PeopleTools 8.56 update

PeopleTools, the PeopleSoft development platform, will be updated June 1-2, 2019. The update includes new homepage and navigation options. All PeopleSoft users will start receiving messages in May with more information on what to expect, including an overview video and detailed guides on the new features. During the update, PeopleSoft and MyU will be unavailable.

June deadline to apply to graduate - graduate and professional students

The June 1 deadline for graduate and professional students to apply to graduate has been extended to Monday, June 3, 2019 due to the planned PeopleSoft outage between June 1-2. Please note that this change only applies to the month of June, and the following deadlines will continue to be on the first of the month. The change has been made on the One Stop website.

Recommendations for how we talk and write about financial aid

The US Department of Education recently posted Recommendations: What Postsecondary Institutions Should Work to Avoid When Issuing Financial Aid Offers. We are already incorporating some of these items in our work here at the U, such as working to avoid referring to financial aid offers as “awards.” Take a moment to review the recommendations. The system finance councils are taking this guidance into account as they work on communications and content.

Two new electronic forms for graduate students

A cross-functional project team transitioned several PDF forms used by graduate students to electronic forms using WorkflowGen. They are the Reviewers’ Report and Final Exam forms, replacing the paper versions of the master’s and doctoral Reviewers’ Report forms and the Final Exam form for master’s (Plan A/B) and doctoral students. New process guides related to the forms are available on the Grad School website under “Examination Procedures.”

As with many electronic forms, there are benefits for students, instructors, and staff. The electronic forms are easier to use and result in faster processing times. For questions about the Reviewers’ Report of Final Exam forms, contact gssp@umn.edu.

Purchasing job aid

The University’s Controller’s office recently shared a purchasing method job aid showing common purchases and the best suppliers to buy from. It lists items in order of efficiency and cost such as airfare, catering, and technology.

NameCoach is up and running

NameCoach, the name pronunciation software ASR purchased, is up and running for commencement ceremonies. There are 17 colleges across the system campuses that are using the tool and have provided positive feedback. Additionally, NameCoach will be available in Canvas systemwide for students and faculty starting May 7.

Making NameCoach available for commencement and in Canvas will conclude the initial phase of this project. Future work includes investigating using the tool in other systems such as APLUS, Salesforce, the University directory, and MyU, to name a few. For questions about this effort, contact Julie Selander (goode021@umn.edu).

Use Zoom for online meetings

The University has switched to Zoom for its online video conferencing. We recommend using Zoom in place of WebEx from now on, although WebEx will be available until September 2. Read about how to use Zoom. OIT has also provided information about how Zoom compares to Google Meet.