Upcoming data center maintenance

From 6:00 a.m., Saturday, January 6, until noon on Sunday, January 7, 2018, some University systems will be unavailable for planned, annual maintenance. The Office of Information Technology (OIT) has provided a list of affected services.

You can also check the IT Service Status that Saturday and Sunday morning for live updates. As work is completed, outages will be removed.

Recognition and progress—ASR’s project management series

The Project and Work Facilitation Team (ASR-IT) would like to thank everyone who has participated in our professional development offerings. Since launching in spring 2016, ASR’s Project Management series has grown to 6 courses, plus the PWF team offers additional opportunities throughout the year. This year we had 26 people complete the full six-course Project Management series:

• Amber Cellotti - OTR
• Ryan Ceresnak - ASR-IT
• Grant Clavelle - Director, ASR-IT
• Alexandra Cummelin - former ASR Central
• Kristy Davis - ASR-IT
• Deb Edwards - OSF
• Tracy Fisher - ASR Central
• Tara Fricke - OCM
• Dawn Graff - One Stop
• Holly Johnson - ASR-IT
• Katie Johnson - One Stop
• Stephanie Kearley - OSF
• Marc Keaveny - ASR-IT
• Sarah Kussow - OCM
• Jessica McCarty - OCM
• Rachel McKessock - ASR Central
• Christine Mounts - OCM
• Trinity Muller - One Stop
• Nate Peterson - One Stop
• Eleanor Pijut - ASR Central
• Mara Schneider - OSF
• Julie Selander - Director, One Stop
• Erik Sparby - OTR
• Sue Van Voorhis - Director, ASR
• Chelsea Weber - OTR
• Christina Wilson - OSF

Thank you to everyone for your participation, contributions, and continued interest in ASR’s project management and professional development initiatives.

In addition, 159 people have participated in at least one of the courses in the series and 85 employees completed two or more courses.

ASR’s PM 101: Introduction to Project Management Fundamentals has had 140 active ASR employees participate (approximately 60% of staff) (an additional 9 folks that have left ASR have completed the course as well). As a reminder, this course is required for all ASR staff. If you haven’t registered yet, please look for session availability during spring.

Special hours for some One Stop offices

Due to the staff event and office renovations, certain One Stop offices will be temporarily closed during the times below:

• West Bank, St. Paul, and University Veterans Services close early, at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 14, 2017 for the staff event
• West Bank One Stop office closed from December 22—January 12, 2018 for renovations (reopening January 16)

The East Bank One Stop Student Services office (333 Bruininks Hall) will remain open as usual during these times.

New things in Parchment, transcript vendor

The University’s online transcript ordering system, Parchment, got a few updates on December 5. There are two main changes to note: 

1. Students can now search for and select an institution’s address in the system. This will help reduce typos and shipping errors. Manual entry is still available for addresses not included.
2. The option to order a duplicate diploma through Parchment is now available. (Previously this was done only via PDF form.) Ordering a duplicate diploma through Parchment is now preferred, but the PDF form will continue to be available. The cost, delivery options, and eligibility for a duplicate diploma remain the same. More information on duplicate diplomas can be found on the One Stop website.

The REAL ID Act and traveling on University business

As many of you may know, the requirements for valid identification while flying are changing. Currently, Minnesota has been granted an extension, which means that we can continue to use traditional Driver’s License and State ID to travel by air through October 10, 2018. If another extension is not granted, then on October 11, 2018 alternative forms of identification, such as an Enhanced Driver’s License or Passport, will be required. Consider these possibilities as you plan to attend regional/national meetings in 2018.

Format your email signature

University Relations is making an effort to standardize email signatures across the University, and have provided a format to follow. Please update your email signature accordingly. To list your preferred pronoun in your email signature, list it under the telephone number line with this format: Pronouns: she, her, hers.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion update

Representatives from ASR and OUE attended the the University of Minnesota's tenth annual Equity and Diversity Breakfast that brought together the University community and external stakeholders—alumni, donors, community organizations, and corporate entities—to recognize the students, faculty, and staff doing the work, and to reaffirm the University’s commitment to equity and diversity.

The Office for Equity and Diversity’s Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity (SEED) Awards program honors and acknowledges diverse students who are doing outstanding work at the University of Minnesota, both in and out of the classroom. View this year’s SEED recipients.