Thursday, February 1, 2018
Report of External Professional Activities (REPA)
Each year, P&A and other staff identified by their unit are sent a REPA form to report external professional activities. If you receive your annual reminder to complete the REPA form, please complete it promptly. You will be asked to enter your unit approver. Sue Van Voorhis (vanvo002) is the unit approver for all of ASR.
ASR job descriptions
All ASR job descriptions have been moved into a folder in the Google Team Drive called “ASR HR Toolkit.” All employees will have view access to the Team Drive and will be able to see all ASR job descriptions and other resources for ASR including checklists for hiring, onboarding, or offboarding ASR employees.
The Job Descriptions folder was created to move the descriptions to one location with a standard format that includes a description of ASR, the specific unit, and the ASR knowledge, skills, and abilities. We will be talking about this tool in the next ASR Supervisors meetings. In the past, some job descriptions were stored in the ASR directory. The ASR Directory on the ASR intranet site will no longer be supported and will be decommissioned. (To look up staff contact information, use search.umn.edu or type someone’s name into the search bar of www.umn.edu or other university web sites.)
The Job Descriptions folder was created to move the descriptions to one location with a standard format that includes a description of ASR, the specific unit, and the ASR knowledge, skills, and abilities. We will be talking about this tool in the next ASR Supervisors meetings. In the past, some job descriptions were stored in the ASR directory. The ASR Directory on the ASR intranet site will no longer be supported and will be decommissioned. (To look up staff contact information, use search.umn.edu or type someone’s name into the search bar of www.umn.edu or other university web sites.)
TES update
Newly-admitted, prospective and current students at the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus can now use Transferology to explore transfer options. Behind that public-facing database is a new, electronic Transfer Evaluation System (TES) that facilitates direct communication between Academic Support Resources, the Office of Admissions, and the departmental course evaluators. Since its launch on January 8, TES has helped students make timely decisions about their transfer options.
Between January 8 and January 29, 66 courses were submitted for evaluation through the new system and website. Courses have been evaluated for CCAPS, CLA, CBS, CSOM, CEHD, CFANS, and CSE. Of the submissions, 37 of them received decisions within 2 days or less. This is a much-improved turnaround time from the previous paper/email-based process.
With TES, students receive quick communications that include evaluation decisions, details about transferability, and a point of contact for further questions. As staff, if you have questions about TES, contact tes@umn.edu.
Between January 8 and January 29, 66 courses were submitted for evaluation through the new system and website. Courses have been evaluated for CCAPS, CLA, CBS, CSOM, CEHD, CFANS, and CSE. Of the submissions, 37 of them received decisions within 2 days or less. This is a much-improved turnaround time from the previous paper/email-based process.
With TES, students receive quick communications that include evaluation decisions, details about transferability, and a point of contact for further questions. As staff, if you have questions about TES, contact tes@umn.edu.
9.2 Functional Upgrade updates
On January 28, there were more releases related to Functional Upgrade initiatives of the PeopleSoft Campus Solutions 9.2 Upgrade.
The first of two parts of work for duplicate ID tool and process enhancements is complete. Users of the duplicate ID tool have additional functionality that allows them to manage cases and track case history as well as provide transparency to University staff about duplicate ID case resolutions. Person Comments on related records will now automatically be added when the case is complete.
The gender identity, pronouns, and preferred name initiative had its first release of functionality. The preferred name of students now appears on the waitlist and class permissions pages. More enhancements are planned over the next four months.
The escheatment compliance project is now complete. Communications are ongoing in the process and the documentation has been completed.
More detail is available in the current project status report.
The first of two parts of work for duplicate ID tool and process enhancements is complete. Users of the duplicate ID tool have additional functionality that allows them to manage cases and track case history as well as provide transparency to University staff about duplicate ID case resolutions. Person Comments on related records will now automatically be added when the case is complete.
The gender identity, pronouns, and preferred name initiative had its first release of functionality. The preferred name of students now appears on the waitlist and class permissions pages. More enhancements are planned over the next four months.
The escheatment compliance project is now complete. Communications are ongoing in the process and the documentation has been completed.
More detail is available in the current project status report.
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Super Bowl impacts on campus
As the big game approaches, information is available to help everyone navigate regular activity on campus. Here are a few items to note:
- Staff will work normal work hours and classes will carry on as usual.
- Public transit and campus buses will run as usual with the exception of Super Bowl Sunday itself (Sunday, February 4).
- A tent is being installed between Scholars Walk and Northrop Plaza. These areas will remain open, but the sidewalk between Tate and Walter Library will be closed until February 7.
- Leading up to the Super Bowl game, Northrop will be hosting various Super Bowl-related activities.
New computer security vulnerabilities: Meltdown and Spectre
You may have heard by now, but two new security vulnerabilities for computers are out in the world, known respectively as Meltdown and Spectre. OIT is working on patches for Meltdown for University-owned machines, but Spectre requires manufacturers to release updated hardware. For both University-owned and personal devices, the bottom line is that you should apply operating system and software updates as they become available. For more info visit OIT news.
Scholarship applications impacted by new Dept. of Ed. interpretation
The University will no longer be able to provide information from a student’s FAFSA or financial aid awards to external scholarship agencies. This is due to a change in how the US Department of Education interprets rules pertaining to student information.
If a student needs assistance completing a scholarship application that requires information from their FAFSA or award package, they should contact One Stop Student Services.
One Stop will either help that student find the information they need, or will forward to the Scholarship Unit to complete the application for the student and return it for submission to the scholarship agency. A step-by-step guide for students to view their financial aid awards is available.
If a student needs assistance completing a scholarship application that requires information from their FAFSA or award package, they should contact One Stop Student Services.
One Stop will either help that student find the information they need, or will forward to the Scholarship Unit to complete the application for the student and return it for submission to the scholarship agency. A step-by-step guide for students to view their financial aid awards is available.
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