Update from Stacey

I’ve mentioned before that I enjoy a variety of podcasts, many of which are not work related. Freakonomics often has surprising connections to work. If you are looking for some broad context on the state of higher education, concerned about the expense of college, or just like to learn stuff, I highly recommend the Freakonomics back to school collection, which is a selection of re-broadcasted episodes all about higher ed. Listening to a good podcast helps me sit through the construction all around campus while transitioning from work to home. If you have any podcast recommendations, share them with me at tidball@umn.edu.

Mid-quarter project prioritization review updates

Thank you to everyone who has submitted project requests, and a special thanks to all ASR staff who are working to keep ASR’s prioritized projects moving forward from analysis to implementation to completion.

During the mid-quarter review meeting on September 6, directors considered new time-sensitive requests (1), projects ready to move from analysis to implementation (2), and some deferred project requests from the last prioritization (4).

Projects prioritized for implementation this quarter:

• UMN Morris Concurrent Enrollment Data Extract Script (Project Lead: Helen Li)
• Automate "You are being Reviewed" notification (Project Lead: TBD)
• Please note that there is a reported Oracle issue that is blocking this work at the moment. OIT is aware and working on a fix. Work can start once the issue is resolved.
• Expand FFH hold to include state aid (Project Lead: Stephanie Kearley)
• Upgrade to Salesforce Lightning Implementation (Project Lead: Sara Cokl)
• Development of Ruby Gem Oracle Enhanced Adapter for U (Project Lead: Tony Thomas)

As a reminder, any requests approved at mid-quarter can begin immediately. A comprehensive view of the status of all ASR projects is available on the ASR Project Plan Preview.

Civic engagement resources

The University has a long history of being a place where people express diverse views and opinions. Some helpful resources are now available related to free speech and peaceful protest:

• Bridging Differences website - Find information on activities, conversations, and educational opportunities related to civic engagement and the free expression of perspectives and ideas.
• Supporting Free Expression website - A guide from the Office of Human Resources for employees interested in exercising their right as a private citizen to protest while still complying with University policies, state and federal law, and local regulations.
• Understand your responsibilities when participating in planned or spontaneous civic engagement events on campus, and learn about the University's framework for responding to policy violations.
• Freedom of Expression website - A site from the Office of Student Affairs with information about the law, individual rights, and campus policies.

Latinx Heritage Month

Latinx Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 to October 15, honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Latinx communities in the United States, which is the nation’s largest racial or ethnic minority—18.9% of the total population. The month begins in mid-September to coincide with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. It serves as a time to recognize the diverse identities within the Latinx diaspora, acknowledging the social, political, and cultural impact Latinx individuals have made across various fields. The celebration also aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by Latinx communities, including issues of immigration, education, and economic disparity.

Latinx communities in the U.S. face a range of challenges. Immigration policies and enforcement create significant uncertainty for many Latinx individuals, especially those who are undocumented or have family members with uncertain legal status. This can lead to difficulties accessing services, fear of deportation, and separation of families.

In education, Latinx students frequently encounter barriers such as language access, underfunded schools in their communities, and lower college enrollment and graduation rates compared to other groups. Many Latinx individuals also face wage gaps, limited access to healthcare, and housing instability, further exacerbating economic challenges. The combination of these factors continues to limit upward mobility and contributes to systemic inequities for the Latinx population. Many organizations, such as United We Dream and Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment Through Research (HACER), are working to address those barriers and promote equitable representation at all levels of institutional decisions and policy change.

Hispanic Heritage Month celebration resources:

• Latino Culture: Learn about the diverse Latino culture and how it has contributed to the society and culture of the United States.
• Latin Independence Days: Learn about the different Independence Days across Latin America and how they are celebrated and honored each year.
• Latin Food: Explore Latino recipes and learn about special events that Latino dishes are a central part of.
• Famous Latinos: Learn about famous Latinos and Latinas who have helped to shape the history and culture of the United States.

U of MN Resources

• Celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of people in the U.S. with Hispanic/Latinx ancestry (Department of Neurosurgery)
• National Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month (Office for Equity and Diversity)

Twin Cities Events

• Gala Latina: Thursday, October 3, 2024 - CLUES Gala Latina celebrates Latino leadership and culture in Minnesota. Enjoy Latino food, a silent auction, an inspiring program, and performances from local Latino artists.
• LatinoFest Brooklyn Park: Friday, October 11- Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our Hispanic community. This event will feature food from a local Hispanic owned restaurant and cultural performances.

Travel tip: Lodging

The Traveling on University Business policy addresses many aspects of travel as well as defining what is considered allowable expense. When arranging lodging, please be aware of the following:

• When submitting lodging expenses in Chrome River, always complete the “Allowable Total” field during the itemization so the correct policy rules are applied.
• A full itemized receipt/invoice from the hotel is always required for supporting lodging expenses regardless of how the reservation was made. Reservation confirmation notifications or cost estimates/summaries from third-party travel sites do not qualify as itemized receipts/invoices as they do not outline all of the charges.
• In most travel scenarios, the allowable expense is defined as 150% of the lodging per diem for the nightly rate (before taxes):
• Domestic per diem: US General Services Administration (GSA)
• Alaska/Hawaii per diem: US Department of Defense
• International per diem: US Department of State
• When traveling for a conference, the standard per diem limit may be exceeded when there is a documented conference negotiated rate. Be sure to check the Pre-Negotiated Conference Rate checkbox on the Chrome River lodging itemization. However, if the conference rooms are fully booked and/or unavailable, the standard 150% per diem rule applies even if the reservation is at the conference hotel.
• In the event that it is not possible to find a hotel within the per diem limit for the destination within a reasonable proximity, it is possible to request an exception to the per diem limit prior to making the reservation. Travelers can submit a Request for Lodging Exception to their supervisor outlining the circumstances and why the higher rate should be viewed as acceptable. If approved, the reservation can be made and the approved exception form attached to the Chrome River expense report along with the itemized receipt/invoice from the hotel.
• Use of vacation rental sites is permissible (but not necessarily preferred) if there is a cost savings over traditional lodging and other related travel expenses (e.g., car rental, ground transportation). However, the use of vacation rentals requires pre-approval via a Request for Lodging Exception. The 150% per diem rule still applies to the nightly cost. Additionally, any extra fees should be reviewed beforehand to ensure all of the extra costs are allowable within University policy.

ASR Staff Engagement September 19 Survey

This week’s ASR Engagement Survey is an ergonomics quiz. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences!

According to the last survey, most staff want to do a corn maze and take a hayride rather than one or the other (50%). When asked about your favorite places to go in the fall, apple orchards were mentioned most frequently followed by traveling up north to see the changing colors.

Finally, we asked your favorite fall foods or drinks. Many folks are ready for apple treats, such as apple cider, apple donuts, and apple pie. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.

September 5 survey results

Would you rather go through a corn maze or on a hayride?

• Corn maze (15.6%)
• Hayride (21.9%)
• Why not both? (50%)
• Neither, please! (12.5%)

Where is one of your favorite places to go in the fall?

• Up North to see the changing colors!
• Minnesota Renaissance Festival
• Pine Tree Apple Orchard in White Bear Lake
• Vineyard tours
• My recliner with a blanket and book

What's one of your favorite fall foods or drinks?

• Any type of cider. Homemade, store bought, doesn't matter. Apple doesn't get enough love in the fall since the focus is always on pumpkin-flavored things!
• Chicken noodle matzo ball soup
• Ice coffee with pumpkin spice foam
• A hot toddy
• Maple cayenne latte

Tony's Tech Terms: Infrastructure as Code

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is a way we automate the setup of the technology needed for websites and applications, rather than doing it manually. It works like following a recipe: instead of configuring servers, networks, and databases by hand, we use code to create a blueprint for this setup. This approach makes the process more consistent, reduces errors, and allows us to quickly make changes or recover from issues. We use a tool called Ansible to help automate these steps, and the code can be stored and reused for future projects.