Recent content from Liz Navratil

University of Minnesota regents consider new panel to review presidential conflicts
The discussion comes one year after the regents faced criticism for allowing then-President Joan Gabel to join the board of a company that had business with the U.

How new superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams won over Minneapolis school board
School officials across the Twin Cities area say the newly selected MPS leader has shown calm under pressure in challenging situations.

University of Minnesota professor wins award for work on the resilience of children
Prof. Ann Masten won the Grawemeyer Award for work that helped shape policies for responding to trauma.

Thousands of U students to receive refunds for pandemic-era fees
Students can expect to receive $38 to $40 each after the university settled a lawsuit arguing it should have given larger reimbursements after COVID-19 shut down campus.

Lisa Sayles-Adams, longtime Twin Cities school leader, makes case for Minneapolis superintendent job
The superintendent of Eastern Carver County Schools took questions from the public before a two-hour interview with the board about her leadership style, experience and priorities.

Minnesota started offering free public college tuition. Now North Dakota State University is, too.
The competition for students is intensifying, as some schools worry they'll lose Minnesotans who qualify for the North Star Promise.

These Hamline University students want to become forensic investigators. One night will test them.
The victims have been found. The evidence has been dropped. These staged murders are ready to be solved.

Minnesota State colleges, universities seek $541 million in state funding for construction
Trustees are also considering asking for an additional $61 million to help cover system operations, money that would largely go toward tackling inflation.

Bemidji State University has 'zero margin for error' after enrollment declines force cuts
A stronger job market, skepticism of college and lower birth rates led to enrollment drops nationwide, and regional public universities have been hit hard.

Minnesota's Direct Admissions program is changing how students apply to college
Some schools are forgoing their traditional applications in hopes of reducing stress for students and their own staff.

The Supreme Court limited colleges' ability to consider race. Why are schools still asking about it?
Minnesota college leaders say they need the demographics for other reasons, and they're hiding race information from admissions officers.

U Regents approve St. Cloud medical school campus agreement, launch $50M campaign
The agreement lays out plans for the partnership with CentraCare but is contingent on final business plans, expected to be presented later this year.

University of Minnesota asks state for $500 million to fix old buildings
The U will also ask for $45 million to cover additional expenses.

Minnesota colleges change application questions after affirmative action ruling
The University of Minnesota and Macalester College are among the schools trying to boost diversity without running afoul of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Antonina Anikina, ski coach in United States and Russia, dies at 89
While her roster included elite athletes, Anikina also spoke fondly of the Nordic skiing novices she referred to as 'snow roses.'

Student loan payments resume in October. Here's how Minnesotans can prepare.
More than 800,000 Minnesotans have federal student loan debt worth a combined $27 billion.

Walz names members of task force on future of U of M health system
The group faces a January deadline for providing recommendations about U programs, including its medical school.

Data breach affects applicants, students and employees at U of M between 1989 and 2021
The data obtained included dates of birth, Social Security numbers and passport information, according to a news release from the University of Minnesota.

Judge dismisses part of lawsuit by ex-Hamline instructor who showed Prophet Muhammad images
The portion of Erika López Prater's case alleging religious discrimination will be allowed to proceed.

Minnesota professors begin new year amid academic freedom debate: 'Treading on eggshells'
Hamline University, which was at the center of a controversy last fall, is hosting a forum on the topic this week.

University of Minnesota will pay more than $200,000 to search for new president
Costs reported so far are comparable to the ones from past searches.

Twin Cities and Duluth tie heat records set a century ago
Some of the state's largest public schools sent out tips for battling heat as students prepare to return to classrooms Tuesday.

Overcoming pandemic setbacks: How Minnesota colleges are helping freshmen thrive
New orientation programs are geared toward helping students recover from pandemic learning losses.

Carleton College ends legacy admissions after affirmative action ruling
After the U.S. Supreme Court limited the consideration of race in admissions, some people pushed schools to also stop considering an applicant's ties to alumni or donors.

University of Minnesota faces lawsuit over potentially massive data breach
State and federal officials are investigating a hacker's claims to have accessed more than 7 million Social Security numbers dating back to 1989.

Forget study abroad. These college students will spend the semester on the Mississippi River.
Augsburg University's River Semester program sends students, sailing, paddling and camping along one of the nation's most famous waterways.

University of Minnesota could pay more than $3M to end lawsuit over student fees
Students who were enrolled in the spring of 2020 would receive checks of $38 to $40, if the deal gets final approval.

Jeff Ettinger will oversee the University of Minnesota for a year. Here's what's on his agenda.
While some tasks will be left for the next president, others have deadlines Ettinger will have to contend with.

University of Minnesota investigating a data breach
University officials said affected data is from 2021 and earlier, but didn't describe the scope.

Will court ruling undo diversity progress at Minnesota's most selective colleges?
College leaders say affirmative action isn't the only tool to boost diversity.

U Twin Cities admissions won't consider race, legacy ties
The change comes on the heels of a polarizing U.S. Supreme Court decision that drew renewed attention to both practices.

University of Minnesota takes steps to boost campus safety
Public safety was a talking point at the Legislature, and the U received additional funding for those programs.

After affirmative action ruling for colleges, the next fight is over legacy admissions
Minnesota colleges are divided over the practice of giving a boost to relatives of alumni and donors.

States without affirmative action offer lessons for Minnesota's campus diversity efforts
Universities in California and Michigan saw drops in diversity after affirmative action bans — and the rebound has been uneven.

What borrowers should know after Supreme Court canceled student loan relief plan
Regular loan payments, which had been paused during the pandemic, begin again in October.

Minnesotans re-evaluate finances after student loan relief rejected
The Supreme Court ruling on the Biden administration plan came a couple of months before borrowers are set to resume payments that had been paused during the pandemic.

How has student loan debt impacted you? Share your story
The Supreme Court has ruled the Biden administration overstepped its authority in trying to cancel or reduce student loan debt, effectively killing the $400 billion…

Supreme Court says considering race in college admissions is unconstitutional
Minnesota colleges had been bracing for the ruling on affirmative action and emphasizing their commitment to diversity on campus.

University of Minnesota students to pay more in tuition, fees next school year
Regents unanimously approved the new budget Monday, with some saying they hope to reduce costs in the future.

Minnesota State picks leaders for Winona State University, Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College
Current Winona State University President Scott Olson will become the system's chancellor in August.

How will Minn.'s free college tuition program work? Here's what families should know.
After years of failed attempts, state lawmakers approved a bill to create a free tuition program for some students.
Justice Department finds pattern of discriminatory policing in Mpls.
The Minneapolis Police Department routinely engaged in a pattern of racist and abusive behavior, according to a Justice Department investigation. The city will now begin negotiating a court-enforceable consent decree.
Here are the four key findings in the federal probe of the Minneapolis Police Department
The report marks the beginning of what is likely to be a long process requiring the city to make more changes.

When do Minnesotans start repaying student loans? Here's what borrowers should know
Many borrowers are anxiously awaiting a U.S. Supreme Court decision about whether some of their debt can be forgiven.

President Joan Gabel works final day with University of Minnesota
Gabel is leaving to take another job. Former Hormel CEO Jeff Ettinger will take over as interim president on Saturday.

U regents to meet to finalize details of presidential transition
Current President Joan Gabel is leaving to take another job. Former Hormel CEO Jeff Ettinger will serve as interim president.

U alters summer research program after complaints of discrimination against white students
Some conservatives argued the program discriminated against white students.

Belmar Gunderson, the 'mother of women's intercollegiate athletics' at University of Minnesota, dies
Gunderson is credited with boosting women's sports programs at a time when most of the resources went to men.

New report assails Hamline University's handling of Islamic art controversy
The university didn't immediately respond to the report from the American Association of University Professors, but footnotes indicate it disputed some of the report's findings.

Minnesota State will allow schools to raise fees despite tuition freeze
Trustees approved the changes Wednesday. Student organizations are divided over them.

Lawsuit against Hamline University raises questions about religious discrimination law
The case was brought by a former art history instructor who showed images of the Prophet Muhammad in class.

Janet Schrunk Ericksen named chancellor of University of Minnesota's Morris campus
Ericksen led the campus through multiple challenges over the past two years.

Legislature passes higher ed bill with free tuition program
Minnesota students from families making under $80,000 annually would qualify for the new free tuition program.

Winona State's Olson named next chancellor of Minnesota State colleges, universities
Trustees chose Olson on Tuesday over Tonjanita Johnson, an administrator in the University of Alabama system.

University of Minnesota regents select Jeff Ettinger to be interim president
The former congressional candidate and Hormel CEO will take over later this year, if contract negotiations go as expected.

University of Minnesota regents select 4 finalists for interim president
Board Chair Janie Mayeron has said hiring an interim leader is the group's "most immediate priority."

New U regents selected as interim president pick nears
Rep. Gene Pelowski said lawmakers wanted "a new vision" on the board as it prepares to make crucial decisions about the U's future.

University of Minnesota graduate assistants vote to form union
Students who supported the effort wanted higher pay and stronger worker protections.

University of Minnesota graduate student workers vote this week on whether to form union
Students leading the union drive say they want higher pay and better worker protections.

Minnesota State system names two chancellor finalists
The next chancellor will take over for Devinder Malhotra, who will retire from the college system in August.

U to rent presidential mansion to state for governor's temporary home
Regents approved the deal during a meeting Monday afternoon.

Older adults don't know TikTok. Gen Z does, and they're taking over college recruiting videos
The videos by Minnesota students provide a glimpse of campus life, right on prospective classmates' phones.

University of Minnesota regents outline wish list for President Joan Gabel's successor
Regents are looking for an interim president for the first time in more than two decades.

Kathleen Linaker to become next president of Riverland Community College
Linaker will succeed Adenuga Atewologun, who is retiring.

U regents change leaders, call special session on presidential search
Chair Ken Powell said he was stepping down from his leadership role "to support continuity of leadership for this board."
Report outlines steps for U of M to repair relationship with tribes
The U stopped shy of saying whether it would adopt the report's recommendations.

Minnesota State and U search for new leaders at critical time
U President Joan Gabel is leaving to take a job in Pittsburgh. Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra is retiring.

Months after controversy over Islamic artwork, Hamline president plans to retire
Miller became school's second female president in 2015. Last days will be in summer of 2024.

U President Joan Gabel leaving for University of Pittsburgh
Gabel will be the first female chancellor for the Pennsylvania university.

Who repairs the supermarket fridge? Minnesota colleges seek funding to train for in-demand jobs
Minnesota State is seeking more state funding to help boost workforce development programs like this.

Minnesota colleges poised to get millions in extra funding but not everything they want
University of Minnesota and Minnesota State leaders say they need more money to freeze tuition for some students, but they've faced pointed questions from legislators.

Minnesota State University Moorhead names new president
The system's board of trustees approved the selection of Timothy Downs.

Minnesota State College Southeast president reprimanded, ordered to pay more than $5,000 in restitution
College head Marsha Danielson declined to comment.

University of Minnesota provides new details on tuition shortfall
State lawmakers sought more information about the causes of the shortfall as they prepare to negotiate budget figures.

U buys land in Mower County for new farming project
The purchase will give the university about half the land it needs for a new Future of Advanced Agricultural Research Minnesota (FAARM) center.