Applications Sought for University of Minnesota Board of Regents

(St. Paul, MN, October 1, 2018) - The Regent Candidate Advisory Council (RCAC) is currently accepting applications for four positions open on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents in 2019. The positions to be filled include one student at-large position, two at-large positions, and one fifth congressional district position. The application deadline is Friday, November 30, 2018.

The Board of Regents is the governing body of the University of Minnesota system and its five campuses, Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester and the Twin Cities. Regents are unpaid volunteers who serve six-year, staggered terms. Four of the twelve Regent seats are open for election every two years.

According to RCAC Chair Dan Wolter, ideal candidates will have a deep interest in higher education and an understanding of the role of the University of Minnesota as a major land grant and research institution. They will have experience and a willingness to learn about governance and oversight of large complex institutions, a strong sense of fairness and appreciation for diversity, good listening skills and an awareness of the importance of the University’s education mission in challenging economic times.

“One of the most important public service roles in our state is serving as a member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents,” said Wolter. “Regents are the only position in Minnesota for which a joint convention of the Legislature meets to make elections. Regents provide accountability for the entire University system and oversee a diverse portfolio of issues, from high quality undergraduate education to cutting edge research.”

The RCAC was established by the Minnesota State Legislature and is responsible for recruiting, screening and recommending Regent candidates to the Legislature for election to the Board of Regents. From the pool of applicants, the RCAC will invite selected candidates for public interviews in early January of 2019, and then will submit to a Joint Legislative Committee the names of two to four candidates for each open Regent position. The Joint Committee, in turn, makes recommendations of candidates for final approval by a Joint Convention of the Legislature. The Joint Convention will then elect regents to fill the vacancies.

Application materials are available on the RCAC website at: http://www.rcac.leg.mn. An application packet may also be requested by contacting Sally Olson, of the Legislative Coordinating Commission, at 651-296-9002.