Update from Stacey

I’ve recently returned from a Big Ten meeting, where a group of Office of the Registrar staff and myself met with our colleagues. We gathered at the hard to get to, but very scenic, Penn State campus. These annual meetings bring us together with peer institutions’ staff, so we can set strategy for Campus Solutions or other student information systems, select vendors (which span from chatbots to degree audit to CRM tools), and share many of the same struggles and achievements.

I find these meetings generally energizing. They are a good opportunity to remember how good we have it. One of our strengths is our organizational structure, which brings together the expertise of our different units. I continue to see other institutions who are resistant to sharing knowledge with their financial aid or One Stop peers, and I am so grateful for what we have. Thank you all for your work and support of the University of Minnesota as a whole!

On another note, I want to encourage each of you to respond to the University’s employee engagement survey, which HR will launch on October 16. The University uses the survey to collect data and measure employee engagement across the system. In the two years since the last survey, several of our units focused on employee engagement work around helping staff know each other better. Particularly in our hybrid work environment, we need to be attentive to developing and maintaining relationships.

The Office of the Registrar uses an employee slide deck with photos and information to help staff understand the individual’s work and personal interests. The Office of Classroom Management focuses on team-building and getting to know each other through potlucks, newsletters, and cross-functional projects. One Stop and Office of the Registrar also collaborate by introducing staff across these units to each other.

These are just a few examples, but are important highlights. What helps you get to know each other? What would you like to see at the ASR level? Think about this as you respond to the survey, or send me an email with a suggestion if you prefer.