ASR's spring staff event last week hit it out of the park. The half-day event included a recap of ASR priorities, updates on ESUP, a helpful reminder to take advantage of a vacation day every once in awhile to avoid burnout, and an ASR staff video.
Staff were also treated to a presentation from Brave New Workshop where improv challenges illustrated ASR's priorities of embracing and navigating change, as well as maintaining effective communication. Late morning breakout sessions gave ASR members a chance to explore professional development ideas, things to do in the Twin Cities, and how to prioritize the people and things that mean the most to them.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
AACRAO insights
Tina Falkner, Director of Continuity and Compliance, attended the AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers) annual meeting April 14-17. Here, she reflects on her biggest takeaways from the event.
Several ASR staff members attended and presented at AACRAO. They presented on topics ranging from Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) to data usage to title IV audits. I also found a few sessions really resonated with me. For instance, one session focused on how campuses are using preferred name for students, faculty, and staff. Most schools are doing what we currently do (or hope to do in PeopleSoft 9.0): offering students the option to select a preferred name for their diploma, but using their official name on transcripts, and modifying their student information to reflect a preferred name on class rosters, class schedules, and other "external" facing documents.
The other session that really gripped me was an incident that hits close to home. External pressures on Dickinson State University in North Dakota caused some administrators to bend policies for international students. Though the requested actions "felt wrong," some members of the campus still chose to engage in behavior that was contrary to policy and procedure because they were told to do so. This really made me think about how easy it is to get caught up in the moment and to consider making an exception. It's important we all continue to follow our policies and procedures, bring up issues if they seem improper, and to be mindful that we have policies in place for a reason.
Several ASR staff members attended and presented at AACRAO. They presented on topics ranging from Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) to data usage to title IV audits. I also found a few sessions really resonated with me. For instance, one session focused on how campuses are using preferred name for students, faculty, and staff. Most schools are doing what we currently do (or hope to do in PeopleSoft 9.0): offering students the option to select a preferred name for their diploma, but using their official name on transcripts, and modifying their student information to reflect a preferred name on class rosters, class schedules, and other "external" facing documents.
The other session that really gripped me was an incident that hits close to home. External pressures on Dickinson State University in North Dakota caused some administrators to bend policies for international students. Though the requested actions "felt wrong," some members of the campus still chose to engage in behavior that was contrary to policy and procedure because they were told to do so. This really made me think about how easy it is to get caught up in the moment and to consider making an exception. It's important we all continue to follow our policies and procedures, bring up issues if they seem improper, and to be mindful that we have policies in place for a reason.
Performance appraisals
With annual reviews right around the corner, it's nice to know exactly how our job performance will be appraised. Check out the ASR Employee Performance & Development Appraisal Form to see how your job expectations will be assessed, and don't forget to update your IDP!
A look back in time
Have you ever wondered what ASR was like more than a hundred years ago? Think handwritten student records and the advent of scholarships and loans. Take a peek at the ASR history timelines to see where our office started and how far we have come.
New survey tool
Qualtrics, a new survey tool, is now available systemwide to University of Minnesota faculty, staff, and students. The tool is more robust and user-friendly than UMSurvey, which will be decommissioned Aug. 2.
MOOC madness
Massive open online classes (MOOCs) are up and running among the higher education realm. Coursera, a leading MOOC platform, has some big numbers to boast: more than three million users worldwide and free courses from 62 colleges and universities. Click here for more information about the latest news on MOOCs.
New ASR templates
Check out the new ASR PowerPoint templates that have been created. Now we can all be on the same page when it comes to preparing presentations!
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