The University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) is the newest campus of the University of Minnesota system, having been formally established in December 2006. UMR offers undergraduate and graduate programs available on campus in Rochester, Minnesota located downtown near the Mayo Clinic. Although it was not officially established until 2006, the different campuses of the University of Minnesota system have offered classes in Rochester since 1966.
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History
Rochester legislators and community advocates started the campaign to increase University of Minnesota presence in Rochester as early as the 1950s. Programs based on economic development, such as engineering, education, and math, began being offered in 1966 as a satellite site of the U of M. In the early 1990s, an educational coalition was formed with Rochester Community College and Winona State University-Rochester to form the University Center Rochester - 3 institutions, 2 systems, 1 campus.
In 1998, Rochester was recognized by the legislature as a branch of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. This designation allowed the Rochester site to develop its own leadership structure and to begin expanding its programs.
In 2000, the University heightened efforts to grow both the programs and reach of the Rochester branch by adding a new Provost to lead the campus and increasing staff to accommodate this growth.
The current University of Minnesota Rochester began to take form in January 2005 when then-Governor Tim Pawlenty announced in his State of the State address that southeastern Minnesota was underserved by public higher education and a plan to initiate research into what was necessary to solve the problem.
Governor Tim Pawlenty formed the Rochester Higher Education Development Committee (RHEDC) and appointed local business owner Marilyn Stewart to lead the group. The committee consisted of representatives from other public and private education institutions, area business leaders, and leaders in health care. The group's charge was to formulate a plan to advance higher education in southeastern Minnesota.
The RHEDC eventually identified the need for an institution that could drive and support key economic growth factors for the region and to do so through education, research, and outreach. The group recognized the University of Minnesota as the only institution in a position to carry out this ideal. An RHEDC report was drafted and delivered to Governor Pawlenty. The recommendation was adopted by the Governor, the legislature and the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.
In 2006, the University of Minnesota Rochester was designated as a full and official coordinate campus of the University of Minnesota system, and shortly after, selection of a downtown location to grow the campus began. The number of staff grew quickly afterwards (see chart in Administration section).
In fall of 2007, UMR staff moved into the new facilities at University Square in downtown Rochester and welcomed its new Chancellor, Dr. Stephen Lehmkuhle. Lehmkuhle was inaugurated in April 2008 with a community celebration and formal address.
In September 2010, UMR revealed that "Raptors" was chosen as the mascot for UMR.
In fall of 2011, UMR added the Bachelor of Science in Health Professions (BSHP) degree program, which is delivered jointly with the Mayo School of Health Sciences. Students in the BSHP program will graduate with a both degree from UMR and a certificate from the Mayo School of Health Sciences in one of five health-related fields: Respiratory Care, Echocardiography, Sonography, and Radiography.
On May 18, 2013, UMR graduated its first class of undergraduate students in the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and Bachelor of Science in Health Professions programs at the Mayo Civic Center in downtown Rochester.
Student enrollment and graduation
Total UMR enrollment trended upward from 2009 through 2013, as UMR added courses; however enrollment plateaued under 500 students, then dropped sharply. In 2009 UMR admitted only first-year students. Beginning in fall 2012 courses were available for first-year, sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students,. The number of first-year students hit a peak in fall 2013 and dropped off by 56.1% to spring 2015.
340 students have graduated from UMR. On May 18, 2013, UMR graduated its first class of 49 undergraduate students in the B.S. in Health Sciences and B.S. in Health Professions programs at the Mayo Civic Center in downtown Rochester. 73 students graduated the following year, an additional 109 graduating during the 2014-2015 academic year, and another 109 walked across the stage on May 15, 2016.
Cost of attendance and student debt
UMR's costs of attendance has risen significantly since first admitting students in 2009. In the 2010 Aid Year (covering Fall 2009, Spring 2010, and Summer 2010) the cost of attendance was $21,762. In 2015 that number is $26,064, a 16.51% increase. UMR has the highest cost of attendance of the University of Minnesota locations for the 2015-2016 academic year. The second highest is the Twin Cities campus ($25,784), followed by Duluth ($23,998), Morris ($23,250), and Crookston ($23,075).
The average loan debt for UMR students who graduate with debt is $36,015 in 2014. 19% of graduating students did so with no debt in 2014.
Administration
Campus administration grew quickly after moving into new facilities in 2007. Total staff reached its peak in 2009 at 109 and has since decreased by close to 13% afterward. Faculty numbers peaked in 2014 and remained level in 2015 and 2016.
There has been some criticism regarding the ratio of administrative staff to that of faculty and students. The student to staff ratio was 4.12:1 in 2015, the last year for which both numbers are available.
Staff compensation
UMR salaries totaled $5,370,564 in 2014. Three salaries accounted for ten percent of the total; Stephen Lehmkuhle at $257,110, Lori Carrell at $175,000 and Gail Sauter at $104,912.
Lehmkuhle is the second-highest paid chancellor in the University of Minnesota system. His salary is lower than Lendley Black at Duluth ($272,940) and above that of Fred Wood at Crookston ($239,800) and Jacqueline Johnson at Morris ($221,225). The Twin Cites does not have a Chancellor position.
On-campus housing
UMR's on-campus housing option is 318 Commons. The facility has a number of high-end features, such as granite countertops, particularly when compared with student housing on other campus. Because 318 Commons is designated as on-campus, UMR sets the rental rate and the student pays the University along with tuition, fees, and other expenses.
For the 2015-2016 academic year rates at 318 Commons range from $3550 for a double (shared) bedroom to $4800 for a single room with private bathroom on the 9th floor. UMR is the only University of Minnesota campus that does not offer a meal plan.
Each of the University of Minnesota campuses have apartment style housing and many have diverse or unique options, making comparisons of every option difficult. However, each campus has double (shared) bedroom apartments. The rent for those apartments for the 2015-2016 academic year are compared in the chart below. The Crookston and Twin Cities campuses have multiple double occupancy apartments available at different rates.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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