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!

Update from Stacey

Thursday was definitely exciting with the Canvas outage! I’m very relieved the system was back up and running by noon on Friday, and impacts to the end of the term were minimal. I haven’t had that kind of fire drill in a long time, and hopefully, we won’t have another one for quite a while. Moments like this are a good reminder of how connected ASR is to the rest of the University, and how we can serve the institution in a time of crisis. Through connecting with team members in multiple units of ASR, I was able to quickly join a leadership meeting and share potential impacts to students and faculty and data on final exam scheduling, explain grade entry deadlines by campus and what it might take to move them, and connect dots between multiple offices. Thank you to everyone that jumped in and offered their help and expertise!

Upcoming Project Request deadlines

Now that Q4 2026 is officially underway, we will begin reviewing project requests for Q1 2027 (August-October) and beyond. Please submit project requests as early as possible to allow time for review. Full details of the project request process, the complete ASR Quarterly Planning Calendar, and additional resources are available on the ASR Staff Site.

Dates and deadlines for Q1 2027

• Project request deadline: June 4
• Project prioritization: July 9
• Start of ASR planning quarter: August 2

Reach out to osi-projects@umn.edu with any questions.

ASR website News page

The ASR UX team recently added a News page to the ASR website. The page features content from ASR-owned newsletters as well as other stories on ASR-related work and achievements. Since the News page is in its early stages of development, we are currently publishing existing stories from our previous newsletters to build it out.

We are looking to publish stories that highlight ASR units’ accomplishments and show the value ASR brings to the University. If you would like to submit a story to publish on the News page, please email your story to asrux@umn.edu.

uAchieve Cloud project go-live

The migration of uAchieve (APAS) from on premises to the vendor-supported cloud and an upgrade to the newest software is scheduled for the week of June 15. The cloud environment will be available starting June 18.

There will be a 3-day freeze period during the transition from June 15-17. We want you to be aware of the following:

• You can still run audits through view access.
• Any audits run before or during the freeze will not transfer to the cloud, so save these offline for future reference.
• Do not make any exceptions or changes in APAS (self-service, client, or database) during the freeze as these will not migrate to the cloud.

How to prepare

We encourage you to do the following in preparation:

• Make all exceptions and changes in APAS by end of day June 12.
• Save any audits you want to keep by end of day June 17.

After go-live, you may notice some minor menu changes with the newest software, but otherwise, your access and use of the system will remain the same. More information can be found on the Academic Support Resources website.

2026 Special Olympics Games - Minnesota

The Twin Cities metro area is hosting the 2026 Special Olympics USA games June 20-26, 2026. Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics in the 1960s with the goal of changing societal attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities and empowering individuals with disabilities through the "power of unification through sport." Today, the event celebrates over 3,000 athletes from all 50 states.

The work to build a better and more equitable tomorrow for all individuals can’t be isolated to the Special Olympics. Individuals with intellectual disabilities have on average shorter life expectancies due to undiagnosed, untreated, and often preventable conditions, and are also underemployed. You can help your community by doing the following:

• Volunteer for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
• Learn more about the Team MN Special Olympics athletes and coaches.
• Check out the resources on the Disability Resource Center (DCR) website.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is a virtual event aimed at refining your digital accessibility skills based on the theme: “Design, Develop, Deliver.” You can register to attend the free virtual event held on May 21, 2026 using your UMN email account and select from 9 different sessions. You can find more information, including the event schedule and how to register, on the GAAD website.

ASR Staff Engagement May 14 Survey

With the end of the semester upon us, this week’s ASR Engagement Survey asks about how we're managing our stress. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences.

According to the last survey, folks are evenly split when it comes to sports! 37.5% of you are interested in sports, while 37.5% are not interested in sports. When asked about music, many of you are listening to classic rock artists, such as Fleetwood Mac and the Smashing Pumpkins, as well as classical artists like Beethoven.

Finally, we asked if you have a special interest, hobby, or niche that your colleagues may not know about. Many interesting hobbies were mentioned from gardening to cross stitching to painting miniatures for tabletop games. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.

April 30 survey results

In general, are you interested in sports?

• Yes (37.5%)
• No (37.5%)
• Yes, but only for a specific sport or event (25%)

What music (song and/or artist, soundtrack, etc.) have you been listening to lately?

• Fleetwood Mac. It's time for summer!
• Bad Bunny and Karol G
• Six the musical
• Early 2000s girly pop
• 1960s Psychedelic Rock
• Living Room lofi playlist (acoustic background music perfect for working)
• Bongo Cat (because that's what my daughter insists we listen to 😆)
• Coheed and Cambria
• Noah Kahan

Do you have a special interest, hobby, niche, etc. that your colleagues may not know about? If so, what is it?

• Participating in community theatre.
• Love watching Motocross!
• Coloring by numbers, making stickers and iron-on decals on my cricut, and designing announcement posters/social media posts for my church.
• I collect and sell trading cards.
• Mesh wireless networking (Meshtastic). If HAM radio and texting had a baby, this would be it. Great for being in low/no signal areas such as hiking and camping.
• Pop music trivia.
• I've been really into learning everything about pourover coffee lately.

Update from Stacey

I was at the annual American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) meeting last week, where I attended several educational sessions, met with multiple vendors, and got to sample some local New Orleans food. The conference offered me the opportunity to connect with colleagues and learn new things.

While it was not the official theme of the conference, AI was a part of many of the sessions, whether it was AI improvements from vendors, impacts on student development, or compliance issues. We also spent a lot of time discussing the implications of various federal changes, especially the impacts of H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill) on financial aid. I had never been to New Orleans before, and I definitely need to take a trip there sometime where I can really experience the area more deeply.

Q4 2026 project prioritization update

ASR is starting 3 new projects for Q4 2026 (May-July). This is in addition to the 19 projects that are currently in the analysis or implementation phase. You can refer to the Executive Project Dashboard for a summary of all active projects and accepted project requests.

You can follow the #ASR Project Portfolio ClickUp channel to get updates from the quarterly prioritization and planning process. See the ClickUp help documentation for more information on channels.

Any project requests that were not prioritized for the upcoming quarter will be held in the project backlog for reconsideration. Please submit project requests for the next quarter (Q1 2027) through the ASR Project Request form.

Making outdoor recreation accessible for all

Spring has arrived, and many of us are excited to participate in outdoor activities, like visiting parks and hiking on Minnesota’s extensive trail system. However, only about 30% of Minneapolis Park properties meet basic federal accessibility standards for disabled people, and the degree of accessibility varies from park to park across the state.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) “Accessible Outdoors” effort is actively addressing these challenges with initiatives such as providing trail chairs and renovating parks. Still, more solutions are needed to improve accessibility for everyone. You can help these efforts by doing the following:

• Advocate for accessible infrastructure, such as ramps, wider paths, benches, accessible restrooms, picnic areas with level ground, and clear signage that includes sensory information.
• Participate in inclusive activities, like adaptive gardening or guided hikes.
• Practice thoughtful inclusion by asking individuals with disabilities what they need for a comfortable experience.
• Consider volunteering with local adaptive sports or outdoor recreation groups, such as St. Paul’s Adaptive Recreation or Northland Adaptive Recreation.

Mental Wellness in the Workplace

Coping with rapid change in the workplace: long-term strategies

Taking care of ourselves and recognizing when we feel overwhelmed can be challenging, especially when we’re facing high levels of stress. If we don’t take care of ourselves and take the breaks necessary to heal, it can lead to burnout, which affects both our personal and professional lives.

While implementing small, everyday strategies can provide immediate relief to burnout, developing long-term coping mechanisms is essential for preventing or curing burnout altogether. 

If burnout feels like lost energy, enthusiasm, or confidence, the Lyra article, “Burnout 101: Symptoms and Coping," suggests the antidote is to accumulate joy. The article also recommends to do the following to accumulate joy.

Build Resilience—Find joy in your work by focusing on aspects that inspire you or bring you satisfaction. This could involve setting personal goals, pursuing professional development, or celebrating team successes.

Personalize Your Workspace—Make your workspace a reflection of your personality by incorporating items that bring you happiness, such as framed photos of loved ones, motivational quotes, or meaningful souvenirs from travels.

Mindfulness in the Moment—Take time to engage with your environment while working. Pause occasionally to appreciate the sights, sounds, and scents around you, as this practice can enhance your awareness and help reduce stress.

Breathing Breaks—Remember to step away for brief breathing breaks during particularly busy or overwhelming periods. Techniques such as deep breathing can help clear your mind and rejuvenate your focus.

Track Your Accomplishments—Maintain a journal or a digital list of your daily or weekly achievements. This can serve as a powerful reminder of your progress and boost your confidence, especially during challenging times.

Enjoy Music Wisely—Listen to music that enhances your mood or productivity when appropriate.

Engage in Balancing Activities—Identify activities that help restore your energy and balance. For example, if your work involves long periods of sitting at a desk, schedule regular walking or stretching breaks. Simple exercises can invigorate your body and improve circulation.

ASR Staff Engagement April 30 Survey

This week’s ASR Engagement Survey examines our hobbies and interests. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences.

According to the last survey, most do not enjoy going camping (57.1%). When asked about your preferred outdoor temperature, there was an even split in preferring 66-70 degrees and 71-75 degrees (34.5% each).

Finally, many state parks, such as Minneopa State Park, and national parks, such as Grand Teton National Park, were mentioned as favorite natural areas. Lakes, beaches, and our own backyards received shout-outs as well. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.

April 14 survey results

Do you enjoy camping?

• Yes (42.9%)
• No (57.1%)

If you had to spend a day outside, what would be your preferred temperature?

• 60-65 degrees (27.6%)
• 66-70 degrees (34.5%)
• 71-75 degrees (34.5%)
• 76 degrees or higher (3.4%)

What is one of your favorite natural areas (ex. parks, lakes, etc) that you have visited?

• Pacific Northwest
• Door County, WI and the various state parks and nature areas there
• Any beach on the south shores of Long Island, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
• The Icefields Parkway located in the Canadian Rockies between Banff and Jasper
• Joshua Tree!
• Lands End Park, San Francisco, CA
• Devil's Lake (WI)
• Lake Elmo Regional Park
• Niagara Falls
• Lake Josephine

News & Notes Feedback Questionnaire

We’re gathering feedback from our readers about their experience with our newsletters. If you would like to participate and give feedback on News & Notes, fill our News & Notes Feedback Questionnaire. The questionnaire should take around 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you!

Update from Stacey

As the parent of a current college student and a high school senior who is planning to attend college in the fall, I am extra aware of what our current students and new incoming students are up to these days. I am also full of advice that, shockingly, they aren’t as eager to hear. My eldest is so focused on the number of final papers and projects he needs to complete soon, that he is struggling to make space for fall registration. Does he even know when his registration appointment is? My youngest just selected an orientation date, and then asked me about one million questions as he filled out forms.

One theme I’ve gathered from these conversations is how mysterious these processes are for them, even growing up in a household steeped in college information. Initiating an email address was a struggle. Learning how to log into the various portals, degree audits, orientation surveys, etc. is often confusing. Understanding the financial aid letters is a big stretch when their financial knowledge comes from part-time jobs and Venmo.

My real point here is to recognize how much we all do to make a student’s experience easier—whether it's through technology, helping students find their way on campus, or translating a confusing email into easier to understand language. We are really making a difference. Thank you!

Document and slide templates

If you are creating documents or slides and want them to follow accessibility and University branding standards, please use the University templates available within Google. You can access the University templates when you create a document or presentation using the “+New” button in Drive. Click the right arrow next to Google Doc/Google Slides to expand the menu, which will give you the option of choosing “From a template.” You will be presented with the current University templates (illustrated instructions).

Please keep in mind that ensuring documents and slides are accessible requires more than just using the correct University templates. You should also complete Digital Accessibility training if you are regularly creating and sharing documents and slides with others.

The University is also in the midst of a branding change and replacing Driven to Discover, which could affect things like color and type. Always using the currently available template is the best way to ensure you have the most up-to-date version. If you have questions, please email asrux@umn.edu.

Earth Day and environmental equity

Celebrated on April 22, Earth Day raises awareness for environmental issues and brings communities together to spend time outdoors, enjoy nature, and clean up litter. When recognizing Earth Day, we can also reflect on environmental equity. Clean air, water, and land should be an equitable resource to all. However, communities of color, Indigenous people, and low income communities experience disproportionate impacts of pollution and climate change.

In Minnesota, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has found that while air pollution risks exceed health guidelines in 36% of the state's communities, this burden falls disproportionately on marginalized groups, rising to 53% in low income communities and 78% in communities of color.

Check out the following resources and activities to learn more about addressing environmental equity:

• Read this article on How to Address Environmental Justice Issues in Your Community.
• Utilize this Map of Environmental Justice areas to identify areas to support meaningful engagement for groups affected by pollution in Minnesota.
• Find an Earth Day Cleanup location near you to engage with the community and clean up litter in our parks.

Mental Wellness in the Workplace

Coping with rapid change in the workplace: action and adaptation

As you work through changes at work, taking action and adapting is vital and oftentimes difficult when you’re feeling overwhelmed and stuck. One strategy to feel more engaged, fulfilled, and productive in your community and work is to cultivate compassion (2 min video). Lewis Carroll also gives great advice on how to work through difficulty and overcome a creative block—if you want a fun dive, ahem, down the rabbit hole.

We also recommend checking out the following resources:

• Building Work Stress Resilience
• A Moment for Encouragement (2 min video)
• What To Do When Your To-Do List Is Too Much (2 min video)
• How to Get Started When You're Feeling Stuck

You can read our first and second article about change in the workplace on the N&N blog.

ClickUp Trip & Tricks: Filter tasks by due date

If you only want to see a subset of tasks, you can filter task attributes, such as assignee, status, task type, due date, or custom field, to customize your list view. You can filter your tasks by due date, which only shows tasks due on a specific date, or before or after a specific date. This can help you prioritize and plan your work.

To filter a task by due date:

1. Select the “Filter” icon on your list view
2. Select “Due Date” from the dropdown list of task attributes
3. Select a dynamic option from the options dropdown, such as next 7 days, this week, this month, etc. to further specify the view

For more information, see the Filter and search tasks in List view in the ClickUp Help Center.

ASR Staff Engagement April 16 Survey

This week’s ASR Engagement Survey examines our experiences outdoors. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences.

According to the last survey, most do not use a physical calendar (66.7%). Most also prefer to organize by color when given the option (59.3%). Finally, we asked for your most challenging things to organize. Responses were varied, but organizing the basement, kitchen/fridge, and digital files were mentioned most frequently.

Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.

April 2 survey results

Do you currently use a physical calendar?

• Yes (33.3%)
• No (66.7%)

When given the option, do you prefer to organize by color (i.e. color coding)?

• Yes (59.3%)
• No (7.4%)
• Sometimes, it depends (33.3%)

What's one of the most challenging things (work or non-work related) for you to organize?

• Extended family gatherings near holidays
• My digital files! Both work and non-work. It's so easy to forget about them when they're not physically staring me down.
• Prepping weekly meals for the week/month
• Incoming snail mail is the bane of my existence
• Kitchen pantry
• Thoughts
• Life!

Update from Stacey

I am happy to be back after a nearly month-long family medical leave. It was a great comfort to know that everything in ASR was in such good hands while I was out. Thank you to everyone who kept our good work moving forward. A special thanks to my leadership team who had to cover numerous things with very little notice or explanation. If you sent me something during my absence, know that I got it, and that I’m slowly catching up on emails and other work as I return. Rome wasn’t built in a day—as they say—and it will take a bit for me to fully catch up.

Planned PeopleSoft Maintenance April 18-19

The PeopleTools 8.62 upgrade will take place the weekend of April 18 and 19. This means that PeopleSoft and related systems (e.g., MyU, APAS) will be unavailable. Service is expected to be restored at noon Sunday, April 19. As a result of this upgrade, there will be minor changes to the PeopleSoft interface.

Guidelines for professional conduct with our offices

In response to an increase in unprofessional conduct from students, families, faculty and staff, a group of ASR Supervisors (Mina Mosher, Noah Holm, Tony Thomas, and Angie Opel) created Guidelines for professional conduct with our offices to help ASR units frame communication expectations with our campus/community partners. These guidelines can be found on One Stop’s Terms and conditions page and in the footers of the OCM and ASR websites.

Please expect this topic to appear in future ASR All Staff Assemblies, staff meetings, or check-ins with your supervisor. We plan to share the guidelines with larger audiences in the near future, such as the Academic Advising Network (AAN), the Graduation Program Coordinator Network (GPCN), and other lists at the University.

You can direct questions about this initiative to Julie Selander (goode021@umn.edu) or Nate Peterson (pete2787@umn.edu).

World Autism Awareness Day

World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated each year on April 2. The day brings awareness and further efforts towards equity and human rights for autistic individuals in society. This year's theme is “Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value,” which focuses on the value of neurodiversity in strengthening community.

You can support your coworkers with autism by being inclusive in workplace environments and being considerate of accommodations, such as being respectful of workplace noise levels, offering in person and remote meeting options, and using plain language. Overall, it is important to remember to practice mindfulness to maintain an inclusive workplace.

Additional Resources

• Check out the UN’s Autism Awareness Youtube Channel
• Explore the Autism Society of Minnesota website for events and resources
• Spread the word about the Walker Art’ Centers’ Sensory Friendly Sunday

Thank you - Ellie Scott

The ASR Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) committee would like to thank Ellie Scott for her work on the ASR DEI committee. Ellie eagerly joined the committee last summer and has been a key contributor to keeping the committee going. Her thoughtful and hard work has been greatly appreciated. We are sad to see her go but happy for her as she starts new endeavors in the Office of Information Technology (she is not too far away)!

Digital Collegium: accessibility resources

The ADA Title II deadline is quickly approaching on April 24! The regulations require all public entities to meet new standards for digital accessibility regarding their websites and online documents. Digital Collegium provides the following actionable tips to help you tackle this work:

• Learn the law—Coppin State University gives a meaningful overview of digital accessibility and how it impacts higher education.
• Create a plan—University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill developed a 3-step digital accessibility compliance plan.
• Build your skills—The University of Minnesota identified 7 core accessibility skills and the 3Rs framework to prioritize your accessibility work.

You can find additional resources, such as guides, in-person experts, and recommended accessibility tools, on the Digital Collegium website.

Mental Wellness in the Workplace

Coping with rapid change

When things at work change unexpectedly, it can help to gather information and ask your managers and colleagues questions to better understand how the changes will affect you. We recommend the following articles to help you communicate with your coworkers and manage change:

• Communication dos and don'ts at work (5 min read)
• Communicating under pressure (5 min read)
• 6 Ways to Manage Stressful Transitions at Work (5 min read)

You can read our first article about change in the workplace on the N&N blog.

DEI Coffee Hour

We want to give a special thank you to those who joined us at the DEI Coffee Hour on March 16. As mentioned at the end of the coffee hour, we have a Mental Wellness in the Workplace Q&A form devoted to answering general questions related to workplace mental wellness. We encourage you to continue submitting questions to the form, as this helps inform our discussion topics.

Digital Playground

The next Digital Playground will continue our ClickUp session from last time and take place 9:05 - 9:30 a.m. on April 8. You can join the Zoom session directly. We’ll cover content for both beginning and advanced users. Come hang out and learn something new!

If you missed last month, don’t forget to check out the Google Group to find recordings and resources from previous sessions on ClickUp, Gmail, Zoom, and Google Gemini. If you want an invite to the January session, have any questions or would like to join the Google group, reach out to Pete Fleenor (fleen010@umn.edu).

ASR Staff Engagement April 2 Survey

This week’s ASR Engagement Survey continues our topic of staying organized. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences.

According to the last survey, most tend to make to-do lists on paper (54.3%) rather than their phone (34.3%) or computer (11.4%). In addition, most say they declutter their workspace on an as-needed basis (37.1%) followed by those who declutter weekly (25.7%).

Finally, we asked about your biggest roadblocks to staying organized. The vast majority of comments mentioned not having enough time or energy to stay organized. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.

March 19 survey results

Where do you typically make a to-do list?

• On my phone (34.3%)
• On my computer (11.4%)
• On paper (54.3%)

How often do you declutter your physical workspace?

• Daily (14.3%)
• Weekly (25.7%)
• Monthly (11.4%)
• 1-5 times a year (11.4%)
• On an as-needed basis (37.1%)

What is one of your biggest roadblocks to staying organized?

• Too much at one time.
• Time and energy
• Husband!
• Pacing myself
• Too many things on my plate (metaphorically and physically)
• Project work overload
• Myself

NameCoach decommissioning

Due to budget constraints, the University’s contract with NameCoach will not be renewed, and integrations with Canvas and APLUS will be decommissioned in May 2026. This means that access to recorded name pronunciations will no longer be available in these systems. NameCoach’s Personal Namebadge will continue to work as a complimentary service.

We are currently looking at ways to make name pronunciations available within the University community in existing systems. We have been in contact with commencement coordinators on their options for name pronunciation at commencement ceremonies.

Fighting systemic and personal ableism in our work

Signed into law on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and ensures equal opportunity in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.

While the ADA has led to opportunity and access, it cannot remove the long-standing discrimination, systemic ableism, and social prejudice against people with disabilities and the ableism ingrained in our culture. We can continue to challenge our biases and reduce barriers for students, faculty, and staff in our work by:

• Providing both physical and digital accommodations.
• Improving accessibility in our digital content.
• Ensuring DEI is a part of the hiring process.
• Creating accessible and inclusive meetings.
• Participating in disability-related education and training and the Digital Accessibility Badging Program.
• Engaging with accessibility experts in our community.

Mental Wellness in the Workplace

Free Naloxone and overdose response training

Boynton Health provides free access to naloxone nasal spray across the Twin Cities campus. Naloxone is a life-saving, easy-to-use medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. If you want to learn how to administer it or how to respond during an overdose emergency, you can register to attend Boynton Health and UMNPrepared’s free on-campus and in-person overdose response training on March 25 or April 29.

ClickUp tips & tricks: Assigned to me

The My Tasks page features a canvas that allows you to see relevant content by adding specific cards. The Assigned to me card is especially useful, but you may want to modify the view and sort them by due date to make tracking subtasks easier.

 To view a single list of all tasks and subtasks by order of due date:

• Click Group By and delete the current grouping selection.
• Click Subtasks and select As separate tasks from the drop-down.
• Click on the Due Date column and select Sort.

Step-by-step instructions can be found in ClickUp Tips & Tricks.

ASR Staff Engagement March 19 Survey

This week’s ASR Engagement Survey asks about how we stay organized. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences.

According to the last survey, most are planning to do some ‘spring cleaning’ this year (76.7%). When asked if you would rather go to a picnic or a barbeque, the majority would rather attend a barbeque (70%).

Finally, we asked about your favorite ways to spend a warm, sunny spring day. Lots of folks mentioned going for a hike or a walk. Gardening, outdoor activities with friends, and hanging out on the deck were also mentioned frequently. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.

March 5 survey results

Are you planning to do any 'spring cleaning' this year?

• Yes (76.7%)
• No (6.7%)
• I’m not sure (16.7%)

Would you rather go to a picnic or barbeque?

• Picnic (23.3%)
• Barbeque (70%)
• I’m not sure (6.7%)

What's one of your favorite ways to spend a warm, sunny spring day?

• Throw open all the windows in the house and sit out on the patio and read and relax. Take the dog for a few walks, then go enjoy a meal on a patio.
• Watching my kid play sports
• Walking around Lake Harriet with my kids!
• Go on a hike with my pup
• Finding a bench or chair along the Centennial Lakes area and reading a book!
• Going for a walk around a lake and sipping bubbly on a nice patio
• On a patio!
• Yard cleanup and gardening

2026 Student eAgreement

Starting March 6, all students will receive a pop-up message in MyU for the annual renewal of the Student Financial Obligations and Responsibility eAgreement. Students are notified in MyU two weeks prior so they have the opportunity to review the updated text on the One Stop website prior to accepting the agreement.

AIDS Memorial Quilt

During the 1980s and 90s, HIV/AIDS disproportionately impacted the lives of the LGBTQ community. Most people who died due to AIDS did not receive a funeral. In response, activist Cleve Jones started the NAMES Project Memorial Quilt and asked people to write the names of lost loved ones on signs. The signs were then taped to the San Francisco Federal Building. Inspired by the image—which looked like a quilt—Jones and his friends began plans for a larger memorial.

They started creating large quilt panels to honor and celebrate the lives of people lost to the AIDS pandemic. In 1987, the quilt was displayed for the first time on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Volunteers around the world began contributing their own panels to the quilt. Today, it is considered one of the largest community art projects with 50,000 panels dedicated to more than 110,000 individuals. We encourage you to explore the online interactive version of the quilt, so you can experience the love and stories stitched into each panel.

Mental Wellness in the Workplace

Join us at the DEI Coffee Hour

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee is collaborating with the Mental Wellness in the Workplace workgroup for their upcoming March 16 coffee hour. We are excited to meet and chat with you at the intersection of DEI and mental health and how we can continue to work during stressful times.

The DEI committee will be sending out additional resources and reflection questions to guide the conversation before the Coffee Hour. We also recommend checking out the following resources:

• Protect yourself from Fear when reading the News (5 min read)
• Managing low mood from Ongoing Stress (requires login, 8 min)
• Managing Emotional Disregulation (15 min read with exercise)

Digital Playground

Digital Playground’s next session will be on March 11 at 9:05 a.m. You can join the Zoom session directly to learn about this month’s topic: ClickUp. From a beginner’s level, we’ll learn how ClickUp can be used to manage your work through tasks, lists, and tags and how to navigate its various menus.

You can join the Digital Playground Google Group to find recordings and resources from previous sessions on GrackleDocs, Zoom, and Google Gemini. If you want an invite to the session, have any questions, or would like to join the Google group, reach out to Pete Fleenor (fleen010@umn.edu).

ASR Staff Engagement March 5 Survey

This week’s ASR Engagement Survey is spring themed. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences.

Last week’s survey asked about your preferences and experiences with pets. Most consider themselves to be a “dog person” (50%) rather than a “cat person,” while 28.1% report that they are both. Just over half of respondents (62.5%) say that they or their family have owned a goldfish before.

Finally, we asked if money, space, or time weren’t an issue, which type of dog or other animal you would love to have as a pet. Several dog breeds were mentioned, such as Great Pyrenees, Greyhound, and German Shepherd. Many other animals were also mentioned: red pandas, Komodo dragons, ocelots, tigers, and otters—just to name a few. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.

February 19 survey results

Do you consider yourself a "dog person" or "cat person"?

• Dog person (50%)
• Cat person (21.9%)
• I’m both! (28.1%)

Have you or your family ever owned a goldfish?

• Yes (62.5%)
• No (37.5%)

If money, space, and time weren't an issue, which type of dog or other animal would you love to have as a pet?

• A maine coon
• Goat
• Calico cat
• Chahoua Gecko
• Dinosaur
• A Kooikerhondje (A small spaniel originating from the Netherlands. They were bred to lure ducks with their long tails. Some also have black ear tips, which are referred to as "earrings")!
• We had a rescue pitbull named Hippo, and I miss her so much! We're not in a position to get another dog right now, but I hope to have another pitbull again some day.
• I would love to have a wildlife refuge... and a big cat sanctuary!

Upcoming project request deadlines

If you have a project request for Q4 2026 (May-July) or beyond, please submit project requests as early as possible to allow time for review. Full details of the project request process, complete ASR Quarterly Planning Calendar, and additional resources are available on the ASR Staff Site.

Dates and deadlines for Q4 2026:

• Project request deadline: March 12
• Project prioritization meeting: April 22
• Start of ASR planning quarter: May 3

Reach out to osi-projects@umn.edu with any questions.

Sports wagering

As we approach basketball and March Madness season, please be aware of the laws on sports wagering and gambling. All ASR employees are prohibited from sports wagering per the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) because we certify student athletes to play, administer their financial aid, and participate in faculty governance for oversight. Any bracket where there is a bet is considered a wager, whether it’s for money or something as simple as an ice cream cone.

The NCAA bylaw prohibits “student-athletes, athletics department staff members, and conference office staff from engaging in sports wagering (Bylaw 10.3). NCAA rules also prohibit non-athletics department staff members who have responsibilities within or over the athletics department, such as chancellors or presidents and faculty athletics representatives from engaging in sports wagering. NCAA national office employees are also prohibited from engaging in sports wagering.” If you have questions or concerns, contact Colleen Harms (harms231@umn.edu).

Take a virtual vacation

Are you feeling the winter blues, but can’t get away for a vacation? If so, a virtual vacation might be the perfect solution. Virtual vacations make tourism accessible to all, regardless of disability, age, or financial status. You can use the power of technology to experience challenging-to-reach terrain, explore heritage sites without navigating steep steps, walk through historic buildings without limitations, and preview destinations before booking—all from the comfort of your own home.

Popular virtual travel experiences:

• Virtual museum tours—Explore museums around the world, like the Vatican or the Louvre.
• Virtual city tours—Walk through the streets of iconic cities such as Tokyo, Rome, or Seoul.
• Virtual nature walks—Experience virtual tours of national parks, gardens, and natural wonders, such as the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone.

ClickUp Tips & Tricks: Use tags across lists, folders, and spaces

Clickup tags are perfect for when you need to group, view, or manage related tasks that don't have a strict status, location, or custom field. Tags can be used across folders, spaces, or the entire ASR Workspace. More flexible than custom fields, tags have slightly different functionality:

• You can use a tag for information that applies to a small subset of tasks. A tag takes up less space than an entire column dedicated to a field.
• You can use a tag when information needs to be filtered but does not need to be grouped. For example, if one task is tagged “dog” and another is tagged both “dog” and “small dog,” grouping by tag will separate them.

You can see the ClickUp Help documentation for more information about tags or the ASR ClickUp Tips & Tricks documentation.

ASR Staff Engagement February 19 Survey

This week’s ASR Engagement Survey asks about pets. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences.

Most respondents aced our Valentine’s Day themed quiz. Many were right that it takes about 400 cocoa beans to make a pound of chocolate (47.8%). In addition, 60.9% of respondents were correct that the heart beats around 100,000 times per day. Finally, California and Pennsylvania are home to the most chocolate makers in the US (82.6%). Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.

February 5 survey results

According to the National Confectioners Association, how many cocoa beans does it take to make a pound of chocolate?

• 50 (4.3%)
• 200 (4.3%)
• 400 (47.8%)—Correct answer
• 1,000 (43.5%)

On average, how many times does the heart beat per day?

• 25,000 (13%)
• 100,000 (60.9%)—Correct answer
• 500,000 (13%)
• 1,000,000 (13%)

According to the U.S. Census, which two states are home to the most chocolate makers?

• California and Minnesota (4.3%)
• California and Pennsylvania (82.6%)—Correct answer
• California and Colorado (8.7%)
• Pennsylvania and Colorado (4.3%)

Where in the world is ASR?

🎶 From the sunny back offices of Bruininks to the future study spaces of Appleby, where in the world is ASR (Where could they be)? 🎶

With our friends in Facilities Management working hard to get Williamson Hall back up and running from the flood, we’ve gotten creative with our temporary office locations. OTR Service Operations is currently enjoying the beautiful sunlight streaming in from Bruininks and working from the 333 back office. Student workers will be set up in a BruH conference room.

CTS set up a temporary working location in Appleby 9 (a future study space) while OCM onsite staff have utilized Appleby 5 (a service space) as a functional landing place. They’ve been, otherwise, working out of various service spaces and classrooms. They found a kitchenette they could use in Appleby as well, which is helpful. Because during their first week displacement, they had to carry all our food, laptops, various chargers, etc., from space to space. We pride ourselves in our creative resilience, but we hope to return to Williamson soon. Windows sure are nice, but we miss our basement dungeon.

Q3 2026 project prioritization update

ASR is starting 4 new projects for Q3 2026 (February-April). This is in addition to the 19 projects that are currently in the analysis or implementation phase. Refer to the Executive Project Dashboard for a summary of all active projects and accepted project requests.

You can follow the #ASR Project Portfolio ClickUp channel to get updates from the quarterly prioritization and planning process. See the ClickUp help documentation for more information on channels.

Any project requests that were not prioritized for the upcoming quarter will be held in the project backlog for reconsideration. Please submit project requests for the next quarter (Q4 2026) through the ASR Project Request form.

Community outreach opportunities

It’s difficult to go about our daily work when our community is grieving. But grief, anger, fear—whatever emotion you're experiencing right now—is great motivation to help others. No action is too small. If everyone does something, it can have a major impact. We recommend checking out the following local mutual aid networks and organizations and sharing them with others:

• Donate to the MN Community Aid Network. This mutual aid organization serves 200-300 families weekly through food pantries, grocery deliveries, baby supplies, and more.
• Feed families through Dios Habla Hoy Ministries. This South Minneapolis church provides crucial food delivery services throughout Minneapolis. Donate through the Community Food Drive donation page, and help the church continue their efforts.
• Help families pay their rent. Immigration Response Network, a coalition of trusted, local funders in Minnesota, is raising funds to help families meet basic needs, such as rental assistance, food, and health care.
• Shop for Twin Cities Pride. Twin Cities Pride is an organization dedicated to amplifying LGBTQ+ voices across Minneapolis. They also provide community aid through food and supply support. Purchase items from the Twin Cities Pride Community Aid Amazon wishlist, and your donation will support direct outreach.

ClickUp Tips & Tricks: Customize your Home Sidebar

If Clickup feels overwhelming, you can customize your Home Sidebar to minimize distractions and clutter. The Home Sidebar has four default sections: Spaces, Favorites, Channels, and Direct Messages. You can rearrange the default sections and/or add custom sections. To do this, select “More” from the sidebar, then “Customize.” For full instructions, see the ClickUp Help documentation or the ASR ClickUp Tips & Tricks.

ASR Staff Engagement February 5 Survey

This week’s ASR Engagement Survey is a Valentine’s Day-themed quiz. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences.

According to the last survey, most respondents have a vacation planned for this year (73.1%). When asked which new language you would choose to learn this year, most said Spanish (42.3%), followed by Italian (11.5%) and French, Mandarin Chinese, and German (7.7% each).

Finally, we asked what you are looking forward to in 2026. We received many varied responses, including trips both within and outside the country, weddings, time spent with family, and more. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.

January 22 survey results

Do you have a vacation planned for this year?

• Yes (73.1%)
• No (26.9%)

You are tasked with learning a new language this year. Which language would you choose?

• Spanish (42.3%)
• Italian (11.5%)
• French (7.7%)
• Mandarin Chinese (7.7%)
• German (7.7%)
• Japanese (3.8%)
• Norwegian (3.8%)
• Vietnamese (3.8%)

What's one thing you are looking forward to in 2026?

• Visiting MN State Parks and historical sites with our kids
• A lot of new book releases!
• Peace
• Trip to Iceland!
• Becoming an aunt!
• Trip to Chicago
• My best friend's wedding!
• Seeing Lady Gaga in concert!

Update from Stacey

As we start spring semester, I want to sincerely thank you for everything you’ve done preparing for the start of the term. Your support of our students, staff, and faculty is critical.

For many of us, the start of a term is a busy time, but this year feels particularly heavy. With the extra stress currently weighing on our community, our work can feel more demanding than ever. I’ve pulled many of you into special requests over the past week, ranging from providing support to students who are struggling, responding to faculty needs for remote or hybrid instruction, and informing campus safety conversations. These requests come to ASR because we are the engine that keeps this institution running.

I hope you are able to find moments of rest and collective support. Feeling stressed and overwhelmed is human. We all need help from time to time. I encourage you to check out the resources shared below.

Employee mental health resources

As we navigate the start of the term, while also looking out for our own communities, it’s important to prioritize our well-being and safety. We encourage you to check in with a colleague, take a moment to rest and rest, and utilize one of the available University resources below:

• Benefits-eligible faculty and staff can access well-being and counseling support through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• The EAP also provides legal help. 24-hour emergency legal services and impactful event resources are also available if you have legal concerns.
• The University’s medical program covers mental health services, which offers both in-person and virtual care options.
• The Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing offers free virtual Mindful Mondays sessions.

100 Years of Black History Month

Black History Month started in 1915 after historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History to research and celebrate the achievements of Black Americans. Black History Month was first officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976 when he called upon Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

This year’s Black History Month theme, A Century of Black History Commemorations, urges us to honor the resilience, creativity, history, and achievements of African Americans, and the importance of not only telling an inclusive history, but an accurate one.

Celebrate Black History Month in Minneapolis:

• Visit the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and the Somali Museum.
• Support Black-owned restaurants, from soul food favorites to cafes, and shop from local Black-owned boutiques and stores.
• Attend community events, such as The Black Market, All Sweet Things: A Celebration of Black Love, and Sounds of Blackness’: “Music for Marten.”

University Rebranding: document and slide templates

The University is working through a rebranding effort to replace “Driven to Discover.” The UX and Content Strategy team will be working on accessible, ASR-specific templates for Google documents and slides when the final branding is provided by University Marcomm this spring. 

If you are creating documents or slides before the final branding is provided, please use the University templates available within Google. You can access the University templates when you create a document or presentation using the “+New” button in Drive. Click the right arrow next to Google Doc/Google Slides to expand the menu, which will give you the option of choosing “From a template.” You will be presented with the current University templates (illustrated instructions). If you have questions, please email asrux@umn.edu.

ClickUp Tips & Tricks: Customize your global navigation

If ClickUp feels a little overwhelming, you can customize your global navigation to remove or add features. Your global navigation is the vertical bar on the left side of your Workspace. Using the global navigation, you can open features like Spaces, Dashboards, and Teams. 

To remove or add features, select “More” on the global navigation bar and open “Customize navigation.” You can select which features you need to manage your work and hide the rest! Hidden features are still easily accessible via the “More” icon. You can learn more about ClickUp in the ASR ClickUp: Member User Guide.

ASR Staff Engagement January 22 Survey

This week’s ASR Engagement Survey continues our New Year’s theme. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences.

According to the last survey, just over half of folks made it to midnight on New Year’s Eve (51.5%). When asked about your favorite kinds of dip, spinach artichoke received the most votes (27.3%) with guacamole and french onion dip tying for second (21.2%).

Finally, we asked for one of your favorite books, shows, games, or movies that you experienced in 2025. We received lots of great responses in each type of media, such as The Gales of November (book), Andor (show), Vampire Survivors (game), and Weapons (movie). Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.

January 8 survey results

Did you stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve?

• Yes (51.5%)
• No (48.5%)

What's one of your favorite kinds of dip?

• Spinach Artichoke dip (27.3%)
• Guacamole (21.2%)
• French Onion dip (21.2%)
• Taco dip (12.1%)
• Ranch dip (3%)
• Smore’s dip (3%)
• 7-Layer dip (3%)

What is one of your favorite books, shows, games, or movies that you experienced in 2025?

• Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger
• Avatar: fire and ash, Sinners, Jurassic World: Rebirth, All Her Fault (TV Series)
• I watched The Birdcage (1996) for the first time! Incredible! Iconic! I can't believe they made Agador wear shoes!
• Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert by Bob The Drag Queen
• Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
• Heated Rivalry!
• I finally saw the Christmas movie Klaus and it is so cute! Highly recommend. I also started the Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher in 2025 and they are great.
• The Haunting of Leigh Harker
• Sandwich by Catherine Newman
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
• The Traitors, both the UK and US versions

Update from Stacey

Before I jump into my regular update, I want to briefly acknowledge the events yesterday in Minneapolis and how stressful and upsetting the news is right now. Please take care of yourselves during these stressful times. Because Minneapolis schools are closed and there are other developing impacts, please coordinate with your supervisor and/or your unit director as needed. 

Now onto my regular update. First, I wanted to extend my invitation regarding sharing feedback about your unit director. You can do so by either emailing me or scheduling a meeting. I appreciate hearing your perspective as I prepare to write performance appraisals.

Before the holiday break, I listened to A New Kind of University, episode 172 of People I (Mostly) Admire, which is primarily an interview with Michael Crow, the president of Arizona State University. The episode discusses how they have created a culture of innovation and the perception of higher education in the U.S. It talks about how demographics and enrollment management influence higher education and the strategies they used to address pressing issues in higher education. Crow’s book, The Fifth Wave: The Evolution of American Higher Education, has been on my reading list for a few years now, and this finally encouraged me to pick it up. If you're interested in having an informal book discussion about it, let me know (though, I probably won’t finish this for a few weeks)!

P&A leave form

P&A staff are no longer required to submit the P&A leave form for sick and/or medical leave. We have removed the form from the ASR Staff site and turned off responses. If you need to be out due to a medical leave and/or illness, please communicate with your supervisor and update your calendar to reflect when you are out of office. If you have any questions, please contact asrcentral@umn.edu.

National Poverty Awareness Month

Welcome to the new year! January is National Poverty Awareness Month, which raises awareness about the systemic barriers that lead to economic hardship. January 15 also marks the birthdate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose activism included economic justice through the Poor People’s Campaign.

In our work, we can directly see how economic insecurity can impact a student’s academic goals and access. Roughly 48% of undergraduate students worry about the ability to pay for housing, and 35% of undergraduate students worry about paying for food, according to SERU data. We must stay vigilant to support an environment and culture that prioritizes empathy and awareness.

Resources

• Boynton Health Nutrition U Food Pantry—Helps address food insecurity on campus by providing fresh, free, and culturally-connected food to everyone.
• Financial Counseling and Resources for University Employees—Provides free financial counseling for employees.
• One Stop Student Emergency Funds and Resources—Offers community and campus resources for students, including emergency funds.
• Valley Outreach—Helps families meet their basic needs and address the inequities that contribute to poverty.

Mental Wellness in the Workplace

Coping with rapid change in the workplace

We are accustomed to rapid change here at the University. But even welcomed change can affect our minds and bodies. Rapid change can cause us to feel stress, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future, and can cause our bodies to experience physical symptoms, like sleep and digestive issues, and getting sick more often.

If you are experiencing stress or anxiety related to change, you should acknowledge your feelings, take a break, focus on what you can control, employ empathy, and get help when needed. If you are feeling symptoms longer than usual, or more intensely, you may need to seek out more care. If you have any insight regarding change, please take our short survey.

University resources

• Stress Management
• Taking care of yourself under stress
• Mindfulness based stress reduction
• Courses
• Center for Spirituality and Healing
• Banishing burnout and building resilience

Digital Playground

Digital Playground’s next session will be on January 14 at 9:05 a.m via Zoom. The topic will be about GrackleDocs with a focus on creating accessible Google Docs and Slides. This is a great session for those on the accessibility journey, both novice and experienced.

You can join the Google Group to find recordings and resources from previous sessions on Gmail, Zoom, and Google Gemini. If you want an invite to the January session, have any questions, or would like to join the Google group, reach out to Pete Fleenor (fleen010@umn.edu).

ASR Staff Engagement January 8 Survey

This week’s ASR Engagement Survey is New Year’s themed. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences.

According to the last survey, most folks did not travel out of state in December (58.1%). In addition, most say that they did not plan to make any New Year’s resolutions (64.5%).

Finally, we asked about your favorite winter desserts. Sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies were mentioned the most frequently. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.

December 11 survey results

Are you traveling out of state in December?

• Yes (41.9%)
• No (58.1%)

Are you planning to make any New Year's resolutions for the upcoming year?

• Yes (19.4%)
• No (64.5%)
• I’m not sure (16.1%)

What is one of your favorite desserts during this time of year?

• Cookies. Any and all!
• Tiffin—a fudge-like firm set chocolate ganache filled with bits of biscuit (cookies) and cherries and nuts (or really you can make it with anything you want). I like cherry and almond and walnut with a buttery almond biscuit.
• Gingerbread cookies!
• Seven Layer Bars
• Spritz cookies with a half cherry in the center
• Peppermint Espresso Martini