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.
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
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:
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.
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:
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.
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?
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%)
- Picnic (23.3%)
- Barbeque (70%)
- I’m not sure (6.7%)
- 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
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
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.
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:
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).
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"?
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%)
- Yes (62.5%)
- No (37.5%)
- 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!
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