[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6538203,"mediaKeyId","5749358-978bbee2ca138cd12cd08a99a2d005fd","parentId",5749358,"title","University names Mike Volna vice president for finance; provost Croson praised as she prepares to step down","audioSeconds",523,"startMs",888000,"endMs",1411000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5749358-978bbee2ca138cd12cd08a99a2d005fd&start=888&end=1411","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5749358-978bbee2ca138cd12cd08a99a2d005fd/thumbnail_888000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6538203/Minnesota/University-names-Mike-Volna-vice-president-for-finance-provost-Croson-praised-as-she-prepares-to-step-down","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538203-eeabd1609ebbb71be290ad12d79aa76e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770870009&Signature=dQOmU-fSHlpBRb6eFuQHPKYpXtK~EEWAVODeT~B~3Nz6nh40TClxjR1eDne1cgOde0-Ev424KtezUIK2TAeEV~Lfso6Fc5-pFqNOK6dEyjbjxP6jjOmiR6xASwOvqKMKnMu75sK0bbgiaVCLxZNyEuMSg9SnNHcuyxNzuEsb91fMbfeQ9UtAZGghStvH9OeuP1OIv7M3szQX0JZrphY0jMMXtyJPAJgtvujrQ2hZSCWsrmgnW20pKfCkMPp14noSV6LbuoySbXgJHhPYBDFloGnC7ptsH76pvkRDifwAsA9m8HTrbrmNOe6Ac8Zv6wXWDd3lqMHWJliWs0CHzJ3u8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","University of Minnesota Board of Regents","date","2025-06-14T04:37:05Z","article","The Board of Regents on June 13, 2025, introduced Mike Volna as the university’s new vice president for finance and assistant chief financial officer. President Rebecca Cunningham said Volna has served the university since 1992 in roles including 16 years as controller and most recently as associate vice president and assistant chief financial officer. Volna’s new title was described as reflecting expanded responsibilities for stewarding the university’s financial resources.

The board also publicly thanked Provost Rachel Croson as she prepares to step down from the role of executive vice president and provost at the end of the month. President Cunningham commended Croson for leading the university through the pandemic and for hiring many current academic deans and vice provosts; Cunningham credited Croson with driving implementation of the Impact 2025 strategic plan.

Separately, the board recognized recipients of Fulbright awards and thanked Kathy Schmidlkofer for her service as president and CEO of the University of Minnesota Foundation; those recognitions were acknowledgments rather than board actions.

Ending

The board applauded the named leaders and awardees. President Cunningham and Chair Mayeron invited the recognized individuals to receive congratulations from regents at the horseshoe following announcements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 13, 2025 - Board of Regents Meeting, University of Minnesota","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Regents and senior leadership recognized new and outgoing senior leaders. Mike Volna was introduced as the new vice president for finance and assistant chief financial officer; Provost Rachel Croson was thanked for five years as executive vice president and provost as she prepares to step down.","taxTitle","University of Minnesota, Public Universities Board of Trustees Meeting, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",80592,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6538207,"Faculty, staff and student governance groups press for workforce reinvestment and curriculum/stewarding safety steps",1289,3906000,5195000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5749358-978bbee2ca138cd12cd08a99a2d005fd&start=3906&end=5195","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5749358-978bbee2ca138cd12cd08a99a2d005fd/thumbnail_3906000.jpg","/articles/6538207/Minnesota/Faculty-staff-and-student-governance-groups-press-for-workforce-reinvestment-and-curriculumstewarding-safety-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538207-ec4eeaebc2444cd00bf0663f4ebcd221/orig.mp4?Expires=1770870009&Signature=cWSHeUWb-9G7yIsEXv4qaft22EPRtEnQAUWtEwDufyVDNdOXPe6Wt6zONHmiweUCDxsX7OnuOuZv5hwlnJl8HsrFMwHsI2NPXHasnIHoLN-KUSwLvP9BdJnJahPVcNhdGc1qC4ZWWO2PUUGBGsDn-k9AzoVlNSAWaYRGB2pqQloPHSG2tE4SEEI8akIRAqjfev81yKT2rJXd-Dk7mMlH2gfUcmzWScftB6N1vbBgCQL1kCUZTbLRDg~ZeV3E3z0r3QdYlnSPkN3CaB5PEynV0ss7FJ0yLQS89crMSePgTnzBgnkWPtt25860TQOZpFVudDJ-a8fjO5qN-7L2rc8VNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leaders of the university’s consultative committees presented systemwide reports to the Board of Regents on June 13, 2025, summarizing shared-governance work over the academic year and highlighting workforce reinvestment, general-education curriculum issues, student safety initiatives and operational impacts from administrative systems.

Jennifer Goodnow, chair of the Senate Consultative Committee and Faculty Consultative Committee, urged continued engagement on term-faculty and academic professional promotion pathways and recommended a consistent approach to job codes and promotion pathways for contract faculty. Goodnow called attention to a gap created by the board’s institutional-speech resolution: because the university senate’s policy for how units would craft unit statements was not implemented, units lack a consistent process for producing statements the board’s guidelines allow when the president determines mission impacts.

Goodnow also reported that the council on liberal education will begin recertifying existing courses in the current liberal-education curriculum and that work to update general education remains underway. She welcomed the administration’s inclusion of a 3% merit pool and 1% market adjustment in budget plans and urged the board to prioritize investments in employees.

Stacy Mauer, chair of the Civil Service Consultative Committee, emphasized civil service staff’s operational role across campuses and urged the board to remember civil service employees when making budget decisions. She flagged implementation concerns with the PEAK administrative project, noting that staff work has shifted toward transactional reporting and that ongoing attention to long-term costs of implementation is needed.

Kit Brashears, chair of the Professional and Administrative (P&A) Senate, described the P&A workforce (about 7,700 employees systemwide) and said their roles span 20 job families across the system. Brashears outlined PAC accomplishments this year, including reclassification work and professional development offerings that reached thousands of employees. He urged regents to continue visiting system campuses and to engage directly with extension staff and other system employees.

Taiwo Aremu, chair of the Student Senate, reported that the student senate improved orientation for senators, restored monthly meetings with the president, and advocated for public-safety measures including permanent suicide-prevention barriers on the Washington Avenue Bridge. He said the student senate held meetings on Rochester and Duluth campuses to emphasize systemwide inclusion and highlighted continued work on basic-needs advocacy and mental-health services.

Ending

President Rebecca Cunningham and regents publicly thanked consultative committee chairs for their service. The board recognized committee chairs with certificates of appreciation and encouraged continued collaboration between governance bodies and administration on workforce, curriculum and safety priorities.","Senate and consultative committee chairs reported to the Board of Regents on shared-governance work this year, urging continued workforce reinvestment, clarifying general-education next steps, supporting permanent safety fencing for Washington Avenue Bridge and requesting continued attention to implementation impacts of administrative systems.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6538212,"General counsel urges regents to rely on code of conduct and fiduciary duties amid ‘extraordinary times’",416,3238000,3654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5749358-978bbee2ca138cd12cd08a99a2d005fd&start=3238&end=3654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5749358-978bbee2ca138cd12cd08a99a2d005fd/thumbnail_3238000.jpg","/articles/6538212/Minnesota/General-counsel-urges-regents-to-rely-on-code-of-conduct-and-fiduciary-duties-amid-extraordinary-times","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538212-2f7864077f322728049355e4333068fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770867388&Signature=UIpEQzMFFD4Qkt8oqy5iiLxJ8rMO6P1qX8s19~FWmjsvfx~ZMLMAEOc5OmU-k8qB04J0u4y0JR6iJiCanHBaAX5JU54JGlxTPFsJHsurWd5y5iKdWtGKHbgn6iF~NIr0-AYrlgt-zD8lchreBjDke6uSsk0V-4lAg4pL48-Z4S58WqSxKc18n2Lt0oMyMcztzjcu6g1gy0RavY3uj~LEqoRhlzQs7~M3SIwqcvyjOC7ehEWo7ZeZRERB95ZdBMznaPUYQzpzGypenorjX2N3UExPCCkGoL0d~VGnbTX4olLEaXR8Y2fYIpZBKnWYDUOLDUQTI3SxaBJ5-nxseGAgQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","General Counsel John Peterson delivered the Board of Regents’ annual review of the code of conduct on June 13, 2025, urging regents to use the policy’s principles as a “compass” during what he described as extraordinary and highly politicized times for higher education.

Peterson said the code of conduct is more than rules: if followed it can set a “tone at the top” and guide the board’s exercise of fiduciary duties — duty of care (how much to rely on experts and administration), duty of loyalty (avoid conflicts and appearances of conflicts), and duty of obedience (fidelity to law and the university mission). He recommended regents consult the office of general counsel on gray-area conflicts and stressed that the office is available to help.

Peterson noted the board governs a multi-billion-dollar enterprise and must weigh choices about institutional speech, budgets, compensation and athletics. He referenced recent national examples and urged regents to “stay true to core values” while exercising judgment over litigation, settlements and mission choices. He also confirmed that he reviewed regents’ financial disclosure forms and that filings were in compliance with the code of conduct.

Ending

Chair Mayeron and other regents publicly thanked Peterson and his staff for legal counsel and support. The board heard no requested changes to the code at this meeting; Peterson emphasized continuing availability of the office of general counsel for questions about conflicts or other compliance matters.","General Counsel John Peterson reviewed the regents’ code of conduct, framing it as the compass for governance during fiscal and public-policy pressures, and urged regents to use duty of care, loyalty and obedience while avoiding conflicts of interest.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6538217,"President Cunningham previews FY2026 budget: 7% scope reductions and workforce impacts possible",377,1945000,2322000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5749358-978bbee2ca138cd12cd08a99a2d005fd&start=1945&end=2322","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5749358-978bbee2ca138cd12cd08a99a2d005fd/thumbnail_1945000.jpg","/articles/6538217/Minnesota/President-Cunningham-previews-FY2026-budget-7-scope-reductions-and-workforce-impacts-possible","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538217-365f0c53f08e93bf9bf8e65b8bfc2c9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770870009&Signature=kaoCkfaRSKTXHj8~ARqf5Pk39FWEKk-JkrDU1jIGOFGb1~8jbRTMm-BCHHes1aa2KdA0NEIQ6Fp1FFa025mnLFY9m4~JvfxfnL7RBrbvK12WM0cYVFsdfm7NzizPPTvguOsAr5flEwOedDgG2BV4NnB0x48SciX3MpfyZSj0HQi60TE182pllBaJIIjpAsOhuG~g2YLg2QZpF0nVWuM~W6rkBTDD6HGoc0trtUzzCj3Ik1unuqq8OVj-tSE~N7etly5GBW35ig4MW0HLJJTc45fjGNMO9ogOgMTTxgXgvS7phgorGn2IHV33y8TAeyQqOBqz61meD5XqjKnk~Dv2qQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","President Rebecca Cunningham told the Board of Regents on June 13, 2025, that the University of Minnesota’s FY2026 budget proposal will require “difficult choices” that include about 7% scope reductions across the university and could affect workforce levels. Cunningham said the administration is proposing a balanced budget that will include personnel and program adjustments and that local deans, chancellors and department chairs are responsible for determining where reductions occur within their units.

Cunningham said the 7% scope reduction translates to an anticipated loss of about 300 full-time equivalent positions across the system, a figure provided to the board by central budget offices. She added that federal actions have already stopped funding for some grants, which has affected between “about 150 and 200” positions tied directly to those grants; the administration is using the RAISE program and other measures to try to reassign or otherwise support affected staff and faculty where possible.

The president framed the budget context in three pressures: flat state support that reduces spending power (she said the equivalent of a 3–4% reduction over time), federal research funding cuts (she referenced approximately $40 million already cut), and tuition revenues that have not kept pace with inflation. Cunningham said the proposed tuition increase is intended to avoid deeper cuts and noted that, adjusted for inflation, Twin Cities tuition with the proposed increase would still be about 3% lower than a decade ago.

Cunningham emphasized decentralized decision-making: individual colleges and units will decide how to apply reductions based on local academic priorities. She said the administration has set aside recurring funds for workforce reinvestment, and that the FY2026 proposal includes a 3% merit raise pool and a 1% market adjustment pool for employees. The president also signaled new hiring protocols to track hiring and growth decisions across the university while preserving local authority over hiring decisions.

On revenue strategies, Cunningham highlighted work with the University of Minnesota Foundation on new philanthropic models, the RAISE program to support scholars affected by federal funding loss, and ongoing efforts to prioritize investments in people and infrastructure.

Ending

Cunningham asked the board to consider these choices in advance of a special meeting next week to consider the FY2026 budget. She repeatedly framed the decisions as trade-offs intended to protect core academic programs, invest in people and maintain the university’s mission in constrained fiscal conditions.","President Rebecca Cunningham told the Board of Regents the FY2026 budget will require difficult choices including approximately 7% scope reductions systemwide, potential reductions in workforce across units (estimated ~300 FTE overall) and new hiring protocols; federal grant stoppages have already affected 150–200 positions.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6538222,"Regents approve 2025–26 meeting calendar, elect officers; motion to suspend bylaws fails",768,44000,812000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5749358-978bbee2ca138cd12cd08a99a2d005fd&start=44&end=812","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5749358-978bbee2ca138cd12cd08a99a2d005fd/thumbnail_44000.jpg","/articles/6538222/Minnesota/Regents-approve-202526-meeting-calendar-elect-officers-motion-to-suspend-bylaws-fails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538222-c12c26ca0e37ee710e898a3688f20cb6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770870009&Signature=Hej~ATDLVi0q1-csWequfyWjPROx9gj~cj7PVp8o7kWxB0FVj-DeRvbfOkPeUgZPIRVlTGOQdKL~wFbgyXtl3LgrrbMseWNci2UvBAjXEUaw7cPXmYi0Fw1DP46BgYNOxgGdhXtsx-NENsYB6eFuVCrYm9agins2Q2HFFFYGVjHxQ~7EEoWkZDOKziWHrfh8sBmXWONrEuPKzsDXRvBSbTa1ikOxCWYFVVodoL939YWS0fINNtAqIAFOx04lDNbAYSM8PRVffUptMnc7H-1aVve7wJ52uUjbAnfUYX3PcxmxLlHihtSujqqDb4l5O6VpXh~r92fzfaWfmFMAmBiKbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The University of Minnesota Board of Regents on June 13, 2025, approved a restructured schedule of meeting dates for the 2025–26 academic year and elected a slate of officers for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2025. The board rejected a motion to suspend bylaw Article 3, Section D that would have deferred elections until a July meeting when newly appointed regents might be seated.

The approved calendar establishes six regular meetings spaced across the academic year, two additional meetings for tenure/promotion actions and annual budget approvals, three contingency dates for special meetings and a set of active learning/listening sessions to bring regents into university sites and programs. Chair Jamie Mayeron described the restructuring as responsive to regent feedback and intended “to support effective governance.”

In a separate action, the board elected the nominating committee’s recommended slate for the 2025–27 officer term. Douglas Huebsch was elected chair; Ruth E. Johnson and Penny A. Wheeler were elected vice chairs. President Rebecca Cunningham, corporate secretary Brian Steeves, and treasurer Greg Goldman remain in their current officer roles while they continue to hold their university positions.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Approve the 2025–26 meeting dates as outlined in the docket. Outcome: Approved (voice vote: “Aye.” no recorded roll-call names).
- Motion: Suspend Article 3, Section D of the bylaws to defer the election until the July 2025 meeting. Outcome: Failed (voice vote: several “No”; the chair had explained an affirmative suspension requires eight yes votes). The motion did not carry.
- Motion: Elect the nominated slate of officers (chair and two vice chairs) as presented by the nominating committee. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). Elected officers’ term: 07/01/2025–06/30/2027.
- Motion: Approve minutes and the consent report (including routine docket items referenced in the consent materials). Outcome: Approved (voice vote).
- Motion: Adopted later in the meeting—resolution to conduct a nonpublic meeting to discuss attorney-client privileged litigation matters, citing Minnesota Statutes (see authorities). Outcome: Approved (voice vote).

The board chair noted procedural requirements for suspending the bylaws (an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the entire membership) and several regents spoke briefly for or against delaying the election. Regent Mary Davenport expressed confidence in the nominating committee’s work. Regent Mike Kenyanya explained he brought the motion to suspend the bylaws after receiving feedback from board members who preferred leadership selected by incoming regents; Kenyanya also said the motion followed a commitment he had made to those members. Regent Verhalen and Chair Mayeron both said they preferred having permanent leadership in place now given uncertain timing for new appointments.

The board recorded no roll-call tallies in the public transcript for the voice votes taken; outcomes were announced by the chair after the voice votes concluded.

Ending

The annual meeting adjourned after other routine items and the board proceeded into the regular June meeting. The docket included multiple committee consent reports that the board approved by committee actions (see separate committee reports in the full minutes).","The University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved a restructured 2025–26 meeting calendar and elected a slate of officers for the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2027 term. A motion to suspend the bylaws to delay elections failed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

University names Mike Volna vice president for finance; provost Croson praised as she prepares to step down

Faculty, staff and student governance groups press for workforce reinvestment and curriculum/stewarding safety steps

General counsel urges regents to rely on code of conduct and fiduciary duties amid ‘extraordinary times’

President Cunningham previews FY2026 budget: 7% scope reductions and workforce impacts possible

Regents approve 2025–26 meeting calendar, elect officers; motion to suspend bylaws fails