ee ee ‘State Capitol - 600 £ Boulevard Ave ~ Dept. 215 NORTH DAKOTA ‘Bismarck ND 58505-0230 UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. Phone: 701.328.2960 Fax: 701.328.2961 E-mail: ndus office@ndus edu Web: ndus.edu ACCESS. INNOVATION. EXCELLENCE To: Dr. Robert O. Kelley, President University of North Dakota FROM: Dr. Larry C. Skogen, Interim Chancellor North Dakota University System DATE: June 8, 2015 SUBJECT: Annual Evaluation Goal One Deliver degrees that are the best value in the nation. Ensure the cost to attend NOUS institutions is clearly stated and regionally competitive Objective Continue to work towards full enrollment for RuralMed Scholarship Program for medical students in the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Interim Chancellor Comments: The contribution and importance of the Health Workforce Initiative (HWI) at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SOMHS) to the medical health of North Dakotans is without peer. We have been very fortunate in the amount and quality of the gubernatorial and legislative support the HWI and SOMHS has received. Certainly, UND, North Dakota, and North Dakotans have benefited over the past two legislative sessions in the amount of support provided for the new medical school facility and the continued emphasis on and dedicated support for HWI. Thank you for your leadership in this area. ‘As you know, too, there have been concerns about some accreditation issues at SOMHS. My understanding is that the ten or so issues raised (of over 130 potential areas) during an accreditation visit are being or already have been addressed. | encourage your continued attention in this area, Goal Two Provide programs people want, where and when they need them. Strengthen partnerships with business and industry to ensure programs are relevant, valuable and timely Objective Provide well-educated and/or well-trained graduates in high-demand programs in the state of North Dakota (e.g,, primary and secondary education; health professions; STEM disciplines; law). Interim Chancellor Comment: know that you have made significant strides in a number of the areas identified in your objective ‘he North Dakota University Spstem s governed bythe Scat Board f Higher Edcation and includes Bismarck Sate College + Dakota College at dotineay «Dickinson Sate Universty «Lake Region State College» Mayle State Unversty + Minot State Univesity suuiiniemnanenitionalddanrs Eeabtidassieantiinentinediniendtecktanltaniaens wiaignsmnsiaeminesetibnmaemnmnDr. Robert 0. Kelley, President Page 2 June 8, 2015 con this goal. But what stands out in my recollection of the past year or so are the tremendous strides UND has made in the College of Engineering and Mines and its petroleum engineering program, Your increases of 3677% growth in that area is nearly unfathomable. This program, started in response to a growing need in North Dakota attending the "Bakken boom,” has been a tremendous asset to our state and students. A perfect demonstration of this occurred recently with the $5 million gift from the Hess Corporation. | know you've received other corporate gifts, but Hess's stands out because itis the largest and allowed you to receive state Challenge Grant funds amounting to $2.5 million, resulting in an infusion of $7.5 million into a new facility, the Collaborative Energy Complex, for the College of Engineering and Mines. Coming at a time when there was much criticism of the university system and UND, | asked Steve McNally, General Manager of North Dakota for Hess Corporation, why he was involved in providing such a generous gift to UND. He responded that UND provided the education and training Hess needed in North Dakota, He was very complimentary of UND and the petroleum engineering program. Hess and other corporations see the value of your institution and have invested in it because you provide quality graduates that they need. Congratulations on all thatlt Goal Three Ensure student success. Improve students’ overall attainment rates through increased participation, retention and completion rates Objective Improve academic advising for undergraduate students. Interim Chancellor Comments: ‘Thank you for the leadership role UND has played in the entire system-wide discussion on predictive analytics and an early warning alert system for students. That the legislature provided funding for such software and its resulting improvement on student success speaks highly of your team’s work in this area. 'm very interested in seeing the results institution-by-institution and system-wide as we implement these programs across the system. { sense we'll see tremendous improvement in retention and graduation rates, and we'll then owe you huge thanks for your and your team’s leadership. ‘As you know, the State Board of Higher Education is interested in improved retention and {graduation rates. Your retention rates have been excellent, and are Improving with the programs you've already instituted, but as we know, attention is required in the area of graduation rates. (Fall to-Fall 2012 cohort retention UND=75%--now 80%-/State 74,3%/National=61%; Six-year 2007 cohort graduation rates UND=55,3%/State=51%/National=58%. But a National Student Clearinghouse SAM six-year rate of 70% for students graduating from UND or a transfer institution is certainly more reflective of your institution's excellent work,) It will be interesting to see how predictive analytics, early warning, and the new SBHE-approved admissions standards affect these ‘numbers. | believe you are doing much to improve both retention (already very good) and, graduation rates. Many thanks for all that, Goal Four Maximize the strengths of the unified system. Increase academic collaboration among the institutionsDr. Robert O, Kelley, President Page 3 June 8, 2015 Objective Collaboration with NOUS institutions to enhance the capacity for research, innovation, and economic development at UND. Interim Chancellor Comments: In an environment of diminished research dollars—particularly from federal sources—I'm delighted to hear that you are in at least a stabilized situation. In this environment, being flat ($107 million v. $105 million) isa victory. We all know that signs of an economic turn-around (depending upon which economist you ascribe to) mean that we optimistically believe that research dollars will increase in the coming years, federal, state, or private, The bulwark of American education has been an emphasis on research. Should we lose our position of research excellence, much of the respect and perseverance of our educational system are at risk. | do expect the funding to turn-around, and | appreciate that UND has a large role to play in that area for North Dakota. And you've ensured the longevity of your research activities through an aggressive and thoughtful reorganization, Congratulations on all that. UND’s cooperation with other state entities and institutions in the UAS space is much appreciated. {As "ve said before, UAVs are going to become far more important in practically every industry, and North Dakota stands to play a huge role in the development of UAV technology and policies. Thank you for your leadership and collaborative work in this area Congratulations on the newly approved Schoo! of Entrepreneurshia in your College of Business and Public Administration. Entrepreneurialism is vitally important to our state, at all levels. That UND is now in the company of only a select few institutions offering programs dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurialism is excellent for North Dakota, North Dakotans, and our students. Thanks for your leadership in this area. Overall You have been an excellent leader at UND in a time of unfortunate turmoil. As I've said often, the entire fight over a sports team logo has consequences that go far beyond mere athletic programming. It is unfortunate that this struggle has been promoted over such a long period of time. | hope that your leadership here will result in our being able to put this entire issue behind UND. Part of the turmoil at UND over the past year has been tied to perceptions of “transparency” issues, whether coming from students, employees, or the community. We know that at some level perception becomes reality. l encourage an assessment by yourself and your team as to the genesis of these perceptions, and | further encourage an aggressive strategy to address these concerns. The excellent ‘work that is happening on the UND campus, in research, in education, in community outreach, in ‘medical services, should not be diminished by such misunderstandings, | appreciate your support toward this effort, | know, as well, that much good has been happening at UND. When I think of the importance of the law school, the medical school, the research being done at UND, the educational programming across all your disciplines, ! am reminded of the importance to North Dakota of the UND brand. You have been instrumental In ensuring the quality of all those programs, and | thank you for that.Dr. Robert O. Kelley, President Page 4 June 8, 205 Finally, | much appreciate your support of me in this office over the past two years. You have always been quick to ensure | have the information | need to provide the Board on issues; you've always been interested in my views on issues; you've always been proactive in seeking my concurrence on issues; and, you've always been respectful to this office. | thank you for all that. | deeply appreciate your support as we've worked through difficult and important issue. Sincerely, Larry C. Skagen, Ph.0. Interim Chancellor | acknowledge receipt of my performance evaluation. E, LYS Dr. Robert O. Kelley, President University of North Dakota pate ce: Terry Hjelmstad, Chair State Board of Higher Education