Leadership and Change

Major stakeholders in this project are:

• The University of Minnesota- the U of M has a vested interest in the most areas with regards to this project. The areas of interest would include: student satisfaction; savings to the University; increased efficiency; public awareness of University action to improve in times of economic hardship and environmental advocacy; and positive media attention for the U of M. The U of M also has the most power, as ultimately it is the university that will have to be open to listening to input, creating policy regarding the possible changes, and finally implementing the changes suggested by students.

• Tax Payers- Our plan could garner decreased costs for the State in the current budget shortfall. Having less power than the University, but still a significant amount of power, tax payers can choose to elect officials that would possibly put pressure on the U of M to improve their costs. This is especially vital with the current state budget problems.

• Donors- Donations to the U of M could have a significant impact on making the changes suggested by students; donors could have the option to designate their funds to the U of M for the project; want to see dollars well spent at the University; and could withhold donations if funds are not well managed, especially in an economic crisis. Donors have a sizeable amount of power, as they have the ability to not donate, or to designate their funds to a specific department. This carries a great deal of weight when the University is making decisions regarding policy and cutting costs.

• Sponsors- Sponsors have similar interests as donors, as they have the ability to not cease donating, or to designate their funds to a specific part of the University. This would force the University to use the funds accordingly, or to try to find new donors, which would cost the U of M more money to have a search for more sponsors.

• Students- Students have a vested interest in where tuition is being spent. They can be a public voice for support; and they are also future donors to the U of M. Students have the option to attend a different university if they are not satisfied with the use of their tuition. They can also protest on campus and get negative media for the University, or they can appeal to their representatives and senators to put pressure on the University to make changes with regards to costs for students at the U of M.

• Faculty- The university faculty has an interest in the changes that will be made in regards to this project, as they will be essential to implementing a new program. They also have an interest, as many of their positions are working with students or supporting students, students will be providing the suggestions for changes at the University. They have significant power, as it will be primarily their actions that implement the changes at the University. Without their support and efforts, a lasting change will not be possible.

• Community- The Twin Cities is a stakeholder, as the University is an important part of the community. With changes made to the University in efficiency and cost, the surrounding areas could feel the effects as well, especially with changes in efficiency. The community has power in the ability of the residents to elect officials, especially in Minneapolis, who either support or do not support the university as a whole. Their support will also affect the U of M in its efforts to reduce costs and increase energy efficiency.

Desired Outcomes:

There are several desired outcomes for this project. We would like to increase awareness of fiscal responsibility at the U of M, and lessen the university’s impact of the environment. Although we are not physically implementing the changes at the university, we feel that our contribution of research and action can start the process of implementing change at the university. As far as process goes, our outcome will include a mass email to the University of Minnesota population, with ways that they can help to reduce waste and conserve money. We would like to foster a sense of fiscal responsibility within not only the staff and faculty, but also the students of the university. There are many things that each student can do to cut down on waste at the U, and many are ways to reduce waste that they simply have not thought of. We would like to introduce new ideas of waste reduction and conservation to campus community. We would also like to receive at least 50 responses to our survey. That amount of responses will give us a substantial amount of information to work from on our project.

In order to do make our Action Research Project effective, we are going to call on useful resources within the university community. We will create awareness for the project by searching for publicity opportunities. We will attempt to have an editorial or article published in the Minnesota Daily newspaper to spread the word to students. We will also use online resources, such as student email lists and University website advertising. Because three members of our group work for the university and we are all students, it will be easier for us to connect with the people that will implement our suggestions. We are currently contacting and setting up meetings with people that may be able to help, such as someone from the energy management department. We will continue to look for people and other resources that will benefit our project and make it as successful as possible.

Currently the university is on a mission to cut costs due to the economic downturn, and this process has been extremely public. The President of the University of Minnesota has acted proactively, keeping members of the University informed of what is happening and why certain decisions are made. The University has created a website where faculty members can offer suggestions on cuts or where money can be saved. What has not been public is what voice, if any, the average student has in the process. Our approach to the problem is asking the everyday student for his or her input. We feel that college students, coming from a different perspective than university employees, can offer new ideas. This untapped resource can be extremely beneficial in helping increase efficiency and cut waste.

Our plan is a multi-pronged approach to increasing awareness about efficiency while garnering new ideas for the University of Minnesota about potential areas where efficiency can be increased. The first prong is an email campaign targeting the student population that would give them tips as to how they can become more energy efficient in their everyday lives, a public service announcement electronic flyer. The second prong is providing in the email a link where students can go online and offer suggestions of their own to the university, these suggestions would be based on what they have seen in and around campus. The third prong is enlisting the support of the Minnesota Daily to cover the campaign and increase awareness. The inherent risk in this plan is the belief that the typical student has feasible ideas as well as the initiative to offer feedback and suggestions.

Engaging the student population and seeking their input to help solve some of the current budget shortfalls is an achievable goal. It not only meets with our project criteria but it also helps give the student a voice, one that is often ignored. Our goal is not to physically implement any of the changes that are suggested, but rather to gather COMMUNITY INPUT on how money can be saved, as well as how the U of M can become more efficient. We will consider this project a success if we can receive 50 potentially good ideas to give to the University, the project receives some sort of coverage in the University paper, and if we can raise awareness in the student body on methods for decreasing waste in their lives.