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Friday, February 23, 2024

New digital credential and print diploma vendor: Paradigm

Students with conferral dates of January 1, 2024 and after will receive their digital credential and physical diploma via Paradigm, the University’s new digital and print diploma vendor. The Office of the Registrar (OTR) submitted its first print diploma order with Paradigm this month. The first digital credentialing order will be placed on Monday, March 4. 

OTR began the RFP process for digital and print diploma services in late 2022. The RFP process was initiated due to the University's contract ending with their current digital diploma vendor, Parchment, and the desire to consolidate systemwide diploma services. Prior to the implementation of Paradigm, physical diplomas were produced by University Printing Services and manually distributed by OTR staff. Paradigm’s services will create several efficiencies in this process and provide additional benefits to students, such as providing tracking numbers to students when their diplomas are mailed. 

Students should not expect any disruption in diploma services (either print or digital) as a result of this change. Students with conferral dates prior to January 1, 2024 will continue to access their digital credentials via Parchment. Students have permanent access to their credential via their issuing vendor. Students will also have permanent access to their digital credential regardless of their future affiliation with the University.

As a reminder, digital credentials are not available to students with conferral dates prior to fall 2019. Any questions can be directed to otr@umn.edu


Notarization and Apostille process changes

As of February 12, 2024, OTR is no longer offering Apostille services. However, students can still have their documents notarized by OTR and access Apostille services via the MN Secretary of State directly. This service change reflects the standards of other Big10 University partners. All five campuses have adjusted their Notarization and Apostille One Stop pages to reflect these changes. 

FAFSA simplification update

The Department of Education will not begin processing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submissions and providing data to schools until Mid-March due to inflation adjustments in the Student Aid Index (SAI). They are anticipating that this delay will not impact the 2024-25 financial aid offer students receive this summer. Students can still complete the FAFSA form and expect an email from Federal Student Aid in mid-March acknowledging that their FAFSA has been processed.

One Stop Student Services will not be able to confirm the arrival of FAFSA information until April because of this delay. This is contingent upon software updates, implementation, and testing. Once One Stop receives this information, they will begin sending out estimated financial aid offers to new students in April. The Financial Aid timeline on the One Stop website will be updated as more information becomes available.

eAgreement

On February 21, all students started receiving a pop-up message in MyU for the annual renewal of the Student Financial Obligations and Responsibility eAgreement. Students are notified in MyU so they have the opportunity to review the updated text on the One Stop website prior to accepting the agreement. Students must accept eAgreement terms by March 6, 2024.

UM Report updates

Please see below for ongoing updates related to student records reports being transitioned off of the UM Reports platform. The anticipated timelines may fluctuate based on ongoing testing.

Reports moved to new platforms and available in Reporting Center:

  • Major/Minor Roster
  • Eligibility for lower tuition fringe rate assistantship
  • Student Roster Summary Statistics/Detail
  • Dean’s List
  • Grade Selector
  • Rochester Student Roster 

Reports with work currently in progress:

  • Anticipated deployment in late February/early March 2024
    • Graduate Education Student Report for Majors/Minors
    • Degree Applicants
    • Student Group Roster
  • Anticipated deployment in May 2024
    • GE Student Non-Graded Course Enrollments 

Prioritized reports for future work:

  • Graduate Faculty Advising/Committee Summary by Field of Study
  • Graduate Faculty Advising/Committee Summary by Faculty


FERPA Q&A

Q: Can a student challenge a grade by using their FERPA right to request an amendment to their student record?

A: No. The right to amend a student record is for information that is inaccurate or misleading due to a recording error; it does not apply to a substantive decision, such as what grade was awarded. Students do have the right to receive an explanation for their grades under University policy and can seek assistance from the Student Conflict Resolution Center if needed.