMM undergraduate education.
4.  Formalize funding agreement for reimbursement of Native American 
tuition waivers.
5.  Increase private support.
6.  Implement Center for Small Towns.
7.  Prepare for NCA accreditation visit.
8.  Increase E&G per student funding to mean of "Morris 14."

The compact should make UMM freer from regulation but more accountable to 
central administration.

Andy Lopez expressed concern about item #2, noting the inflexibility of 
UMTC faculty in this area. He also worried about the burden placed on UMM 
faculty from students who pressure them to provide irregular courses so 
they can transfer to UMTC.  Dave Johnson insisted that the goal of the 
alliance is to have student finish at UMM before going to UMTC and that 
the initiative would only apply to a few specific programs, not all UMM 
disciplines.  Rod Oto added that UMM needs to compete with UMTC for 
freshman now that more programs like the Carlson school are admitting 
freshman.  Wade Bronson confirmed that many students do indeed enter UMM 
with plans to transfer after two years.  Johnson stressed that UMM will 
seek to persuade UMTC not to take underclassmen so they can finish their 
upper division work with UMTC courses but to trust UMM to deliver 
students ready for graduate-level work.

Maddy Maxeiner asked about the relationships the Morris 14 (schools UMM 
uses for comparison) have with UMTC graduate and professional schools.  
Johnson answered that they participate in a 3/2 agreement...three years 
at the Morris 14 school and two years at UMTC will yield two bachelor's 
degrees.  He went on to explain that the compact plan is superior because 
in the future, the master's degree, not two bachelor's, will be the 
education of choice.  Jason Anderson suggested that such an alliance is 
vital if UMM is to retain students like himself with engineering plans, 
students who would go elsewhere for an undergraduate degree specific to 
engineering if there wasn't a transition to a graduate engineering 
program in place. 

Concerning item #1, Lynn Schulz asked if the headcount would be taken 
from fall quarter since enrollment drops off in winter.  Johnson answered 
that if drop-off were a strong pattern, it would be noticed.  Chris 
Wenner asked if the drop off reflects seniors finishing up winter quarter 
and Gary McGrath suggested there are many causes.

Karen Fischer asked about the term "enterprise" use in the compact 
language, specifically where funds are to come from, our own revenue or 
central administration funds.  Jennifer Dose asked which items are 
specifically requests for funds.  Johnson explained that the goals are 
submitted for review and if they are approved, price tags are then 
attached.  Fischer asked what happens if we fail to achieve goals and Oto 
responded that we'll be able to document the mechanisms by which we 
pursued the goals.

Chris Wenner asked whether UMM or the central administration funds the 
expense of the tuition waiver for Native American students.  Johnson 
replied that this year central administration provided funds but that has 
not been a guaranteed occurrence.  Wenner also asked if the compact would 
result in UMTC graduate and professional schools being bound to abide by 
the terms of an alliance and Johnson confirmed.

Maddy Maxeiner moved to endorse the goals, Gwen Rudney seconded, and the 
motion passed by vocal vote.

Gary McGrath and Rod Oto then presented information about a modification 
in scholarships intended to increase UMM's competitiveness in the market 
for students.  McGrath explained that recently it has taken UMM longer to 
nail down students committed to starting here in the fall and the quality 
of students as indicated by admission measures is dropping.  Our students 
do not compare poorly with UMC or UMTC student bodies, but the central 
administration is still concerned about the decline.  More four-year 
scholarships, though expensive, may help.

Basically, 50% of those who apply to UMM come to UMM, so the goal of the 
scholarship modification plan is to increase applications.  Therefore, 
students who complete an application for a Presidential Scholarship, 
which requires both a high class ranking and the completion of an 
application to attend UMM, may receive the following:

- full tuition for first year at UMM if in top 5% of their class.
- half tuition for first year at UMM if in top 10% of their class.
-$2,000 each year if Presidential Scholarship is awarded.

Lopez asked how this initiative will be funded.  McGrath listed 5 
potential sources of income:  central administration (Kvavik) scholarship 
dollars, tuition revenue, an increase in future budgets, private 
donations, and/or a permanent financial agreement concerning the Native 
American tuition waiver.

Maddy Maxeiner asked about non-resident recipients and Oto said the 
scholarships are based on in-state tuition.  Sam Schuman asked when we'll 
know if the program is working and Oto suggested early March as the 
deadline is February 15.