Newsletter summer pause

The UX and Content Strategy team is working to improve the newsletters it maintains. To assist with this, News & Notes and The Record will not be sent in June or July. When publication restarts in August, there will be updates based on best practices, technology updates, and feedback from readers. Information that needs to be shared to ASR staff during the pause can be sent using the ASR Staff Google group or in direct emails. If you have any questions, email asrux@umn.edu.

Williamson open for work

Both 130 and 160 Williamson are now open for work starting May 22. Donhowe remains available for ASR use until Friday, June 26. If you are planning to meet with someone who is assigned to work in Williamson over the next few weeks, confirm where you are meeting first as this is a gradual transition, and they may not have moved back yet.

Operations updates

ASR has held an in-person all staff meeting and picnic in July over the past few years. A number of factors have made that difficult to organize this year, so it will be postponed. There is not yet a plan, but we wanted to make sure everyone had advance notice as teams often schedule around this time. Details with the new plan will be shared after the start of the term.

Additionally, the monthly ASR all staff meetings will be taking a break over the summer. During the break, we will use the ASR Staff Google group to share any updates. When the meetings start back up again in September it will be with a new quarterly schedule. This will be automatically updated on calendars.

Upcoming One Stop closures

One Stop Student Services, University Veterans Services, Graduate Student Services & Progress, Financial Resolution Services, and Third-Party Billing will be closed on Thursday, June 18 for a staff event, and Friday, June 19, in observance of the University holiday. This includes phone, email, Zoom, and in-person services at all One Stop Student Services locations. Full service will resume at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 22.

The details of this closure are being communicated to both staff and students across multiple platforms. Please share this information with others as needed.

Upcoming project request deadline

If you have a project request for Q1 2027 (August-October) or beyond, please submit project requests by June 4. Full details of the project request process and additional resources are available on the ASR Staff Site. Reach out to osi-projects@umn.edu with any questions.

Twin Cities Pride

While Pride Month didn’t receive its official presidential proclamation until 1999, protests for gay liberation started gaining traction in the 1970s. Minneapolis held its first 50-person march in 1972 to commemorate the third anniversary of the Stonewall riots. 25 people marched up Nicollet Avenue, while the other 25 remained behind in Loring Park in case the protestors needed to be bailed out. Fortunately, no arrests were made.

Since its first march, Twin Cities Pride has grown exponentially to include all members from the LGBTQIA+ community. This year’s 54th Pride Festival features over 600 unique vendors, including community resources, artists, and businesses. We encourage you to check out the resources below and to attend some of the upcoming events:

• Learn more about the history of Alternative Pride in the Twin Cities.
• Explore the LGBTQIA+ community resources.
• Check out the upcoming Twin Cities Pride event schedule.
• Attend the Twin Cities Pride Festival and Pride Parade.

ASR Staff Engagement Survey

With the pause in newsletters for the next two months, we don’t have a new survey this week, but we wanted to share the results from the last survey.

Most of us are feeling pretty good with spring semester wrapping up! When asked for one of your coping strategies for dealing with stress, many folks mentioned going for a walk or a run as well as planning vacations, gardening, and snuggling with pets. Finally, most are planning to travel out of state this summer (68%). Thanks all for your continued participation!