As we approach performance appraisal season and the close of 2025, it’s a time of great reflection. As we think about our work, I would like you to reflect on what your supervisor could do to help you be more effective in your job. Do you have actionable feedback for your supervisor? Have you shared it with them or their supervisor or your unit director? Many of our units create structures for sharing this type of feedback, and it’s very valuable to ASR as an organization.
I invite all of you to share feedback with me as well, regarding the folks that report to me, or about my own performance and what you would like me to continue doing, stop doing, or adjust. As we think about feedback, it’s also great to recognize each other and all of our wins. If you spot excellent work in ASR, please let me know so we can potentially feature it in an upcoming issue of News & Notes.
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Stacey’s 2026 drop-in schedule
With a busier than usual schedule, Stacey will not be hosting regular Zoom or in-person drop-ins this January. She will still be having the in-person coffee/tea sign up drop-in, however, which are for a maximum of 4 employees at a time. If you are interested, please fill out this Google form to secure a sign-up spot.
Stacey’s drop-in schedule for the first quarter of 2026
Stacey’s drop-in schedule for the first quarter of 2026
- January
- Thursday, January 8 — in-person coffee/tea signup 9:30-10:30am
- February
- Monday, February 2 — Zoom 2-2:45pm
- Wednesday, February 11 — in-person 10:15-11am
- Wednesday, February 25 — in-person coffee/tea signup 11am-12pm
- March
- Thursday, March 5 — in-person 2:15-3pm
- Wednesday, March 11— in-person coffee/tea signup 11am-12pm
- Monday, March 23 — Zoom 10-10:45am
Using non-UMN email to communicate with students
Work is currently underway to improve the guidance and streamline the process for how staff should communicate with students via email, including how and when a non-umn.edu email address can be used. If you communicate with students, please review the first draft of the guidance. Please complete the feedback form linked at the bottom of the guidance document if you have suggestions, questions, or circumstances to share that would be helpful. If you have a specific case that requires a response, please email ferpa@umn.edu.
Creating Accessible Google Documents
As ASR prepares for compliance changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II Regulations, it is important for us all to understand the importance of accessible electronic documents. A great place to start is understanding how to create accessible Google Documents and how to verify if those documents are accessible. Making a document accessible doesn’t just help those who use assistive technology, but also makes documents more usable for everyone.
Resources for making accessible Google Documents
Resources for making accessible Google Documents
- Watch the Accessibility Ambassadors workshop about creating accessible Google Documents. The following core skills are highlighted:
- Using headings
- Reducing and simplifying tables in word documents
- Ensuring the document is high-contrast (e.g. black text on a white background)
- Download and familiarize yourself with GrackleDocs. This is an approved browser extension for checking the accessibility of Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
- Explore the Digital Accessibility: Create Accessible Documents online training. This course is part of the digital accessibility badging program.
Office of Digital Accessibility 10-week challenge
The Office of Digital Accessibility will launch a 10-week, opt-in email campaign covering digital accessibility topics and resources starting in January 2026. Each week, the campaign will focus on a different topic and how accessibility can be integrated into existing work. You can sign-up for the Accessibility Challenge and receive more information from the Office of Digital Accessibility.
Mental Wellness in the Workplace
Mindfulness programs information session
The Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing is offering a free well-being seminar, Mindfulness Programs Information Session, on December 16 at 12 p.m. via Zoom. It is also worth 200 well-being points. The 1 hour session includes an introduction to mindfulness meditation, a short mindfulness meditation, time to ask questions, examples for practicing mindfulness at work and at home, and an overview of the Bakken Center's mindfulness resources and programming. The Mental Wellness in the Workplace group encourages you to take a break during your day and practice mindfulness with a Bakken Center instructor.
The Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing is offering a free well-being seminar, Mindfulness Programs Information Session, on December 16 at 12 p.m. via Zoom. It is also worth 200 well-being points. The 1 hour session includes an introduction to mindfulness meditation, a short mindfulness meditation, time to ask questions, examples for practicing mindfulness at work and at home, and an overview of the Bakken Center's mindfulness resources and programming. The Mental Wellness in the Workplace group encourages you to take a break during your day and practice mindfulness with a Bakken Center instructor.
One Stop availability December 22-January 2
In-person services at all One Stop Student Services locations will be unavailable from December 22-January 2. Phone, email, Zoom, and chatbot support will remain operational during normal business hours. All services for One Stop, GSSP, Student Account Assistance, Third-Party Billing, and University Veterans Services will be unavailable from December 24-26 and on January 1 for the University scheduled holidays.
Student account payments can still be made online, by mail, or via the dropbox at the Helping U desk. All modes of service will resume on Monday, January 5, 2026. These details are being communicated to both staff and students across multiple platforms. Please share this information with others as needed.
Student account payments can still be made online, by mail, or via the dropbox at the Helping U desk. All modes of service will resume on Monday, January 5, 2026. These details are being communicated to both staff and students across multiple platforms. Please share this information with others as needed.
Office food reminder
Because it’s that time of year when critters escape the cold and seek out warm spaces, we’re starting to see mice in Williamson Hall. To help keep them out, please clean up your workspaces after eating and seal up any leftover food in plastic, metal, or glass containers since mice can chew through bags. Sealing up food in chew-proof containers will also help them stay out of small spaces, such as cabinets and drawers.
We have vacuums available if you need to clean up the floor around your workspace. If you have a personal trash can at your desk, you are responsible for emptying it. All food waste should go in the big trash cans available in our break rooms since those are emptied daily.
We have vacuums available if you need to clean up the floor around your workspace. If you have a personal trash can at your desk, you are responsible for emptying it. All food waste should go in the big trash cans available in our break rooms since those are emptied daily.
ClickUp Tips & Tricks: Subtasks or Checklists?
When organizing a task into smaller steps, you can utilize subtasks or checklists. But what’s the difference between them? Subtasks share the same fields, functionality, and behaviors as standard tasks. They include standard and custom fields, appear in your “Personal List," and generate notifications. They are great for detailed coordination and tracking with collaborators.
Checklists are designed for smaller, sequential steps that are completed in a short period of time. They are especially helpful when documenting many detailed steps and delegating a task to staff unfamiliar with a process. You may add a Checklist in the “Checklists” section of the task. Checklists are also created automatically when you assign a comment to a user.
Checklists are designed for smaller, sequential steps that are completed in a short period of time. They are especially helpful when documenting many detailed steps and delegating a task to staff unfamiliar with a process. You may add a Checklist in the “Checklists” section of the task. Checklists are also created automatically when you assign a comment to a user.
Digital Playground: Google Gemini
Digital Playground’s next fabulous session will be on December 17 at 9 a.m. The topic will be about Google Gemini. We’ll take a look at AI best practices, and how it can help make your work more efficient and fun. We’ll cover topics from entry level tips to more advanced uses like file analysis and image generation.
If you haven’t already, join the Google Group to find recordings and resources from previous sessions on Gmail, Zoom, and Title II. If you have any questions or would like to join the Google group, reach out to Pete Fleenor (fleen010@umn.edu).
If you haven’t already, join the Google Group to find recordings and resources from previous sessions on Gmail, Zoom, and Title II. If you have any questions or would like to join the Google group, reach out to Pete Fleenor (fleen010@umn.edu).
ASR Staff Engagement December 11 Survey
This week’s ASR Engagement Survey asks about your plans for the rest of the month. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences.
According to the last survey, most folks prefer their thermostat set between 66 and 69 degrees (62.5%), followed by those who prefer 70-73 degrees (20%). Most expect that the Twin Cities will get more snow than average in December this year (45%), and as of writing this, we’ve already almost hit the average snowfall for the month. So this is looking to be true!
Finally, we asked if you own a heated blanket. Most say they do not own a heated blanket (72.5%), while 15% own one but rarely use it. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.
November 13 survey results
What is your ideal temperature setting for the thermostat during the winter?
According to the last survey, most folks prefer their thermostat set between 66 and 69 degrees (62.5%), followed by those who prefer 70-73 degrees (20%). Most expect that the Twin Cities will get more snow than average in December this year (45%), and as of writing this, we’ve already almost hit the average snowfall for the month. So this is looking to be true!
Finally, we asked if you own a heated blanket. Most say they do not own a heated blanket (72.5%), while 15% own one but rarely use it. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.
November 13 survey results
What is your ideal temperature setting for the thermostat during the winter?
- 65 degrees or lower (15%)
- 66-69 degrees (62.5%)
- 70-73 degrees (20%)
- 74 degrees or higher (2.5%)
- More snow than average (45%)
- About average snowfall (22.5%)
- Less snow than average (32.5%)
- Yes but I rarely or never use it (15%)
- Yes and I use it on occasion (12.5%)
- No (72.5%)
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