A day of advocacy at the State Capitol
CFANS advocates for investment at annual U of M Day at the Capitol.
February 24, 2025
Last week, representatives from CFANS attended University of Minnesota Day at the Capitol, alongside students, faculty, staff, and alumni from across the U of M system. Advocates showcased their campuses, research, and outreach work, and shared personal stories of how the University has improved their own lives and the lives of other Minnesotans.
The University relies on state and federal funding to carry out its education, research, and outreach programs across Minnesota. State funding, in particular, helps keep tuition low, renews buildings and infrastructure, advances critical research, and supports outreach to Minnesota communities across the state.
Ce Yang, faculty member in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, alongside her robotic dog and drones, represented one of Minnesota’s most promising industries—precision agriculture. Precision agriculture promises to make our agricultural industry highly productive while protecting the environment. We will invest in work at our rural Research and Outreach Centers and in St. Paul, and advance the Future of Advanced Agricultural Research (FAARM).
The Bell Museum, Minnesota’s official natural history museum, attended the event as well, igniting and sustaining curiosity for nature and the universe.
The Twin Cities delegation of UMN advocates was made up almost entirely of CFANS students, staff, and alumni, as well as graduate students from the UMN Biotechnology Institute, our friends and neighbors located in the Gortner building. Out of all the various Schools, Colleges, and Units across UMN-TC, CFANS had the largest show-out, demonstrating our impressively high level of engagement.
Representatives from CFANS had an informal lunch with Chief of Staff to the University of Minnesota President, Jessica Durkin, and later spoke with University of Minnesota President Cunningham, sharing issues important to CFANS.
UMN advocates then met with two MN Legislators: Representative Dan Wolgamott, who is a cosponsor of the MN House Bill (HF 1245) requesting the UMN HEAPR funds, and Senator Doron Clark from MN District 60, which encompasses the UMN-TC East Bank Campus.
Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Erin Campbell presented to UMN students on the current status of the state budget and ongoing federal judicial cases impacting Minnesotans.
The day ended with President Cunningham and UMN Regents testifying in hearings with the MN Senate Capital Finance Committee and the MN House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, where they emphasized CFANS’ impact on Minnesota and the significant need for resources to renovate our facilities and fund our research.
CFANS' advocacy work continued in February during a visit to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Read more >
Drew Carter, ‘15, ‘24 contributed reporting to this story.
