University of Minnesota, Morris | Morris, MN
A distinctive undergraduate campus within the University of Minnesota system, the University of Minnesota Morris combines a student-centered residential liberal arts education with access to the resources and opportunities of one of the nation's largest universities. A founding member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), UMN Morris provides students with a rigorous academic experience, preparing them to be global citizens who value and pursue intellectual growth, civic engagement, intercultural competence, and environmental stewardship. The student body numbers nearly 1500 with a student/faculty ratio of 11:1. UMN Morris serves one of the most diverse student bodies in Minnesota. Forty percent of UMN Morris students are Native American, persons of color, or of international origin. UMN Morris is the only federally recognized Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institution in the Upper Midwest.
UMN Morris is highly ranked by national publications – U.S. News & World Report as a top-ten public liberal arts college; Forbes as one of the best colleges and universities in the nation; and Fiske Guide to Colleges includes Morris campus in its list of “the best” and “most interesting” schools in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom. Morris students are taught by a faculty with the highest per capita representation in the University of Minnesota’s Academy of Distinguished Teaching and students consistently win national awards, as demonstrated by UMN Morris’s status among the top baccalaureate institutions producing student Fulbright awards. The campus is also a national leader in sustainability, evidenced by receipt of the inaugural Excellence in Sustainability award from the National Association of College and University Business Officers and an AASHE STARS Gold rating.
The Morris Challenge will bring to life elements of the University of Minnesota Morris’s strategic vision and plan. The vision and aspirational statements of the plan were endorsed by the Campus Assembly in fall 2018. Subsequently, Campus Assembly endorsed a series of strategic priorities as action steps to bring the vision and aspirations to life. Two of these priorities undergird the Morris Challenge:
Become a national model for comprehensive rural sustainability and develop a plan to showcase our progress.
Develop and implement a plan that brings more people to the UMN Morris campus, connects them with campus programming, and provides direct regional engagement.
The Morris Challenge, to be hosted by the University of Minnesota Morris, is conceived of as a biennial competition that engages interdisciplinary and heterogeneous teams – including students – from across the region and country to tackle grand challenges facing rural areas. Each Challenge will ask teams to imagine, propose, and demonstrate practical solutions to a bounded, but capacious, issue facing American rural communities. (A document describing the vision for the Morris Challenge is available here.)
The goals of the Morris Challenge are:
● To stimulate participants to think creatively about complex real-world issues and to develop creative and forward-thinking solutions to them;
● To make available to the community and the world practical and effective solutions to complex issues facing rural areas; and
● To nurture robust community-university relationships in keeping with the University’s public outreach mission
The inaugural director will provide strategic direction and operational leadership in order to fully develop and bring the Morris Challenge to fruition. This will entail development of start-up infrastructure, leading the program, and serving as the champion for the Challenge. Through the vehicle of the Morris Challenge, the director will contribute to advancing the University’s national, state, and regional visibility as well as deepening relationships with partners and friends of the University.
The position is funded through private giving for 18 months with the opportunity for extension dependent on success of the program and availability of funds. The launch of the inaugural Challenge is envisioned for 2022. This is a working leader position, reporting to the chancellor.
In the leadership role, the director will:
Create, lead, and implement an integrated, comprehensive plan for the Morris Challenge
○ Provide overall coordination, development, and leadership of the Morris Challenge.
○ Initiate outreach activities to build key partnerships with funders and stakeholders. Gather and implement feedback from key partners to enhance the program.
○ Develop and execute strategic plans and budgets to define and implement the Morris Challenge including logistics before, during, and after the competition
○ Develop critical partnerships in support of the Challenge with the Morris university community, the region, and elsewhere that may include industrial manufacturing, leading agribusinesses, crop agriculture, foundations, corporations, or other partners.
○ Establish and convene an advisory group of external and internal constituents.
○ Develop processes to evaluate the Morris Challenge and institute continuous improvement for future rounds of the competition.
○ In collaboration with faculty and staff, set priorities and goals for the launch of the inaugural Morris Challenge in 2022.
○ Collaborate with University of Minnesota systemwide colleagues to raise awareness of the Challenge, and leverage systemwide resources
Provide leadership in marketing and fundraising for the Morris Challenge
○ Champion the Morris Challenge along with the University of Minnesota Morris brand in all aspects of the work. Partner with Communications and Marketing to create awareness and excitement to bring teams into the competition
○ Serve as the brand ambassador. In collaboration with the Offices of Communications and Marketing and Advancement work with national, state, and local media to create awareness and excitement around the Challenge.
○ Work directly with Office of Advancement to secure private giving to support all aspects of the initiative.
○ Draft and submit grants and private giving proposals in collaboration with Advancement and Grants Development.
○ Partner with Advancement to engage and steward supporters of the program, formulate programming, and ensure a successful outcome.
Required Qualifications
BA/BS with six years of relevant professional experience. Progressive responsibility in leading projects, advocacy, and/or substantial and innovative work in program development. Entrepreneurial spirit. Successful experience with community development and support.
Preferred Qualifications
Ability to initiate and monitor several simultaneous aspects of a large project. Commitment to the value of a liberal arts education and understanding of issues that affect historically underrepresented student populations, a record of success working in inclusive, diverse staff teams, experience interpreting and applying institutional policies. Demonstrated commitment to developing relationships in the community and with team members across campus to generate excitement and energy around a focused project. Experience in marketing or fundraising.
Application Instructions
Applications will be reviewed beginning January 11, 2021 and will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications must be submitted electronically through the University of Minnesota Online Employment System at: http://humanresources.umn.edu/content/find-job search for Job ID# 338562. Please submit the following documents online: a current resume/curriculum vitae, a cover letter/letter of intent, and contact information for three professional references. If you have difficulty negotiating the electronic application process, please contact the Mpls Human Resources help line at 1-800-756-2363.
Background Check
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.
Comprehensive Benefits Package
The University of Minnesota Morris offers a comprehensive benefit program.
The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, familial status, disability, public assistance status, membership or activity in a local commission created for the purpose of dealing with discrimination, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
UMN Morris values diversity in its students, faculty, and staff. UMN Morris is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to the diversity of our community through their teaching, research, and /or service because we believe that diversity enriches the University experience for everyone.
This publication/material is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact Human Resources, 320-589-6024, Room 201, Behmler Hall, Morris, Minnesota.