Administrative Policy News for June 2024

The University is committed to an inclusive policy-making process. This quarterly communication highlights new or significantly revised administrative policies currently posted for the campus community to offer feedback.

The President’s Policy Committee approved five new Administrative Policies at its June meeting. Your comments and suggestions are invited through the dates specified by each policy. Following the review period, all feedback will be forwarded to the policy owner who will then consider any revisions to the final policy.

Indigenous Research

An archaeological dig

The new Administrative Policy: Indigenous Research provides guidance for conducting ethical research with Tribal Nations/Indigenous Research, including consent for the project, to foster respect for Tribal sovereignty and laws. The policy applies to researchers engaging in research with Tribal partners, Tribal communities, Tribal natural resources, and other Tribally-controlled or Tribal-serving institutions, Indigenous Peoples, places, and objects of cultural significance to Indigenous Peoples, wherever those Indigenous peoples, places, and objects may be. Researchers must follow the guidelines for indigenous research, establish data sovereignty parameters, acquire Tribal consent, and take the University’s Tribal-U Relations training module, among other requirements.

Feel free to provide your comments on the Indigenous Research policy.

Using a University Corporate Card

Purchasing and travel cards

Administrative Policy: Using a University Corporate Card will replace both Administrative Policy: Using a University Procurement Card and Using a University Travel Card at the end of the review period. The policies are being combined to streamline the requirements for using University cards and make it easier for employees to determine which card they need. Other key changes include raising the single transaction limit from $2,500 to $5,000 and monthly limit from $10,000 to $15,000; changing PCard reconciliation from 30 days to 60 days; removing requirement of signatures on receipts (if cardholders uses My Wallet or Service Request to FinOps); and adding expenses submitted after 60 days may be reported as taxable income to the cardholder.

Feel free to provide your comments on the Using a University Corporate Card policy.

Mandatory Medical Withdrawal

A UMN doctor with a stethoscope

The University of Minnesota is committed to the health and well-being of its students by providing care and access to resources. The University is also committed to a safe and secure environment, free from threats to physical and mental health, for its campus community. The new Administrative Policy: Mandatory Medical Withdrawal addresses the rare and extraordinary situation when these commitments are jeopardized or threatened because the University does not have the resources to ensure the student’s health and well-being. In such a case, this policy establishes a process that allows the University to explore whether it should require that a student withdraw.

Feel free to provide your comments on the Mandatory Medical Withdrawal policy.

Student Services Fee

the twin cities campus recreational center

The new Administrative Policy: Student Services Fee provides rationale for the purpose of the fee, how and to whom it is assessed, identifies unallowable uses, and defines a set of common procedures that all campuses will utilize when administering the fee. The policy ensures that the Student Services Fee is administered in a way that considers the opinion of students and outlines a process that is fair, equitable and legal.

We welcome your comments on the Student Services Fee policy.

Academic Credit for Undergraduate Courses Associated with Internship and Co-op Experiences: Twin Cities

The new Administrative Policy: Academic Credit for Undergraduate Courses Associated with Internship and Co-op Experiences: Twin Cities aligns the academic credit award for internship courses with the academic deliverables (instructional time, student work) to bring consistency to how internship credit is awarded for undergraduate Twin Cities students. The goal of the new policy is to create uniformity of expectations for academic credit for courses associated with internships and co-op experiences and help ensure compliance with federal aid guidelines.

We welcome your comments on the Academic Credit for Undergraduate Courses Associated with Internship and Co-op Experiences: Twin Cities policy.