In his ninth and final "State of the University" address on Thursday, University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks paid tribute to the school's progress toward becoming one of the nation's top research universities.
Bruininks gives last 'State of the U' speech
The departing University of Minnesota president lauded accomplishments, warned against "disinvesting" in education.
March 4, 2011 at 2:35AM
Bruininks will step down as president this summer.
The university is currently ranked ninth among the nation's top research universities.
"For years we settled for being a commuter campus and a safety school for our state's best students," Bruininks said. "We admitted and charged tuition to students who didn't graduate."
Today, he said, four-year graduation rates have nearly doubled.
Tuition also has increased sharply, something Bruininks acknowledged in his 45-minute address at Coffman Memorial Union on the university's Twin Cities campus.
"We must work hard to moderate tuition growth and deepen our commitment to college affordability -- but make no mistake: We are approaching a tipping point, a tipping point at which disinvesting in the university will diminish academic quality and academic productivity."
ALLIE SHAH
