University of Minnesota regents are keeping administrators on their toes as the Medical Schools leaders work to boost its prestige.

This month, a Board of Regents committee reviewed the schools progress toward improving its national ranking, a goal set last year when faculty members created a long-term strategy with designs to attract research dollars and revamp scholarships.

Many school officials say Medical School Dean and Vice President for Health Sciences Dr. Brooks Jackson, who has touted high hopes for the institution since he took the job in February, is well-positioned to ensure the school achieves a top standing.

Besides an internal push for success, Gov. Mark Dayton formed the Blue Ribbon Committee in August to provide guidance for the Medical School. Regents will discuss the committees recommendations in December.

I think having a premier medical school is just crucial to having a premier state university, Dayton said.

The governor noted that the schools current rankings like No. 34 in best research, according to the 2014 U.S. News and World Report are unacceptable.

Thats not good enough, he said.

In the next five years, Jackson said, he wants the Medical School to stand among the top 20 schools for its research. And eventually, he would like the school to rank in the nations top 14 medical schools.

The Medical Schools vision includes efforts like addressing leadership turnover, securing national funding for medical research, improving education and advancing clinical care. The plans step-by-step process aims to help the school regain its position of excellence by 2025.

Regents put the Academic Health Center and the Medical School at the top of their priority list beginning July 2013, when they created a special committee to examine the school more closely, said Regent Linda Cohen, who chairs the committee.

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Regents, state push for top-notch Medical School