Poised for Everything, not Excellence

I am not certain right now, but this glass of Glenfiddich certainly is pointing strongly in the direction ...

President Robert Bruininks has become the Whipping Boy for a long history of sins at the University of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota is unabashedly proud that it is possibly the most consensus-oriented university in the world. When Muckrake was still a Gopher Pup in olden times, this struck him as a posture both progressive and practical. But time marches on, and that orientation has become an anachronism, and an expensive burden to Minnesota taxpayers at that. We've demonstrated that management by consensus leads to across the board mediocrity, window-dressing instead of substance, and a rut which we are constitutionally unable to lift ourselves out of. We have undermined ourselves.

Why not admit it: We are a friendly, conservative, characteristically Minnesotan organization. By design we're poised for Everything rather than Excellence. As the premier public university in Minnesota, our mission is education, and that is something we can do well. Doing something different requires us to be something we simply are not.

A proposal to the Regents

To the Regents of the University of Minnesota:

You are aware no doubt that Robert H. Bruininks currently is employed at your discretion at a high administrative level at the University of Minnesota, one that many equate with a position of significant leadership. A practical proposal which begs for your endorsement to Dr. Bruininks regarding our TOP THREE aspiration: Let's step back for a moment and select the TOP THREE THINGS we want the University of Minnesota to be recognized for nationally before we waste any more time, money, energy, and credibility. I don't think we've done anything remotely related to that. Don't we, as a public institution of the Great State of Minnesota owe this to our investors, the Minnesota taxpaying public? Or are we somehow no longer answerable to them? Once we figure out what we want to be when we grow up, we can, um, develop in a responsible fashion.

I suspect that, in truth, one of two things is the case:

• There's no substantial roadmap that will hold up to scrutiny.
  
• There's a fear that excellence and investment and commitment in a few well chosen areas will be interpreted and lesser excellence, investment, and commitment in other areas (which is exactly what it would be).

Dr. Bruininks correctly observes the University of Minnesota cannot rely on the tin cup model to move forward. Yet without goals, without having the courage to go on record about what we intend to be good at — without those things, we are asking the taxpayers of the state to invest blindly, simply to Trust Us that things will be better (somehow) with just a bit more money. How is this "investment policy" different from tin cup panhandling?

(You might also, ahem, quietly begin preparing your own arse-covering: your protracted tolerance of this situation has not gone unnoticed ... )

Thoughts from the Summit ...

Ah, thoughts from the Summit! Inspirational views, incredible insights, — the broad picture comes into focus at first slowly then suddenly. Right now it's the famous Summit Pale Ale I'm enjoying, but I've committed myself, with the resolve of an Olympic athlete, to pursue the golden hefeweizen later.

Our economic dependence on caffeine?

In South American travel guides of the late 1800s, it was commonly noted that in some regions workers chewed the leaves of the coca plant, stimulating them with "remarkable endurance" in their thin-aired mountain regions. One might feel a bit of pity for these wretched Andeans, having to overclock their internal systems simply to cope with the reality of their environment.

Yet if we replace one stimulant with another — cocaine with caffeine — aren't many of us, as workers or students, in the same situation? I would be quite surprised to learn that the US Government has not studied in depth the economic benefits of stimulants, particularly caffeine, and the benefits conferred upon national productivity by a Starbucks on every corner. I am sure both academia and professional sports are quite aware of the financial benefits of competition fired by wink-wink amphetamine use. How much have we begun to depend, for our own economic well-being and competitiveness, upon personal overclocking? I would be very interested to learn of studies of this sort.

Muckrake enjoys his stimulants of choice too. Yet there seems to be a difference between imbibing for pleasure and for survival. If the latter is the case, let's note it clearly and honestly and openly.

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.

Hello to my friends, and welcome!

I suspect the University of Minnesota's attempt to improve its status as a research institution is being watched with interest by university presidents all over the United States. Why? It's a paradigmatic struggle: Balancing consensus and leadership. Traditional academic values (tenure, academic freedom) vs economic realities (operating cost, return-on-investment). It's happening for all to watch and learn from.

I am a Minnesotan, an insider, an outsider, and a financial supporter. I believe I will be very glad to meet you online, and I look forward to many happy, thoughtful, and fruitful exchanges.

Yours very truly,

Muckrake