Board approves 2016 Capital Request
Board approves 2016 Capital Request
On October 8, the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents voted to approve President Kaler's proposed capital request plan for the 2016 legislative session. The request includes six projects: Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR); Duluth Chemistry and Advanced Materials Sciences Building; Health Sciences Education Facility; Plant Growth Research Facility; Academic and Student Experience Investments; and Pillsbury Hall Renovation. Governor Dayton will make his bonding bill project recommendations in January, and the Minnesota Legislature will begin preparing its bonding bills when it reconvenes on March 8, 2016.
Read a summary of each of the six projects.
Bonding tours are underway
Both the House and Senate capital investment committees, as well as officials with Minnesota Management and Budget and the Governor's Office, have spent the last several weeks touring bonding project proposals throughout Minnesota. These tours have included several stops at University of Minnesota campuses, allowing the University to show firsthand the importance of its 2016 capital request.
The following tours have taken place:
- On August 12, the House Capital Investment Committee members and staff received a tour of projects on the Crookston campus.
- On September 15, the Senate Capital Investment Committee members and staff received a presentation on projects on the Duluth campus.
- On September 18, Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Myron Frans and agency staff members toured capital projects on the Duluth campus.
- On September 22, the House Capital Investment Committee members and staff toured capital projects on the Duluth campus.
- On September 29, Commissioner Frans, State Budget Director Margaret Kelly, and staff members toured capital projects on the Twin Cities campus.
- On September 30, the Senate Capital Investment Committee members and staff toured capital projects on the Crookston campus.
- On October 14, the House Capital Investment Committee members and staff toured capital projects on the Twin Cities campus.
The Senate Capital Investment Committee will tour projects on the Twin Cities campus on December 15.
Greater Minnesota legislative outreach
This summer and fall, President Kaler and University leaders have traveled to legislative districts across Greater Minnesota in an effort to raise awareness of the University of Minnesota's statewide impact. During these trips, the president has met with legislators, alumni, and community members to foster connections and learn how the University can better serve these communities. To date, visits have included stops in Duluth, Winona, Crookston, Willmar, Morris, Austin, and Albert Lea. The president will visit Willmar, Marshall, Alexandria, Morris, and St. Cloud in the coming weeks.
Additional campus visits
The Office of Government and Community Relations hosted several campus visits for legislators and staff throughout the summer and fall. The purpose of these visits is for participants to learn more about the work of the University and interact with University faculty, leaders, and students.
The first of the visits, on August 12, focused on the health sciences. Legislative staff visited the Community University Health Care Clinic; the Stem Cell Institute; the Clinical and Translational Science Institute Van; the School of Dentistry Simulation Lab, where they were able to drill on artificial teeth; and finally the Visible Heart Lab, where they could hold a 3D-printed heart.
The second visit, on September 9, highlighted Twin Cities campus facilities in St. Paul. Legislative staff received a tour of the Veterinary Medical Center, the Vet Diagnostic Lab, the Vet Isolation Labs, and the Aquaponics Research Space and ended at The Raptor Center.
On September 29, state legislators from the committees on higher education and health and human services visited the Medical School for an event titled "Project Medical Education." Legislators were invited to step into the shoes of a medical student by learning about the admissions process, participating in a mock white coat ceremony, learning about the curriculum and training in the first four years, and continuing on to residency where they shadowed a medical school student and resident on hospital rounds.
On October 6, legislative staff visited the Duluth campus. They toured the campus, participated in a virtual reality classroom experiment, and visited the NRRI facility.
The Legislative Action Network at the State Fair
The Office of Government and Community Relations hosted a Legislative Action Network booth for four days at the State Fair this year. Over 300 people signed up to join the Legislative Action Network, so they can receive action alerts to show support for the University at the Minnesota Legislature.