January 20, 2008 - January 26, 2008 Archives

Thanks to all who stayed for conversation at the end of the joint meeting last week. To build on that conversation, we'd like to hear from you. Many Fiscal, HR, and Faculty matters intersect. How should the joint meetings be structured? Are there specific needs or topics HR and Faculty should address at the joint meetings? Are there areas where HR and Faculty should direct energy and focus over the next six months? 

Please send suggestions, comments, or questions to: clahr@cla.umn.edu.

Several months ago, an email was sent by Karen Dewanz to units with Asset Management endowments, noting that some past quarterly distributions were less than anticipated. We wanted to provide a status report on this and let you know that Asset Management will offer a one-time withdrawal from true endowments, for those units that request it.

We anticipate that units will have the option to request this shortfall amount, which was not transferred to CUFS. You should know however, that this "shortfall" in distribution amount was instead added to endowment principal, thus increasing the amount that future distributions are based upon. For most of our endowments, this shortfall is expected to be relatively small, but for larger endowments (over $500,000 principal) it would be more substantial.

To clarify: the endowments that will qualify are only the true endowments in Asset Management (not quasi-endowments or endowments with associated quasi-endowments - these are not included because you always have the option to transfer some of the principal balance on quasi-endowments to CUFS.)

Once we have final details from Asset Management we will share that information with units affected and coordinate a college response back to Asset Management. This situation does not apply to endowments held at the UM Foundation.

If you have questions in the meantime, contact:

Rose Pederson (6-7611, r-kerb@umn.edu).

A Sponsored Projects Symposium will be held February 13, 2008 at the McNamara Alumni Center
Registration for the Sponsored Projects Symposium on February 13, 2008, in McNamara Alumni Center is now open to all interested parties on a first come, first served basis until maximum enrollment is reached or February 5, 2008, which ever comes first.  Seating for the Symposium is limited, so we encourage you to register as quickly as possible if you plan to attend!
A fundamental purpose for this event is to build community within the realm of sponsored projects administration and we prefer that you attend the entire event. The Symposium will run from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., so there will be time at the end of the day to return to your office to see what has caught fire in your absence!
Registration is free and lunch will be provided for full-day registrants. The Symposium is sponsored by the Vice President for Research, Sponsored Projects Administration, and the Office of Oversight, Analysis and Reporting.
To register* click on http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9EjjUzT5bqWlTg94YGwDDA_3d_3d
You may wish to download a copy of the program for use when completing the on-line registration form. Your selections are not a commitment. You may change your mind on-site if you wish, but your selection at this time will guide us in assigning appropriately-sized rooms for the various breakout offerings.  A copy of the complete program.
*If you are unable to attend all of the sessions do not register on-line. Instead, e-mail Carey Holt (holtx028@umn.edu) with the sessions you would like to attend. Carey will email you the week before the Symposium to let you know if space is still available. Please note, preference will be given to full-day registrants.
If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact Sarah at s-wolg@umn.edu or Pamela at pwebb@umn.edu. Thank you for your interest in this exciting event, and we look forward to seeing you there!

The Graduate School is offering a workshop on grant funding for our graduate students. Please invite your graduate students to attend.

Are you a graduate student in search of grant funding? Learn how to locate internal and external funding sources, to search funding databases, and to set up alerts for new funding opportunities.

The Libraries, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice-President for Research, will present a workshop, "Grant Funding for Graduate Students," on January 31, 2008 (3 4:15 pm, 310 Walter Library) and on February 19, 2008 (3-4:15 pm, 310 Walter Library)

To register, visit http://www.lib.umn.edu/registration/#eventidXX242.

Departments or research groups interested in a customized workshop may contact:

Julie Kelly (jkelly@umn.edu, 612-624-4781) or Leslie Delserone  (delse001@umn.edu, 612-626-6833).

Appraisals of Probationary Faculty - Due 25 January 2008
Annual appraisals of probationary faculty are due in the Office of the Associate Dean for Faculty no later than Friday, 25 January 2008.

Information about these reviews may be found on the Appraisals of Probationary Faculty page of the Faculty website, along with links to the governing documents and forms.

CLA Financial Service Team Open Positions

For anyone interested in a career in accounting and finance here are some great opportunities. We have several senior accountant and executive account specialist openings these positions will report to the financial team leads. CLA employees have preferential hiring in the first seven days. Of course you can apply until the positions are filled. We encourage any CLA employee interested to apply.

The requisition numbers are:

Senior Accountant #153202
Executive Account Specialist # 152584

Mike Volna is presenting a high level overview of EFS on January 31st in an open session of the University's Quality Fair focusing on the features and benefits to constituents.

"The New Financial System: Impacts and Benefits" will be presented from 11:15 a.m. - noon, Thursday, January 31, 2008 in the Minnesota Room of the McNamara Alumni Center.
You can register for the University's Quality Fair at: http://www1.umn.edu/osci/

Jan. 25
- CLA Payroll cutoff for the 1/21/08 - 2/3/08 pay period, 4:30 pm.

- Appraisals of Probationary Faculty due to 212 Johnston Hall

Feb. 7, 2008 (noon)
- UM Foundation deadline for disbursements to CUFS, for the 2/28/08 TIP date. Signed request forms may be faxed (5-4305) to the Foundation.

Feb. 7
- CLA Payroll cutoff for the 2/0408 - 2/17/08 pay period, 4:30 pm.

Feb. 13
- Sponsored Projects Seminar, McNamara Alumni Center, 8:30 am -3:30 pm. (Deadline to register is Feb. 5, 2008.)

Feb. 28
- CLA Financial / Human Resources Meeting, Room 101 Fraser Hall, 9:00 am