CHE Transitions Blog

Alumni Meeting Notes 4/19/05

U Strategic Plan Alumni Meeting
Hosted by Lois Haugerud, St. Louis Park
April 19, 2005

Attendees:
Lois Haugerud
Betty Lee
Marlene Banttari
Evelyn Franklin
Glenda Cramer
Gertrude Esteros
Sandra Engen
Starr Carriere
Donna Ranallo
Edna Kroll
Barbara Jorvig
Marjorie Larson
Pat Martinson
Carol Jackson (absent)
Shirley Baugher, Dean
Lori Mollberg, staff

Information provided:
Overview of funding streams at the U, CHE and trends in higher ed
Increase in quantity and quality of CHE students over past 5 years: 1000 to 1700 students. CHE Retention 91%.
10-year cycle of financial crises in higher education – structural deficit model of operation ($1 million at CHE, $50 million at the U)
College positioning efforts have strengthened college and programs. CHE among the top 4 colleges at the U. Ranked #2 in the country for HE. Self-supporting.
Why has the president recommended this reorganization?
What are the specific recommendations related to the college?
Timeline for recommendations, feedback, regents’ approval and transition planning.
Examples of feedback and ideas submitted by various faculty.
What can/should alumni do at this time?
Provided copies of both taskforce reports and contact list for president and regents, dean’s Q&A

Questions and comments from alumni:
Do you see an effective way for colleges to come together?
Perception that there has been a culture and climate change related to the public support and value for higher education – decreasing public support, education seems to be considered more of a private good today.
Has the U administration considered the international agenda in making these recommendations?
What should we (alumni) do now?
Who do we write to? When should we write?
This will cost a great deal to implement. How and when will the U save money as a result of these changes?
Aren’t we going to fight like GC or have a rally? Would a big uprising carry and weight?
Does this mean that the dean will lose her job? What will happen to staff and faculty?
What are they doing with Extension?
How will alumni support change as a result of this plan?
How will this effect the profession, locally, nationally and internationally?
How will the student experience change once it is removed from the philosophical underpinnings of human ecology?
I don’t like saying/thinking that the college I graduated from doesn’t exist. I feel homeless. Where will our home economics alumni find their home at the U?
What will happen to Phi U?
I appreciate the skills I acquired as a student here. Will students today get what I was given?
How will this change transfer to high school teachers and their education? Will they have to go to many different colleges to prepare to teach family and consumer sciences?
I am concerned about diluting the college as we know it. The interdisciplinary, human ecological perspective is needed now more than ever.
How does this connect with the fact that the college is a land grant college? What does it mean to be a land grant college today?
Alumni could work with UMAA to establish an home economics/human ecology Phi/U affiliate group. 30 alumni are needed to support the formation of the group.