Regent Candidate Advisory Council 10/27/26
Welcome and Introductions
RCAC Objectives and Responsibilities
Committee Formation and Assignments
Open Meeting Law and Data Practices Act Overview
Regent Input on Selection Criteria
Full Document Analysis
Votes (4)
Election of Officers (Chair)
Dissent: None
Moved by Mark Chessen [unspecified time] · Seconded by Shivangi Pandey [unspecified time]
The council moved to elect its chair, with Matt Hill nominated for the position. Following the nomination and second, the motion was brought to a vote.
Election of Officers (Vice Chairs)
Dissent: None
Moved by Matt Hill [unspecified time] · Seconded by Lucas Soderstrom [unspecified time]
The election for two Vice Chairs followed, with Matt Hill nominating Shivangi Pandey and Mark Chessen. These nominations aimed to ensure strong executive leadership for the RCAC, leveraging the nominees' prior committee work and experience.
Selection Criteria Document Review and Approval
Dissent: None
Moved by Steve Taubman [unspecified time] · Seconded by Unknown [unspecified time]
The committee's report on the selection criteria and application noted that the existing framework remained solid with only minor adjustments for simplicity and readability. A key discussion point involved clarifying whether current university faculty or staff could serve as regents and the strong preference for in-person candidate interviews to better assess demeanor and responses.
RCAC Calendar Approval
Dissent: None
Moved by Steve Taubman [unspecified time] · Seconded by Lucas Soderstrom [unspecified time]
The proposed RCAC calendar for the 2026-2027 cycle was presented, outlining a tight schedule from application launch in October to final recommendations by January 15th. The calendar includes a critical period in early January dedicated to comprehensive candidate interviews, described as intense but rewarding.
Notable Quotes (7)
Uh I'd like to nominate Matt Hill for chair.
Well, thank you very much. I look forward to uh taking this process seriously with all of you uh in the coming months and weeks and helping us just navigate in the interest of the university.
Well, I had a fun time with uh Shivangi on the uh committee for criteria. I would nominate her to be a vice chair um to help us with work going forward.
Well, I would nominate you off the chair's discretion to be the vice chair unless other people felt strongly. That way, we can at least check that off and ensure our committee has executive leadership.
I think the only question that comes to mind from last time is I think we had a member of sitting faculty or staff who applied and I I think there was a ruling we gave during that early on that you you can't do both. Am I correct or incorrect and I was just wondering can we spell that out if there if that's a firm line or was that more of a preference of the Board of Regents?
Candidates are encouraged to come in person and generally it's the normal procedure that they come in, are interviewed, and are in person. There have been in the past extenuating circumstances where someone had a long time trip out of the country or had a someone ill they were taking care of in another state where this body has made exceptions or the chair has determined we will offer Zoom at that point.
It's intense for the new ones that week. Uh uh uh but it's an enjoyable experience. It's a very unique uh activity that the state has constructed uh with the regent process.
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
A document outlining the core responsibilities and mission of the Regent Candidate Advisory Council.
Documentation detailing the procedural steps for selecting University of Minnesota regents.
Guidelines for ethical behavior and responsibilities for members of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.
State statute mandating transparency for public government meetings, applicable to RCAC proceedings.
State law governing the collection, storage, and dissemination of government data, including applicant information for the RCAC.
Specific legislation guiding open meetings for legislative bodies, under which the RCAC operates.
A document drafted by Nathan Hopkins from House Research, providing guidance on RCAC procedures under public meeting and data practices laws.
A memorandum from Regent Wheeler and Executive Director Steves offering the Board of Regents' perspective on criteria for candidate selection.
Raw materialstranscript
transcript