Wednesday, May 27, 2026
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.
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.
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:
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!
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!
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
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
Dates and deadlines for Q1 2027
- Project request deadline: June 4
- Project prioritization: July 9
- Start of ASR planning quarter: August 2
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.
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:
We encourage you to do the following in preparation:
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.
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.
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:
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?
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%)
- 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
- 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.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
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.
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.
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:
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.
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?
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%)
- 60-65 degrees (27.6%)
- 66-70 degrees (34.5%)
- 71-75 degrees (34.5%)
- 76 degrees or higher (3.4%)
- 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
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