When you think about the future of the University of Minnesota, what do you see?

Will our campuses in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, Minneapolis, and St. Paul look much different than they do now? What type of roles will our students, faculty and staff play when it comes to solving problems that plague our communities? And how will our University adapt to rapidly changing technologies, like artificial intelligence and machine learning?

If you were to craft a headline for the U of M of 2035, what would you hope that it said?

There are many wide-ranging questions that we should ask ourselves as the University embarks on a new journey to envision our bold future. With the recent culmination of the MPact 2025 strategic plan, we are at an inflection point where we can come together as a community and reimagine what the University of Minnesota will become.

Our moment is now, which brings us to Maroon, Gold & Bold. You will see and hear this phrase a lot more as we ramp up our next systemwide strategic planning, pointing us toward a vision for the University of 2035, while creating firm plans for what we will have accomplished by 2030 to get us there.

Maroon, Gold & Bold represents the best of what our University has always been. Since 1851, we have prioritized our commitment to the people and communities across Minnesota, while staying true to our mission and position as one of America’s leading public research universities.

From pioneering the first open heart surgery and developing sustainable aviation fuel, to unlocking the secrets of DNA repair and educating the world’s first Dakota language majors, this University has been delivering results for more than 170 years.

Our alumni have also left an enormous footprint across every square mile of the state and beyond. They include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, Fortune 500 founders, and renowned artists, musicians, elected leaders, and scientists. And just recently, two National Medal of Science recipients.

As we design a bold new vision that captures what we truly aspire to be, charting the future course of our University—one that pushes boundaries and redefines what is possible for our system of five strong campuses—we want to hear from you.

Your participation will help ensure our systemwide strategic plan is comprehensive—and that it reflects the many voices that make up our University community. Together, we can create a roadmap that honors our past, while boldly defining our future.

I encourage you to visit president.umn.edu/maroon-gold-and-bold to learn more about the planning process and how you can share your own vision for the future of our great University. We are working closely with our colleagues at the Alumni Association to create opportunities for graduates to play an active role in this exciting journey, including surveys and in-person engagement.

Our University’s rich tradition of excellence will propel us into a transformative future. Together, we can achieve the unimaginable, loudly broadcast our excellence, and create a future that reflects the very best of who we are and who we can become.

The voices of our graduates, who know this University so well and also know the journeys that follow, are absolutely critical. My team and I look forward to hearing your input.

Rebecca Cunningham
President

If you liked this story, Minnesota Alumni magazine publishes four times a year highlighting U of M alumni and University activities. Early access to stories and a print subscription are benefits of being an Alumni Association member. Join here to receive a printed copy at home.