For 174 years, the University of Minnesota has served as the North Star for our state and the world, guiding generations through education, research and scholarship, and service. From our land grant roots to today’s global research enterprise, the University continues to be a restless force moving Minnesota forward.

Now, together, we take our next bold step with a new strategic road map to drive even greaterprogress. This road map—our road map—is a collective vision for how the University will benefit generations to come.

It was built by thousands of voices from across our campuses, colleges, and units. I am thankful to you alumni, faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders who engaged in its creation through more than 100 town halls; 8,000 survey responses; and countless conversations. Your ideas shaped a framework that will guide the University’s work for years to come.

Our road map builds on our strengths and emphasizes the University’s vital role in advancing prosperity across Minnesota and beyond. At its heart are five imperatives rooted in our mission and values:

Prepare students to be fully engaged and active in our state, nation, and world: We will expand immersive learning and civic engagement experiences that prepare students to think critically, lead boldly, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Innovate to transform the future of learning: We will design new ways of teaching and learning that meet students where they are and prepare them for where the world is going, including interdisciplinary problem-solving and the integration of artificial intelligence.

Serve communities through knowledge creation and exchange in the arts, health, and economy: As Minnesota’s land grant university, we will partner with Minnesotans to address challenges and spark new opportunities. Our collaborations with Tribal Nations, rural towns, and city centers remain central as we meet workforce needs from farms to hospitals.

Advance our excellence to lead in discovery and sustainable solutions, improving environmental, human, plant, and animal health: Our research and scholarship will evolve to make an even greater impact, improving lives across all of Minnesota’s 87 counties. As Minnesota’s leader in health and health care, the University will be the premier destination where students and faculty develop and launch solutions that protect our planet and improve the health of people, plants, and animals.

Secure our continued future as a world class university by investing in our people, operations, and facilities: We will strengthen the University’s talented workforce and modernize its infrastructure so that students, faculty, and staff have the tools and spaces they need to achieve their full potential.

These imperatives are an invitation to every member of the University community, including our 641,000 alumni across all five campuses, whose collective pride is among our greatest strengths. Every day, University of Minnesota alumni make a difference in classrooms, clinics, boardrooms, and communities across our entire state. You embody the values this road map seeks to amplify: curiosity, cooperation, service, integrity, and a commitment to the public good.

As we move forward, we need your partnership and your voice. Our success will depend not only on the work happening inside classrooms and laboratories, but on the energy and advocacy of our alumni community. You are among our most trusted and passionate ambassadors.

I invite you to get involved and share your pride in how our University impacts lives. Share your stories about how you have seen the University add value throughout Minnesota and beyond. Mentor a student. Get to know a fellow graduate. Attend events on campus or in your community. Most importantly, invite more alumni and neighbors to join us in building on the University of Minnesota’s strengths and bringing our road map to life.

Together, we will ambitiously advance Minnesota, our nation, and the world.

Rebecca Cunningham
President

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