The University of Minnesota Board of Regents hosted the first student listening session on the Twin Cities campus Dec. 4. Now, the Board is planning more for spring semester.
University public relations director Jake Ricker said in an email statement to the Minnesota Daily that the Dec. 4 listening session at the Terrace Cafe inside the St. Paul Student Center was the latest in an ongoing series of listening sessions the Board of Regents is holding on each of the University’s five campuses.
The Board intends to host two more sessions on the East Bank and West Bank areas of the Twin Cities campus in addition to the session in St Paul.
Board of Regents Chair Janie Mayeron said in the Dec. 13 Board of Regents meeting that she found the session she attended to be quite valuable and informative.
“These in-person opportunities provide yet another avenue for us to understand what is going well and where there is room for improvement as we seek to fulfill our three-part mission,” Mayeron said in an email statement to the Minnesota Daily.
Regent Tadd Johnson said in the meeting he was able to hear about both research and common issues of Duluth faculty, staff and students.
Regent Kodi Verhalen added the Regents have received feedback from staff and input on opportunities for growth.
“These interactions and the input we receive are really invaluable,” Verhalen said. “It provides us an opportunity to actually dialogue with members of the University community and those who care about the University of Minnesota as a whole.”
Regents have hosted listening sessions in Crookston, Duluth, Morris and the St. Paul portion of the Twin Cities campus over the past semester, according to the Board of Regents Office.
Ricker said other spring sessions are still being planned.
The listening session stretched from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with approximately 40 individuals stopping by to talk with Regents inside the St. Paul Student Center.
The time and location were strategically selected to take advantage of increased foot traffic during the lunch hours, according to University Public Relations.
Sessions will be promoted through colleges and units with representation on each campus, as well as through student government groups, according to the Board of Regents Office.
“The listening sessions are a chance for you to meet the Regents and share any feedback with them, while also enjoying a cookie,” one Board of Regents office worker said.
If folks are unable to attend in-person times the Board’s Virtual Forum is another means of sharing input with the Board.
Individual Regent emails are also available on the Board’s website and correspondence sent to [email protected] is regularly shared with all Regents, according to Board of Regents Office personnel.
