Chancellor update on Minnesota State strategic realignment
In a memo to Leadership Council, Chancellor Scott Olson shared updates on Minnesota State’s strategic realignment initiative and other systemwide priorities. Read the full October 26 memo attached.
January board update: The Chancellor will bring initial ideas, scenarios, and impact analysis to the January 2027 board meeting. The board will discuss this during the spring semester, with recommendations on a future system structure planned for fall 2027.
Workgroups and task force: Three groups made up of students, faculty, staff, and campus leaders have been formed, with a few spots remaining to be finalized. They are:
- Long-term Strategies Task Force: Provide strategic oversight, coordination, and decision-making for the work conducted by the two affiliated workgroups. Representing Moorhead: Denise Gorsline, School of Communication & Journalism.
- Academic and Facilities Planning Workgroup: Evaluate the system’s overall structure, academic programming, workforce, and physical footprint against long-term financial and enrollment realities. Representing Moorhead: President Tim Downs, Brenda Norris, Executive Director of Facilities Management, and Denise Gorsline, School of Communication & Journalism.
- Allocation Model Redesign Workgroup: Evaluate the current model’s components, weighting, and methodology, exploring alternative models/approaches and developing recommendations. Representing Moorhead: Jered Pigeon, Campus Diversity Officer.
THANK YOU TO OUR COLLEAGUES FOR VOLUNTEERING FOR THIS IMPORTANT WORK!
Realignment leadership: Appoint Bill Maki as executive vice chancellor for strategic realignment in a two-year position, where he will also serve on the team advancing our legislative request. Outgoing Chief of Staff Jaime Simonsen will stay on in a temporary role to support the work. Launch a search for an interim vice chancellor for finance and facilities.
Communication: A system realignment website will launch in early November to share information, including rosters and an FAQ drawn from the virtual town hall planned for early November.
Administrative hiring: Institutions are asked to carefully evaluate administrative vacancies and consider alternatives before filling positions for the remainder of the fiscal year.
New academic program approvals: Approval of new academic programs will be paused. Exceptions may include programs currently in development.
NextGen leadership: Steve Reed will serve as executive leader and sponsor for NextGen and the Workday Student project to help move NextGen forward with discipline, transparency, and a continued focus on successful outcomes.
AI readiness: Recognizing that AI is a transformational force shaping teaching, learning, student success, and workforce preparation, Dr. Satasha Green-Stephen will lead this work as the senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs and chief AI officer for the system.
Importantly, this work is intended to complement, not duplicate, the innovative AI leadership already underway at Minnesota State University Moorhead and across our colleges and universities.
New chief of staff: Jessica Medearis will join the system office on Nov. 12 as chief of staff.