August 12, 2012 - August 18, 2012 Archives

We will need an HRIF form for new graduate student employees who do not have historical appointment information in HRMS. This is because new appointments in HRMS need the following three addresses input into HRMS: home address, campus mail address and campus office address.

When submitting these forms to payroll for new employees, please make sure that you fill out the form completely.

In an effort to set a payroll deadline that is achievable for most departments, the deadline for fall appointments to be received in the CLA payroll office is 8/22/12. Keep in mind that your service team will need additional time to get appointment documents prepared and over to the Payroll office so please coordinate this work with your service team.

Please submit offers and payroll information to your team as soon as offers have been confirmed and avoid waiting until the last minute if at all possible.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Fiscal Administration staff are currently working on FY12 year-end reporting and FY13 post budget compensation adjustments. As in previous years, we will begin working on FY13 collegiate soft commitment funding transfers in late August/September.

Parking and Transportation Services has launched its first Facebook page. They are sharing road construction updates and other campus transportation news. Please like PTS on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/umn.pts, or click the "Find PTS on Facebook" link on the PTS website at http://www.umn.edu/pts/.

Placement data is a key indicator of the success of a graduate program. This summer we are introducing the second GradTracker module, GradTracker: Placement. This module should make it easier for programs to provide this information for your most recent graduates. The module will be live today, August 15, 2012 in Intersections GradTracker. Your recently graduated students will be listed under the "All Dept Placements" link. Select a recent grad and click "New Placement" to enter their placement(s). Please contact Wendy Friedmeyer ((612) 624-9815, fried053@umn.edu) if you have any questions. Because this module is just being launched, the deadline for entry this year is Wednesday, September 12, 2012. (Normally, the deadline would be September 1st.)

Starting this fall, all CLA first year students will participate in the CLA First Year Experience. The CLA First Year Experience is designed to encourage students to make connections with learning opportunities as early as possible in their college career. It is a two-semester course (CLA 1001 & 1002, 1 cr. each semester) designed to organize a variety of in-class and out-of-class learning experiences and reflection opportunities that will engage students in carefully charting their own educational path on the basis of their strengths, values, interests, and motivations. In this work, we will encourage and support students in taking full advantage of the many campus resources as they develop, reflect on, and implement their educational plans. The First Year Experience will be delivered online (through moodle), with a variety of in-person experiences built in. Among other topics, students will be introduced to the value and purpose of a liberal arts education, how to explore potential majors and departments, and the advantages of connecting with faculty and academic support staff early on and often.

More information about the CLA First Year Experience, including information about the Common Reading and descriptions of the 2012 Themes, can be found at class.umn.edu/cla1001. Faculty members will be hosting a variety of sessions related the Common Reading on CLA College Day (August 30) and during the course (Common Reading week is the week of Oct. 15).

Departments can help by sharing upcoming events and opportunities that they wish to promote to first year students with us by emailing stuprogs@umn.edu. Sharing any feedback that you hear in your departments is also greatly appreciated.

We are pleased to announce that Deb Ludowese has been appointed CLA-OIT's department administrator. Deb's experience as assistant to the CIO, manager of large projects like last year's CLA IT audit, and formerly as assistant to the college's CFO provide her with a broad base of skills to serve our dynamic and ever-changing department. Deb has a B.A. from the College of St. Benedict and both a Project Management Certificate and Professional Trainer Certificate from the University of Minnesota's College of Continuing Education. Please join us in congratulating Deb in her new role.

Mark Foreman has joined Kemal Badur's Research Computing, Infrastructure and Development teams as Project Manager. Dr. Foreman's research and administrative experience will be an asset to the team as we grow a more comprehensive suite of research services for the college.