Class Acts

New grads celebrate their achievement! The UMAA formally welcomed more than 1,000 new alumni on May 7 at McNamara Alumni Center with the Send Off, an annual pre-graduation ritual. The event featured samples from alumni-owned businesses, a graduation gift, therapy animals, and more.

A Shifting Landscape in Uncertain Times

Recent months have seen wide-ranging turbulence in the world of higher education due to proposed federal policy changes. This is a fast-moving environment, often with daily changes that have a potential impact on the U of M, as well as other institutions.

Potential funding cuts to research, as well as issues such as revoked visas for some international students; efforts to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion actions, and more areas that touch the University community are affected.

For instance, as of late April, the University was aware of 11 students who had had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records terminated. (The federal administration then announced it will reevaluate at least some student visa revocations on a national basis, but the situation remained fluid as of press time.)

The University is also monitoring proposed cuts or cancellations of federal research funds by both the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation. As of April 30, the University had received more than 70 stop work orders impacting a project by stopping certain work, temporarily halting payments, eliminating outyear funding, or otherwise modifying the terms under which work can be conducted. (In many cases, legal challenges to related actions are occurring across the country.)

The University has created a Rapid Response website to share information as it becomes available. Topics covered include sections on diversity, equity, and inclusion; the Department of Education; federal immigration policies, and National Institute of Health (NIH) funding. Each area also contains answers to a set of frequently asked questions. brief.umn.edu/rapid-response

By the Numbers

The U of M released a new economic report in early May. Key findings show that the U of M drives $11.5 billion in annual economic impact to the state, up from $8.6 billion in 2017.  And for every $1 of state investment, the University returns $16.75 to Minnesota.

Other findings:

• Over 70,000 students are part of the U of M systemwide.
• 366,000 alumni live and work in Minnesota (more than 60 percent of graduates). 
• Nearly 70 percent of the state’s physicians and other health professionals train at the U of M. 
• The U of M’s health enterprise, which includes the Medical School, the health sciences schools, and University of Minnesota Physicians, generated $2.6 billion in annual economic impact, supporting more than 17,000 jobs and $155.1 million in annual state tax revenue.
•  1 in every 35 Minnesota jobs are supported by the University’s presence or directly provided as one of the state’s largest employers.
• The U of M has launched more than 270 startups since 2006—73 percent of which are based in Minnesota.
• The U of M is No. 3 among all U.S. universities for startup creation, according to a 2023 AUTM Survey.
• U of M research generated $3.9 billion in annual economic impact, supporting more than 25,000 jobs and $212.2 million in annual state tax revenue.

For more information, go to

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UMAA Hosts National Institutes of Health Forum

In April, the Alumni Association presented the webinar Impacts of Reducing Federal Research Funding with Peter Crawford, M.D., Vice Dean for Research at the Medical School. It was designed to help inform attendees about issues surrounding National Institute of Health funding. Key takeaways included:

Medical breakthroughs at risk
NIH funding enables the U of M to conduct life-saving research, leading to new treatments and cures. Reduced funding could slow progress and limit the University’s ability to address critical health challenges.

Economic impact
Federal research funding drives innovation and supports the economy in Minnesota and beyond.

A stronger workforce
Federal funding supports training of future scientists, engineers and healthcare professionals. Cuts would reduce opportunities for students and researchers, impacting our nation’s leadership in innovation.

How You Can Help
Contact your members of Congress to urge their support for federal research and full funding of that work. Watch a recording of the webinar on YouTube by searching UMN Alumni Association and Impacts of Reducing Federal Research Funding.

We Asked, You Answered

Last issue, President Cunningham invited alumni to weigh in on the U of M’s proposed strategic plan. Here’s a sample of what we heard.

IN EARLY APRIL, the Alumni Association sent a survey to all alumni of the Twin Cities and Rochester campuses, inviting input on the upcoming Maroon, Gold, and Bold five-year University strategic plan, to be crafted over the summer. Roughly 860 people responded.

The survey contained four questions, which were also posed at several regional, in-person alumni events held over the winter:

1. From your vantage point, what will distinguish the U of M system as a leader in higher education in 2035?
2. How should we aspire to serve our state, nation, and world differently across the next decade?
3. What changes in the nation and world should the U of M System meaningfully influence?
4. In what ways might the U of M leverage its physical campus environments to advance itself nationally as a premier, comprehensive public university?

The topics that showed up most frequently in response to these questions were: 

1. Commitment to research excellence
2. Affordability and access to higher education
3. Institutional integrity, academic freedom, and free speech
4. Focus on community engagement and public service
5. Campus safety and inclusivity

Many respondents emphasized the University’s need to remain a top-tier institution known for innovation, and to lean into interdisciplinary and applied research that benefits communities. Sample answers included:

“By 2035, the U of M system can distinguish itself as a global leader by expanding its impact across key domains where it already excels: public health, animal health, agriculture, and food security. These areas are not only vital to Minnesota’s economy and wellbeing but are also central to addressing global challenges like zoonotic diseases, climate-resilient agriculture, and sustainable food systems. Its land-grant mission and leadership in interdisciplinary research and innovation will cement UMN’s reputation as a university that delivers solutions. Equally, its unyielding defense of academic freedom and independent thought must remain a cornerstone. In a time when political actors seek to undermine higher education, the University must lead by protecting the rights of its students, faculty, and staff to speak freely and think critically. This commitment to truth, safety, and free inquiry will set the University apart.”

Affordability and student value were recurring concerns, and institutional integrity and academic freedom were frequently mentioned, with strong opinions about the University’s political identity, campus climate, and public positioning. Some respondents advocated for the University to be a beacon of free expression, academic freedom, and inclusion, defending DEI, resisting political coercion, and protecting students’ rights. Others urged the U of M to minimize political entanglements and focus solely on academic merit, neutrality, and educational quality. Sample answers included:

“The University must continue to be a safe haven for scientific and medical innovation. The liberal arts must foster free speech and freedom from government censorship.”

“Drop the political bias. The University System in general is losing its relevance due to heavily leaning liberal on the political spectrum. Aim for the middle for the health of the University and our country in general.”

Many respondents also emphasized the University’s public service mission, focusing on meeting Minnesota’s needs first. Many registered support for inclusive excellence and for preparing students to tackle realworld challenges.

Other topics included urging the U of M to take a leadership role in addressing climate change, sustainability, and environmental issues.

Regarding ways the U of M can leverage its physical campus to advance itself nationally as a premier, comprehensive public university, respondents wanted a creative, innovative, and safe campus. Sample answers included:

“Create next-generation research facilities that foster interdisciplinary work between engineering, design, computer science, and the social sciences.”

“The University should focus on the safety of students on campus, especially the areas around Dinkytown, and continue investing in facilities to remain competitive.” 

Small World: From Morocco to Minnesota

In early April, Mohammed Sadiki (Ph.D. ’90) received the U of M’s Outstanding Leadership Award for his contributions to agriculture and dedication to public service. The award is the highest non-degree accolade conferred by the University.

Sadiki earned his doctorate in plant genetics and breeding at the U of M in 1990, and spent his career advancing agricultural science and improving food security. Sadiki’s involvement in the USAID Morocco project, known as the “Minnesota Project,” was instrumental in developing agricultural and veterinary sciences in Morocco.

Sadiki had a long career at the Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine (IAV) in Rabat, Morocco, with significant achievements in legume genetics and agricultural biodiversity. He also served as secretary general of the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime, Rural Development, Waters and Forests. In October 2021, Sadiki was appointed Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, and Waters and Forests, a post he held until this year.

In November 2024, Sadiki met with U of M alumni as part of the MN Alumni Travel Morocco Tour. Former UMAA Chair Pat Duncanson was on the tour and invited Sadiki to visit his farm if Sadiki ever found himself back in Minnesota. That visit took place on April 11 at Duncanson’s farm south of Mankato, Minnesota.

Read more about Sadiki at cfans.umn.edu/news/mohammed-sadiki-award.

If you liked these stories, 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.