OCM’s Study Space Art Inclusivity Project

The Office of Classroom Management (OCM) is updating art in study spaces around campus. This is a joint project with various teams across ASR. Kristina Laskowski, the leader of the project and OCM’s learning space planner, shares, “Currently, the art in our study spaces across campus feature archived photos, which predominantly reflect a less diverse campus community, ultimately limiting the representation of the current student, faculty, and staff population. The Study Space Art Inclusivity Project aims to update and diversify the artwork displayed in OCM's study areas across campus.”

Replacing this artwork will foster a more welcoming environment for students. This work aligns with ASR’s DEI Vision Statements, as our mission supports finding ways to make a positive difference in students' lives. OCM’s initiative to replace this artwork also promotes accountability by taking responsibility for creating and growing a more inclusive environment for students.

While this project is in its final stages of placing artwork before the fall semester, some of the new artwork has already been placed! You can see the before and after photos below.

Social Science 139 before and after

Ruttan 10 before and after
You can dive deeper into the project by checking out the introductory slides or by visiting the following updated study spaces in person:

• McNeal Hall 190, 192 & 223
• Social Sciences Building 102, 122 & 139
• Ruttan Hall 10
• Biological Sciences 15

Join the Study Space Art Inclusivity Work Group

The Office of Classroom Management is launching our Study Spaces Art Inclusivity Project and would love for you to join! By joining, you will play a hands-on role in updating and diversifying the artwork displayed in general purpose study areas across the Twin Cities campus, thus improving utilization and the student experience. You will also have the opportunity to learn more about art, art curation, and installation.

The group will meet bi-weekly from March 17 through mid-June, with an estimated time commitment of about 6-8 hours outside of meetings. Some tasks will require in-person participation.

If you are interested, add the virtual information meeting to your calendar, which will be on March 3 at 1 p.m. If you cannot attend the meeting but still want to be involved, or if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Kristina Laskowski, OCM Learning Space Planner, at lask0062@umn.edu.

Unit Updates: Office of Classroom Management survey feedback

“This classroom provided a dynamic space for teaching and learning and for collaborative work. It is spacious, bright with natural light from strategically placed windows, and contains furniture (i.e., chairs, a table, and an ADA-compliant desk) that can be easily rearranged, which is very useful when teaching a discussion- and humanities-based course. Additionally, students and guest speakers were able to access technology easily throughout the course of the semester. This term (unlike the previous one), I learned how to use the sound, and this has made a significant difference when showing video or film. It's also extremely helpful to have access to a DVD player. I am especially grateful to the janitors, maintenance staff, and groundskeepers for providing such a clean and welcoming environment. Thank you!” - Blegen 220

“This is without a doubt the best experience my co-instructor and I have ever had with presentation technologies. The classroom presentation setup is perfect! It is intuitive and exceptionally easy to use...both for student presenters and instructors. My co-instructor and I applaud the efforts that have gone into this system. We have both taught at the University of Minnesota and at other colleges and universities, and have made presentations throughout the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. We agree that this has been our best experience. Great work! Thank you.”

Office of Classroom Management

• Classroom Technical Services (CTS) has officially kicked off the Summer Life Cycle 23 Installation Extravaganza! So far, CTS technicians have been able to set the pace at an extremely high bar. They’ve not only tackled the LES 140 suite and a Departmental install, but they also knocked out all of the projector upgrades in Bruininks and Kolthoff Halls (aside from the one room with the leak). Phase II installations of Bruininks 220 & 230 and Armory 116 & 202 are complete, and the upgrade of the first ever ALC at the U, Keller 2-260, is almost finished along with the Phase II of Tate 110. 
• The most exciting part of all of this is, unlike last year, we actually have all of the equipment we need to do the work. With that supply-chain obstacle finally in the rear-view mirror, we can kick it into high gear and have an install season for the record books.
• Summer classroom projects are underway. We are wrapping up “Furniture Frenzy” deliveries (over 1,500 pieces of furniture!), and now are working on all the details that happen after the furniture arrives. These include things like asset stickering, new room pictures, layout updates, room search updates, etc. We are coordinating card reader installs and updates, lighting updates, and will start going through our service spaces to continue clean-out work and reshuffling of attic stock efforts started last summer.
• On the Scheduling side, we are processing summer 2023 cancellations, finalizing fall 2023 room assignments, and getting ready to batch schedule spring 2024 classes. The final exam schedule for fall 2023 and spring 2024 will soon be published for students and instructors, and the CCS Class Schedule Build production calendar for summer 2024 - spring 2025 is now available for scheduler review. 
• In addition to the CTS organizational alignment referenced above, OCM has been working to further align the Scheduling, Operations, Customer Service and Planning units to better support cross functional work across teams. Work duties are being right-sized, and teams are being developed with an emphasis on collaboration. With these changes, there will be some reporting line changes that will be effective June 20.

CTS organizational alignment

In January, Dave Crane was announced as the interim director of CTS (Classroom Technical Services), and tasked with providing a proposal regarding CTS's organizational structure. In collaboration with several CTS staff, Dave submitted a proposal, which resulted in the following updates:

• The existing organizational alignment and long-term partnership between the Office of Classroom Management (OCM) and CTS will remain in place as it has demonstrated success over two decades. Dave will continue to report to Jeremy Todd.
• Dave Crane will be assuming the permanent position of Director of Classroom Technical Services, effective June 19, 2023.

As director of CTS, Dave will be responsible for the long-term prosperity of the Internal Service Organization (ISO) and its external focus. The title reflects the need to have a clear leader of an ISO that is a distinct organization within ASR’s structure with its own department ID and budgetary responsibilities. He will continue managing his current direct reports.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the organizational review, and for everyone’s contributions to an amazing team.

Staff recognition

A respondent to the OCM Classroom Spring Satisfaction Survey recently thanked Jamie Friedenreich for her accurate and timely information as well as her help clarifying some questions. Noah was also thanked for providing options and demoing workarounds. The respondent really appreciated their service and said it helped them have a stable teaching environment. Way to go!

We also wanted to give a big shout out to everyone who helped destroy the files in Fraser 20, specifically Jeremy Todd, Carin Anderson-Thoms, Phil Hunter, Jacqui Brink, and Tyler Franz. Two OCM student employees also assisted. They had to go through each box to remove binder clips, remove papers from binders, separate fiche from paper, and empty boxes into Shred Right bins. It's not an exaggeration to say hundreds of boxes were emptied! The picture below is only about 1/4 of the way into the project. We could not have done this without you!