If we want Minnesota to retain its U.S. Health index rating as America's healthiest state, we will need more support from the state, which currently contributes only 11 percent of the Medical School's total budget. University faculty and staff on all our campuses have done a tremendous job of improving the student experience. This year applications were up 12 percent, tops in the Big Ten, and surveys show a high level of student satisfaction. Our students were among the first to have the option of registering via the World Wide Web instead of standing in long lines. New students receive a CD-ROM welcoming kit, allowing them to access the Internet even before they come to campus.
Class sizes are down.
Still, we have work to do to reach our goal of offering the highest-quality undergraduate education of any large public research university in America. Our upcoming legislative request is designed to bring us closer to that goal. Finally, I invite you to contact your legislators to let them know that you support investing in public higher education in Minnesota. Mark Yudof has been president of the University since July 1997.