Update from Stacey

August is a busy month, and each year I wonder if it is busier than the last. It’s the time of final summer vacations, getting ready for the start of term, parents preparing to send their children to school, and let’s not forget the Minnesota State Fair. I’m looking forward to the Blue Barn and volunteering with the University Extension Master Gardener booth.

This fall, our students will experience new things, including the Course Works program from the bookstore—a huge thank you to the ASR staff who have supported this effort and will answer students’ questions. We have launched new financial aid programs this year. I want to give another huge shout out to the staff who have gotten us through FAFSA simplification and implemented the Northstar Promise program, among many other things. Our classrooms are being prepared for the fall as well. Check out the Office of Classroom Management’s unit updates below and their initiatives and projects page to learn more. It takes a lot of different types of work to be ready for the fall, and I thank you for your many, many roles in making it happen!

Upcoming project request deadlines

Now that Quarter 1 (Q1 FY2025, Aug-Oct) is officially underway, we will begin reviewing project requests for Q2 FY2025 (Nov-Jan) and beyond. Please submit project requests as early as possible to allow time for review. Full details of the project request process and additional resources, including the Complete ASR Planning Calendar, are available on the ASR Staff Site.

Upcoming dates and deadlines for Q2 FY2025:

• Project request deadline: September 5, 2024
• Project prioritization meeting: October 10, 2024
• Start of Q2 FY2025 quarterly planning period: November 4, 2024

If you have any questions, or if you’re unsure if something is a project, please reach out to osi-projects@umn.edu as you go through the request process.

Start of term snacks

We will have snacks available in 225 Bruininks Hall and 130 and 160 Williamson Hall to celebrate the start of term on Tuesday, September 3! Make sure to stop by and grab a snack (or two, or three).

Snack locations:

• Bruininks: break room in 225
• 130 Williamson: break room closest to the vault
• 160 Williamson: break room

Digital accessibility

Fall semester is about to begin, and with it, a host of training and content to support students and staff in their transition back to academic life. One of ASR’s DEI vision statements includes creating more accessible collaboration tools and spaces. Sometimes, we may only consider accessibility in terms of physical space, but digital accessibility matters too, especially as remote work and online communication becomes more common.

Recently, the University of Minnesota established a cross-unit, virtual Office of Digital Accessibility (ODA) to create a more accessible digital landscape. The ODA defines digital accessibility as “the practice of designing, creating, and sharing digital content so it can be used by everyone–including people with disabilities–in an equitable manner.” Even if you don’t work directly in a user experience role, there are many ways you can incorporate accessibility into the online platforms you use, such as email or shared Google workspaces. A great way to get started is to review these 7 core skills to make your digital content more accessible.

Want to get involved with ODA or learn more?

• Join the Accessibility Ambassadors Google group
• Request ODA Services for training or consultation
• Check out past events and recordings from the ODA
• Learn about trauma-informed design

Mental Wellness in the Workplace

This week, we continue to share the results from our May 2024 staff engagement surveys. If you haven’t already, please take our three-question survey.

What do you do when you realize you are burned out or approaching burnout?

It is encouraging to see that a large percentage recognize they need to take a break and act on it. We received some great suggestions for other topics they'd like resources on:

• Resources for working with colleagues with mental illnesses such as PTSD or depression.
• Resources for working with colleagues who are exhibiting signs of stress and burnout.

Each survey had several comments from colleagues that we want to acknowledge, including stress and burnout related to work and compensation issues and family-related stress. We would like to express our support for all of our colleagues who have too much to do, pay that is not adequate, and/or family or other non-work-related stress. We hear you, and while some of the topics brought up are out of scope for our workgroup, they are not out of concern for us. We will keep these things in mind as we look at University resources to share, and as we talk with supervisors in September.

What's next?

Over the next few months, the Mental Wellness workgroup is going to be talking to supervisors about survey results, sharing University resources we think will be helpful, and asking you questions to help keep us on track.

Take advantage of the Regents Tuition Benefit Program

Are you thinking about enrolling in a course this fall? There’s still time to take advantage of the Regents Tuition Benefit Program.

The Regents Tuition Benefit Program covers 100% of the tuition cost for eligible employees admitted to a degree-seeking program for their first baccalaureate degree, and 75% of the tuition cost for all other eligible employees enrolled in covered courses.

Employees interested in applying for the Regents Tuition Benefit Program should take the following steps:

• Look for eligible courses in Schedule Builder and enroll. You may need professor approval for graduate-level courses.
• Email your completed and signed Request for Regents Tuition Benefit Program form to ohr@umn.edu prior to the first day of term. Your supervisor will need to provide signed approval if the course takes place during the workday.
• Look for a confirmation email from One Stop Student Services.
• Make sure to pay your bill (located in the My Finances tab in MyU) before the first billing cycle to avoid late fees.

Chrome River reminders

Following the recent policy changes, please keep the following in mind when filling out your next Chrome River expense report:

• Whether TCard or out-of-pocket, all expenses must be submitted within 60 days, otherwise they may become taxable.
• Non-Travel Out-of-Pocket: 60 days from original purchase date
• Travel Out-of-Pocket: 60 days from end of travel status
• Travel Card (TCard): 60 days from original purchase date
• When entering out-of-pocket expenses, the transaction date must reflect the purchase date as outlined on the receipt, not the date of the expense report.
• The justification must address why the expense was necessary and how it benefits the department/University.