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.
Thursday, January 22, 2026
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:
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?
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%)
- 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%)
- 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
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
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
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
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
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).
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?
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%)
- Yes (19.4%)
- No (64.5%)
- I’m not sure (16.1%)
- 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
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