 |
 |
|
|
|
August 2010, Vol. 34, No. 8 Inside this issue:-- Datebook: summer and fall 2010 Datebook: summer and fall 2010AugustWednesday, August 25 SeptemberWednesday, September 1 Monday, September 6 Tuesday, September 7
Monday, September 20
—Last day to receive
The "RAC rundown." August 2010 The next meeting of the Registrar's Advisory Committee (RAC) will be held Monday, September 13, from 10 a.m. until 12 noon in 101 Walter Library. The first hour will be devoted to undergraduate matters; the second hour will focus on the graduate education transition. An agenda will be sent to the RAC listserv at least one week prior to the meeting. Vice provost update Project update Scheduling update Student study space Top things you should know about financial aid Grades due date changed to January 4, 2011, for fall 2010 grade entryThe grades due date for fall semester for the Twin Cities campus has been changed to January 4, 2011 (grades must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on this date). This change is to accommodate the Twin Cities campus closure from December 28-30, 2010. Faculty and instructors will still be able to submit their grades online during the closure, as the online grades submission system will be available. Only the grades due dates that would normally fall within the closure are being changed. All other alternative session grades due dates will remain the same. Please help stress the importance of on-time grade submission to all faculty, instructors, and staff. Since the timeframe between the grades deadline and the start of spring semester is shorter than usual, it is even more critical that grades be submitted by the due date. The impact of late grades can be serious. If grades are not submitted on time, students can face the following reprocussions:
Questions about grade submission can be directed to the Student Records Training and Support Team at srhelp@umn.edu or 612-625-2803. Questions about the impact of the University closure on other ASR services can be directed to communications@rt.asr.umn.edu. Graduate education update: Opportunities to learn moreGraduate education restructuring will be the main topic at the Internal Communications Network (ICN) meeting September 23. A panel including communication staff from ASR and the Graduate School will make a presentation followed by a Q&A. Watch the ICN page for time and place to be announced; registration is requested and a webcast may be available. The September RAC meeting will also be an opportunity to learn more about how the graduate education transformation will affect current systems and processes. The meeting will be extended a half hour (10:00 a.m. until 12 noon), with the second hour focusing on graduate education. For more information about the agenda for this meeting, please contact Kasi Williamson. Policies for graduate education continue to be reviewed, developedA Graduate School Policy Review Committee has been formed
to review and update existing graduate education policies that are currently found in a variety of formats, including the Graduate School constitution. As outlined in its charge letter, this group's goal is to present policies to the Senate for review at the end of spring semester, 2011. If you have any questions, or if you have information from your own work with graduate students that might assist the committee with its charge, please contact Tina Falkner. Helping advisers better assist academically at-risk studentsThe College of Liberal Arts (CLA) and ASR have partnered give advisers on the Twin Cities campus a tool that provides near real-time information about students who exhibit specific behaviors that influence retention and graduation. APLUS (formerly known as the Enrollment Tracking System or ETS) was developed in CLA as a way to help advisers navigate the landscape of a large advisee population by supplying information about students' registration activity; mid-term alert status; GPA; and any missed advising appointments. APLUS notifies advisers of changes each morning, allowing them to prioritize student contacts. APLUS has already made a difference; since CLA implemented the system, the college has achieved its highest ever first-year retention rate: 89.22 percent actual when compared with 87.58 percent predicted, based on student characteristics. As of August 1, a significant number of Twin Cities colleges have implemented APLUS and enhancements continue to be made based on user feedback. The project team is investigating how best to roll the system out to all staff with an advising capacity, including those in career services and faculty advisers. The time line for this roll out has yet to be deteremined. More information about future plans for APLUS will be provided in this and other publications. If you have immediate questions, please contact Tina Falkner. Interested in a graduate degree? Consider the graduate non-degree programAre you interested in starting a graduate degree program, enhancing your job knowledge, or taking a class in a field of interest? You may want to consider the graduate non-degree program for faculty and staff. Enrollment options and steps to register can be found on the One Stop website. Fall 2010 registration is currently underway and spring 2011 registration for non-degree students begins December 3. One Stop counselors are here to answer your questions regarding enrollment options so please call, e-mail, or stop by one of our three locations. Find what you need at One Stop Student Services on the West BankOne Stop Student Services' West Bank location is conveniently located in the West Bank Skyway between Blegen Hall and Willey Hall and offers the same services available at the One Stop locations in STSS and Coffey Hall. Students can stop by any time on Monday and Tuesday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (while classes are in session). Refer students to One Stop Student Services to discuss financial aid options, answer billing questions, or get assistance with registration. Work with private student data? Consider attending the UMACRAO FERPA workshopThe "Mays" and the "Musts" of FERPA: Beyond the Basics The nuances of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) often make even the most savvy FERPA experts question their understanding of the law. In this workshop, you will move beyond the basics of FERPA to develop your skill at applying the "mays" and the "musts" of this law to routine and not-so-routine situations. This workshop will focus on case studies that have challenged even the most experienced practitioners understanding of FERPA. The presenters will share many cases of complexity, but please come prepared with your own quandaries. Questions about this workshop can be directed to Ingrid Nuttall. To ensure continued delivery, add ingridn@umn.edu to your safe senders list or address book. This email was sent by Academic Support Resources at the University of Minnesota, 160 Williamson Hall, 231 Pillsbury Drive S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455. Please read the University of Minnesota's mass email privacy statement. The Record is published monthly for colleges and departments at the University of Minnesota. Back issues are available online or by contacting Ingrid Nuttall, editor. ©2009 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. |
|