December 13, 2009 - December 19, 2009 Archives

Google Apps

• Still waiting for more info from OIT about saving private data
• Our techs are experimenting with the tools now
• CLA students are getting invited now
• Planning a Q&A session for January or February

Intersections

• Incremental improvements continuing
• Custom offer letters
• Email notifications
• Larger changes/additions are on hold due to unfilled positions

Protecting Private Data

• We are seeing an increase of compromised computers
• New policies coming next year from OITSEC
• more work for tech staff
• will be some impact to many users
• Reminder: all administrative staff must be saving to server, not local hard drive

Quality Fair

• CLA has 4 poster presentations
• Intersections: Hire a Grad
• Enrollment Tracker
• Curriculum Project
• Freshman Research Awards
• February 4
• TCF Bank Stadium

An email was sent by the UM Foundation on Monday 12/14 to all staff with DMS access. The notification was to inform everyone about DMS enhancements being made related to suspended funds. If your unit was notified in November about any "suspended" endowments (email from Karen Dewanz) please review the UMF email before making projections that use DMS reports as they will not reflect some balances accurately until enhancements are finalized. Contact Rose Pederson (6-7611, r-kerb@umn.edu) if you have questions.

There is an updated job aid for returning unused cash advance monies.  It is located at the Training Services Web site at:  http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/trainingservices/materials/financial/index.html.

The following ChartField string must be used when returning cash advance monies on a department deposit:

Fund: 1000

DeptID: 12094 (note this change)

Program: 21661

Account: 110100

Do not use any other ChartFields when returning cash advance monies.

The IRS announced changes in the standard business mileage rates for calendar year 2010.  Beginning January 1, 2010, the standard business mileage reimbursement rate for personal vehicle use on approved University business decreases from 55 cents to 50 cents per mile.  See the Rates section of the U of MN policy.  Traveling on University Business at http://policy.umn.edu/Policies/Finance/Travel/TRAVEL_RATES.html.

The standard mileage rate for moving expenses also decreases from 24 to 16.5 cents per mile.

Business Mileage incurred in 2009 but reimbursed in 2010 should be reimbursed at the 2009 mileage rate.  The Employee Expense Worksheet (UM 1612) accommodates changes to the mileage rates.

The College of Liberal Arts has instituted a new procedure for the allocation of faculty research course releases for FY11 and beyond.  Academic units that wish to propose course releases to support the scholarly research or other creative work of tenure-track and tenured faculty must submit requests to the Office of the Associate Dean for Faculty no later than Friday, 29 January 2010.  Information about the request process, review criteria, and terms and conditions for research course releases is available on the Faculty web page. 
http://cla.umn.edu/intranet/faculty/CLAResearchCourseReleases.php

The annual review of faculty performance for 2010/11 will apply to faculty work and accomplishments during spring semester 2009 and fall semester 2009 for all units.  Tentative submission dates are provided below.  All materials shall be submitted to the college electronically via the projects drive.  Additional information about the annual review of faculty performance is forthcoming. 

• Faculty Activity Reports/Curricula Vitae - due in CLA 26 February 2010
  
• Unit Merit Evaluation of Faculty (narrative report) - due in CLA 12 March 2010
  
• Unit Merit Recommendations - due in CLA, date to be determined

December 17
CLA NOW Monthly Meeting, 9:00 a.m., Minnesota Population Center Seminar Room, 50 Willey Hall (west bank)

December 23
Spring Semester Appointment Worksheets due to CLA Payroll Office (209 Johnston Hall) by 4:30 p.m.

January 14                                                                             

NOON - UM Foundation invoice deadline for disbursement to EFS prior to February TIP.