On Campus Blog

University of Minnesota eliminating Office of Academic Administration

The U has announced more administrative cost-cutting.

This from Tim Post:

The University of Minnesota has announced plans to eliminate its Office of Academic Administration to save money and streamline operations.

The move is expected to save the university $1.6 million eliminate five and a half positions. President Eric Kaler's chief of staff, Amy Phenix, says the U will try to find space for most of those jobs elsewhere on campus.

The office that coordinates work done by the U's four campuses outside of the Twin Cities, its international partners, the Extension Service and several other programs.

Those duties will now be transferred to other departments around the U.

More than $1 million of the $1.6 million will be in recurring funds, and $500,000 will be a one-time savings.

"Our hope and our goal is to align these functions with other parts of our mission related activities whether it's research or engagement or the academic mission," she said.

Robert Jones, who led the office for more than 15 years, starts Jan. 2 as president of the State University of New York at Albany.