After what he called an "extraordinarily challenging" year, President Eric Kaler got a positive — but not glowing — job review Wednesday from the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents.
A performance review found that Kaler "continues to perform at a high level" and concluded: "On balance, President Kaler's performance has been commendable."
The brief public report, which was released on Wednesday, made only glancing reference to the "challenges during the past year." But it called Kaler "a resilient leader who has achieved much over the past five years."
Kaler, in his own report of his year's accomplishments, admitted that "This year was extraordinarily challenging in many ways."
He cited a string of unanticipated setbacks that have distracted his attention, starting with Norwood Teague's resignation as athletic director last summer in a sexual harassment scandal, and including a faculty unionization drive and controversy over the use of fetal tissue in research.
But Kaler also said he is proud of the "significant progress" on a number of fronts, including record-setting research programs, cutting administrative costs and some of the highest graduation rates in the U's history.
Dean Johnson, chair of the board of regents, said, "We remain confident that he can lead this institution to a greater success.
