The quest for research excellence at the University of Minnesota: a reality check

The noble goal of attaining Top Three status amongst public institutions has led to discussions of feasibility and strategy at Sally's, The Local, and the patio of Eastcliff. Having been involved in several of these, often in the company of others, Muckrake has resolved never to join in unless each member of the panel has begun his or her second Summit Pale Ale, ensuring a conversation that is more lively, open, and a bit less cynical than otherwise — if not productive, at least there's the promise of a decent buzz for all.

I have noticed a rather tacit speed-bump on our highway to greatness, one that actually is a bit embarrassing. I believe, in general, University of Minnesota researchers are in fact rather comfortable, if not happy, with their current situation. And thus, there really is no impetus to change at the grass roots level. From the workaday perspective, a researcher already has plenty of challenges. How our Top Three Quest will improve anything at all in the near term is simply not obvious. The University can do its improving, but in the meantime I have work to do ...

Any honest discussion will acknowledge this.