• Visits around the country hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving have increased over the past three years in another effort to keep constituents apprised of campus events, challenges, and conversations. The campus alumni magazine, Profile, includes the mission statement in each issue, and, indirectly, the feature stories (about faculty, students, and alumni) illustrate the benefits of a liberal arts education. • The newly approved mission statement offers a significant change from previous articulations by including reference to the goal of making students effective stewards of their environments. The homepage link to UMM: A Green Campus supports this claim well, with extensive information about the projects across campus, from the wind turbine to service learning. Some campus community members have expressed concern about the tendency of the UMM campus to proffer claims that are unsubstantiated with data. For example, from 2003 through 2005, UMM called itself “America’s Best Public Liberal Arts College.” The claim arose because UMM was highly ranked on the Princeton Review list, Kiplinger’s list, and in U.S. News. Some faculty members were uneasy with the claim and felt it to be overstated and not supported by any objective measures. In addition, a more pro-active approach to campus news and a commitment to communicating negative as well as positive news to the community could improve UMM’s overall ability to carefully and correctly inform its external audiences. 1.5.3 Operating with Integrity The University of Minnesota has a systemic approach to assuring responsible, legal, and honest operation within state and federal laws. UMM subscribes to and conducts business within the scope of Regents policies and the scrutiny of the Office of Internal Audit. The Office of Institutional Compliance also provides guidance and resources to promote ethical practices at all University of Minnesota campuses. UMM responds to suggestions for the entire University made by the Office of Internal Audit during scheduled reviews. For example, while the new EFS bookkeeping system has been a difficult program to put into practice, when fully implemented EFS will provide “tighter” budget management, “real time” budget information, and improved tools for current and accurate data management. In addition, we are implementing the Universitywide cash accounting system, with new software for UMM.
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Information security is an area that is always in a state of self-review as well as scheduled auditor reviews. Areas of improvement cited in a recent audit include revising the structure of our campus electronic network, enhancements and redundancies in electronic data security (file servers), and measures for continued hard copy file security. As a small campus with modest information technology support, we struggle to satisfy the data security needs of a large Research I institution. In late 2009, we were offered greater information technology support through both personnel support and infrastructure improvements. These additional resources should go far in meeting our data security and technology needs. The entire University is currently undergoing a three-step process of education, review, and testing to ensure all employees understand privacy rules. The University has created a helpful and informative Web site to help employees deal with data security and privacy issues. The Office of External Relations strictly follows privacy policies as mandated by its partner the University of Minnesota Foundation. The Office of Grants Development strictly follows federal and state policies in the management of grant funds through many review levels (checks and balances) of well-defined and clear expenditure documentation and certification. In compliance with the Clery Act, UMM offers campus safety programming and services; adheres to federal, state and local laws and University policies regarding student conduct; collects crime statistics; and makes reports available to the campus community and the public through the Campus Police Web site. Should UMM, in cooperation with University of Minnesota partners, determine that policies have been flagrantly abused or ignored, or a dishonest act has occurred, an individual or individuals would be subject to internal and external review and action including criminal or legal prosecution. UMM has ongoing committees set up to address issues pertaining to students including the Academic Integrity Committee, the Student Behavior Committee, and the Student Employment Committee. 1.5.4 Rights and Responsibilities of Constituents As a college of the University of Minnesota, UMM is subject to all University of Minnesota policies except those that are specifically designated as applying to only one campus. The University maintains an online Policy Library that serves as the official repository of current policies. The Board of Regents policies are the umbrella policies that
Chapter 1: Criterion One: Mission and Integrity Explore • Renew • Sustain • Lead