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Working group proposes systemwide changes to simplify transfers, calendar and cross-campus enrollment
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Summary
A system optimization working group proposed a set of phased recommendations centered on the student experience, including a common academic calendar, clearer course equivalencies across campuses, a shared schedule builder exposing cross-campus online courses, and simplification of multi-institution tuition and fee processes.
University of Minnesota chancellors Laurie Carroll and Mary Holz-Clause and Vice Provost Ra (Raj) Singh presented recommendations from a system optimization working group that the Board of Regents charged last fall to identify structural changes to make the university's five campuses operate more cohesively for students.
The working group recommended a phased approach focused first on student-facing barriers: a common academic calendar across campuses; more transparent course equivalencies and transfer policies within the University of Minnesota system; a schedule-builder tool that shows online and cross-campus course options side-by-side; and simplification of the multi-institution tuition and fee process to reduce administrative friction and student confusion.
Nut graf: Regents were presented a concrete list of student-centered priorities and a recommended coordinating structure (a system collaborative led by a vice president for strategic initiatives) to shepherd the work, with the understanding that many recommendations will require further technical analysis and multi-year implementation.
Vice Provost Raj Singh said the group's priority is that "a student perceives us as one university with five campuses irrespective of which campus has taught their academic journey." He outlined five imperatives: a common academic calendar, transparent course equivalencies, default recognition of general education completion across UMN campuses (similar to Minnesota transfer curriculum rules), an improved schedule-builder showing cross-campus options, and simplification of the multi-institution tuition and fee process.
Chancellor Mary Holz-Clause and Chancellor Laurie Carroll emphasized cultural and structural change. Carroll described a recommended "system collaborative" to coordinate the work and suggested rapid-innovation subgroups for recommendation-specific technical tasks. Holz-Clause urged clearer shared expectations for system roles and suggested annual gatherings of staff with system responsibilities and stronger coordination for new research centers and institutes so they are accessible to faculty across campuses.
Regents asked about outreach to research and outreach centers and implementation timelines. Presenters said research and extension units were consulted and that some items will take years to implement; each recommendation will need follow-up task forces, implementation timelines and budget assessments. Regent Tad Johnson and others noted immediate practical benefits for students in northeastern Minnesota and other regions if calendars and tuition processes are aligned.
Ending: The regents expressed support and cautioned that implementation will require sustained work. Presenters and the president said they will bring updates and more detailed implementation plans, including costs and timelines, as the work moves from recommendation to execution.
