A Note from the P&A Chair
Chair Abts and the P&A Consultative Committee (PACC) hosted the final P&A Senate meeting of the academic year on May 8, 2026. P&A representatives from governance committees across the University were invited to join senate members for this final meeting, to foster stronger working relationships amongst our staff doing critical governance work.
As part of her outgoing assessment of governance operations, Chair Abts will also be providing recommendations to PACC on possible ways to increase efficiency across our various subcommittees: Benefits & Compensation, Communications, Outreach, and Professional Development & Engagement. This will include the incorporation of our newest working group on awards and nominations into the regular charge of the Outreach subcommittee.
Finally, Chair Abts would like to thank the senate and its constituents for an amazing year, and is looking forward to welcoming Chair Bendzick into the role in 2026.
Chair Bendzick shared her deep gratitude for Chair Abts, the outgoing PACC and senate members, and her excitement for the upcoming year in governance. There is a lot going on at the University and in higher education. Our role in shared governance is strong, thanks to the care and work of Chair Abts and our Senate Office staff. We will continue to work collaboratively with the Civil Service Senate and advocate for our employees across the University system. Any ideas or concerns can be sent to Chair Bendzick ([email protected]) and Chair-Elect Joshua Braverman ([email protected]) as we begin to plan for next year’s topics and work.
Senate Work
Professional Development & Enrichment Subcommittee
Thank you, everyone, for a productive year! Throughout this academic year, our slate of 6 events covered a wide range of topics and were well-attended, generating good engagement and discussion. In particular, the April Minnesota Paid Leave event was highly attended, and participants were highly engaged with the thorough presentation. We just had our last event of the year on May 7th. As the event was not recorded, slides, a Question & Answer Doc, and any presenter handouts will be sent out in the coming weeks. We encourage anyone interested to review the PD&E 2025-26 End of Year Report and look forward to seeing all the great events Pamela and Layla will put on. - Alex and Joshua
Awards Subcommittee
In the 2025-2026 year, a small and mighty group of senators worked together on nominating our colleagues for University Honors and Awards. Thank you to working group members Kacey Gregerson, Hongna Bystrom, Jeremy Johnson, Carol Rachac, and Molly Bendzick. Through this group's excellent work, we submitted two nominations and both were awarded. Please congratulate your colleagues for these prestigious awards.
- Whitney Taha Frakes, 2026 Vickie R. Courtney Award for Outstanding Service to University Senate Governance
- Nancy Sims, 2026 President’s Award for Outstanding Service
We will continue this work in 2026-2027 through the Outreach subcommittee. Congratulations again to Whitney and Nancy!
Additional Updates
- P&A Vacation Calculator (FY27+): A helpful resource for new P&A employees: This resource was developed by Elleni Fellows in LATIS. While it is not an officially supported tool, Elleni is happy to hear about any issues users encounter or suggestions for improvement.
- Cannabis Research Center (CRC): The CRC has accumulated brief summaries of existing research studies related to cannabis, cannabis legalization, and health. The summaries of studies are organized by topic and updated by CRC staff on a regular (semiannual) basis.
- In Fall 2025, the CRC launched our own UMN Student Cohort Study following entering Freshman to understand and describe experiences related to cannabis among University of Minnesota students through their student career and during the legalization process of adult-use cannabis in Minnesota. The initial survey responses are currently under review.
- New P&A Employees: Learn About Your Benefits: New to the University? Benefits‑eligible P&A employees are encouraged to attend a benefits webinar to learn more about your benefit options before completing your online enrollment. These sessions provide an overview of medical, dental, life, and disability insurance, as well as retirement benefits. New employees should plan to attend the earliest session available after their start date. This webinar is a great opportunity to ask questions and make informed choices about your benefits.
- College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS) Professional Development Programs: The College of Continuing and Professional Studies offers professional development programs to help University employees build skills, expand their impact, and prepare for future roles. Employees receive a 50% discount on most courses, and departments can arrange private cohort training for teams.
- Free webinars: Stay current on industry trends and earn wellbeing points by attending live sessions or exploring past webinars in the archive. Topics include “Why AI Fails and How to Fix It,” “Crafting a Compelling Data Story,” “Supporting Neurodivergence in the Workplace,” and “Delivering Effective Feedback.”
- Employee discount on courses: UMN employees receive a 50% discount on CCAPS professional development courses, making it more accessible to build and strengthen your skills. Some departments may offer funding to help cover the remaining cost. To get started, explore courses or certificates that align with your career goals.
- Private cohort training: Departments can request a private cohort to create a shared learning experience focused on building essential skills. To find out whether a course or certificate is available in this format, email [email protected].