Provide unrestricted funding for strategic investments. The university is in a highly competitive market for faculty and undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Minnesota ranks near the bottom of 30 comparable research universities in faculty salaries, and expects half its faculty to retire in the next ten years. Competition for top students is intense, with many other universities now offering more, and larger, merit-based scholarships, and with rising tuition costs for graduate and professional programs. The business of the university has always been knowledge but, in the 21st century, the business of business will be knowledge.
Brainpower is the state's most critical resource.
To celebrate and build support for the campaign among university top donors, a black-tie gala will be held at Northrop Auditorium on Oct. 22. Campaign Minnesota is lead by a 15-member volunteer committee chaired by Russell Bennett, principal partner with the Twin Cities law firm Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty and Bennett.