These walkstations were made for walking, and that’s just what they do...

Update (Dec. 2017): Please refer to the ASR Intranet for updated Walkstation directions and information.

Looking for a way to stay fit while you work? ASR has three Walkstations available. One Walkstation in 160 Williamson Hall and two in Fraser 200. Each is outfitted with a computer and is available as a resource in Google Calendar:

• (EQ) ASR-160 WmsonH Walkstation
• (EQ) ASR-200 Fraser Walkstation 1
• (EQ) ASR-200 Fraser Walkstation 2

To add a resource to an event and reserve a walkstation:

• On your computer, open Google Calendar
• Create a new event or open an existing one
• On the right side of the page, click Rooms, etc.
• Next to the resource you want, click Add. If you don’t see the resource in the list, use the “Filter room” search box.



Here’s the view if you search for “Walkstation” 

• Click Save. Other people in the organization won’t be able to book the resource at the same time.

You can request a waiver from Marit Gladem via email. Fill out the waiver, sign and submit the original copy to Marit Gladem in 234 Morrill Hall.

Inbox by Gmail

University of Minnesota users now have access to Inbox by Gmail, a Google app focused on improving email productivity and organization. Watch Google’s introductory video, Meet Inbox by Gmail, to see examples of its features. To use Inbox, sign in to your University Gmail account and visit inbox.google.com.

Updated Apple iOS

On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Apple’s new mobile operating system, iOS 10, was made available for download. The new version promises an updated user interface with lots of new functionality. OIT has performed basic functionality tests to ensure this release will work in our environment.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities makes first financial aid disbursements

On Monday, August 29, the Office of Student Finance made their first financial aid disbursements of the fall 2016 term for the majority of the careers on the Twin Cities campus. More than $90 million was disbursed to Twin Cities undergraduate students. The first disbursement of the semester was the biggest, although the financial aid disbursement process will be ongoing throughout the term.

Note: the "count" is the total number of disbursements, and it is possible that individual students may receive multiple disbursements (i.e. a loan and a scholarship).

UGRD
Count 52,737
Amount $90,949,196

DENT
Count 600
Amount $7,713,376

GRAD
Count 4,097
Amount $24,718,010

LAW
Count 1,226
Amount $11,472,142

PHAR
Count 662
Amount $5,760,336

VMED
Count 617
Amount $6,545,529

MED (to date)
Count 1673
Amount $11,520,005

New student degree progress tool for MyU being developed

Later this fall, the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities and Rochester campuses will launch a new tool within MyU that helps undergraduate students better understand their degree progress and plan for four-year degree completion. This tool utilizes data from APAS to calculate a student’s progress within their degree program. Students will receive recommendations, based on their individual progress and University experience, to help guide them toward four-year degree completion.

Currently, the project team is gathering feedback from meetings with advisors and usability sessions with students. Communication efforts are ongoing for advisors and staff, and outreach to eligible students will begin in October.

If you have additional questions, please contact the ASR Student Degree Progress team.

New ASR site coming on September 12 - some resources moving

The ASR website redesign will change where certain resources used by ASR staff are located. Some resources that have been available on the ASR site will be moved to the ASR intranet site, while others will have a different look or feel. Some changes include:

• The FA Help and Communications request forms will be removed
• If you need to make an FA Help request, send an email to fahelp@umn.edu
• If you need to make a request of the communications team, send an email to asrcomm@umn.edu
• OSF and One Stop policies and procedures will be accessible through the ASR intranet
• Look under the “Quick Links” column on the right or go straight to policy.asr.um.edu
• The ASR organizational chart will be re-designed using a new interface
• The ASR-only directory will be removed
• Staff should search for ASR staff contact information using the search bar in the header of any UMN website.
• Working on a new process for items associated with the ASR Directory, such as storing job descriptions and identifying career families
• Information on career families and ASR Knowledge, Skills and Abilities will be housed on the ASR intranet

These changes are being implemented so ASR can be more strategic about how we manage our websites. Moving forward, the ASR website will mainly be a resource for University staff and faculty, while the ASR Intranet will be where ASR staff find resources meant just for us. Here’s a preview of the new ASR website homepage:

Campus mail reminders

A few campus mail reminders to help avoid confusion and delays in mail processing:

• Cross off the last address used before sending your campus mail.
• Don’t forget that ASR’s HR representatives, Marit Gladem and Olga Kavun-Wozniak, are in 234 Morrill Hall, Delivery Code: 0262C.
• Mail for the Office of the Registrar should no longer be sent to 160 Williamson Hall. Instead, send mail to 200 Fraser Hall.