SF3707

Purpose

The bill aims to ensure that for-profit entities cannot develop, manage, or control the curriculum taught at the University of Minnesota Medical School. It also creates a requirement for monitoring and reporting on how money from for-profit sources is used in relation to the medical school’s teaching, courses, and initiatives.

Main Provisions

• Subd. 2a — Prohibition on curriculum control

  • The Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota and the medical school must prohibit any for-profit entity from developing, managing, or controlling the medical school curriculum.
  • An exception allows individuals to teach at the medical school even if they are also employed by a for-profit entity.

• Subd. 2b — Reporting requirement

  • By February 15 of each odd-numbered year, the Board of Regents must submit a report on the medical school curriculum to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education.
  • The report must include at minimum:
  • Information on for-profit entity funds used to pay salaries of teaching faculty
  • Information on funds used to support new or existing courses offered by the medical school
  • Information on funds used to support initiatives of the medical school

Significance and Effects

• Legal change to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 137.39 by adding subdivisions 2a and 2b.
• Establishes a clear prohibition on for-profit control of medical school curriculum.
• Adds a transparency requirement, mandating biannual reporting on how for-profit funds are used in salaries, curriculum development, and school initiatives.
• Clarifies that employment by a for-profit entity does not automatically disqualify someone from teaching at the medical school.

How It Works with Existing Law

• Amends current law to formalize a prohibition on for-profit involvement in curriculum development and to introduce a structured reporting process to the legislature.

Relevant Terms - Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota - University of Minnesota Medical School - for-profit entity - curriculum - curriculum control - prohibit curriculum control - developing, managing, or controlling curriculum - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 137.39 - Subd. 2a - Subd. 2b - salaries of teaching faculty - courses - initiatives - reporting requirement - February 15 - odd-numbered year - legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education