As of May 28, all physical distancing requirements have been lifted for classrooms, and the University will be at standard physical distancing for fall 2021. This means room capacities have also been updated to their prior standard capacities, which can be found using the Room Search tool.
With this update, OCM will be working to assign all general purpose classrooms for fall 2021 earlier than expected, so incoming freshmen can make more informed scheduling decisions while attending orientation. This will also allow currently enrolled students to have ample time to make decisions on their schedules once classrooms are assigned.
Friday, May 28, 2021
Grading basis updates
For summer 2021, students will have until the second to last day of instruction for summer classes to change their grade basis in MyU. Starting June 2, a form will be available on the One Stop website until August 24, 2021 for all summer sessions. As a reminder, students can only use the form if their grades have been posted. If students wish to change their grade basis for any previous term, they must fill out an Academic Policy Petition. More information is available in the Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021 S/N Fact Sheet.
One Stop website upgrade
Sara Cokl has been hired as the new project & change manager for the One Stop Website Upgrade project, which will move the website from Drupal 7 to Drupal 9. Currently, ASR’s UX and Content Strategy team is collaborating with the One Stop Web Steering Committee to conduct user research and update the current website’s content strategy to better reflect how technology and students’ needs have evolved since the last upgrade five years ago.
Once this user research and an updated content strategy has been completed, the existing One Stop content for all campuses will be moved onto the upgraded content management system. Due to the preparation and heavy lifting required for the website upgrade, the current projected completion date is summer 2022.
A communication strategy will be developed to ensure staff have an opportunity to provide feedback and are updated on the progress of the website. If you have any questions or insights regarding the One Stop website upgrade, please reach out to Sara Cokl (saracokl@umn.edu) or Jabra Kawas (kawa0003@umn.edu), the Twin Cities One Stop Web Steering Committee representative.
Once this user research and an updated content strategy has been completed, the existing One Stop content for all campuses will be moved onto the upgraded content management system. Due to the preparation and heavy lifting required for the website upgrade, the current projected completion date is summer 2022.
A communication strategy will be developed to ensure staff have an opportunity to provide feedback and are updated on the progress of the website. If you have any questions or insights regarding the One Stop website upgrade, please reach out to Sara Cokl (saracokl@umn.edu) or Jabra Kawas (kawa0003@umn.edu), the Twin Cities One Stop Web Steering Committee representative.
International diplomas
Students sending diplomas to international addresses should be advised to update both their diploma address and their preferred phone number. All international diplomas are sent via FedEx and no longer require student payment. This change was made after the implementation of the Academic Records Fee. More diploma information can be found on the One Stop website.
FERPA Q&A
Q: Sometimes student groups want to host a panel of alumni for an event. Are staff permitted to share email addresses of our alumni with the student groups? If not, what way is best to connect alumni and student officers/leaders?
A: If you are sharing email addresses of our alumni that were collected after the alumni graduated, the email address can be shared, such as an email address posted on their employer’s website. Similarly, we can share an email address for an alumni still using their umn.edu email address, assuming they have not suppressed it. That being said, it is always a good idea to give alumni advance notice when we plan to share their emails to best prepare them for how to assist our students.
A: If you are sharing email addresses of our alumni that were collected after the alumni graduated, the email address can be shared, such as an email address posted on their employer’s website. Similarly, we can share an email address for an alumni still using their umn.edu email address, assuming they have not suppressed it. That being said, it is always a good idea to give alumni advance notice when we plan to share their emails to best prepare them for how to assist our students.
Monday, May 3, 2021
Stellic selected as new degree planning tool
The Request for Proposals (RFP) for degree planning tools (i.e., Graduation Planner and Schedule Builder) is complete, and a contract has been signed with Stellic. This represents the end of a thorough evaluation of all possible options for degree planning tools. Stellic scored highly in usability and accessibility and promises to handle the complexity of the University system. The tool has both degree and semester planning functionality and includes features not available in our current systems. The first set of students should be using the platform within 9 months with a phased rollout to the entire system over 2 years.
The implementation of Stellic, which kicked off in mid-April, is one component of the DegreeCat Project. Also underway is the RFP process for a course management and curricular program management tool that meets or exceeds the current needs being met by ECAS and PCAS. The project structure has system-wide representation that spans many roles and perspectives.
The implementation of Stellic, which kicked off in mid-April, is one component of the DegreeCat Project. Also underway is the RFP process for a course management and curricular program management tool that meets or exceeds the current needs being met by ECAS and PCAS. The project structure has system-wide representation that spans many roles and perspectives.
Spring 2021 grade basis changes
For spring 2021, One Stop Student Services is providing a form for undergraduate students to request changes to their grade basis once final grades are submitted. The form is currently available on the One Stop Student Services website and will close on May 24, 2021. After the form closes, undergraduate students must use the Academic Policy Petition for grade basis change requests for any term. For more information about grade basis changes, please see the fall 2020 & spring 2021 S/N fact sheet.
Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds
The University has started distributing Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF II), which includes the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA, often referred to as CARES II), to students this spring. This round of funding includes:
- Block grants for undergraduate students with varying amounts of need demonstrated by Expected Family Contribution (EFC),
- Block grants for graduate and professional students who could not finish their program due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
- Funds to support undergraduate student success/degree completion, and
- Emergency Grant funds.
FERPA Q&A
Q: Your college wants to show a slideshow of student photos prior to commencement. An email was sent to students who indicated they were participating in the ceremony, requesting they provide a photo for the slideshow. The college is requesting to use University ID photos for students who don't provide a photo. Is this acceptable?
A: Yes and no. At the University of Minnesota, photos are not directory information, so students must grant permission for them to be publicly displayed (or shared). If students opt to provide a photo, those can be used for the slideshow, but the college can't simply insert a University ID picture for students who didn't provide one.
A: Yes and no. At the University of Minnesota, photos are not directory information, so students must grant permission for them to be publicly displayed (or shared). If students opt to provide a photo, those can be used for the slideshow, but the college can't simply insert a University ID picture for students who didn't provide one.
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