May 10, 2023

University Senate April meeting highlights

During its Apr. 27 meeting, the University Senate unanimously passed the Workforce Reinvestment: Rebuilding a Better U for Employees resolution, which asks the administration to address 17 priorities organized under the principles of 1) providing livable, equitable, and competitive pay; 2) recruiting, rewarding, and retaining people; 3) establishing pathways for professional development and career advancement; and 4) promoting manageable workloads. The resolution was jointly sponsored by leadership of the consultative committees of the Student, Civil Service, P&A, and Faculty Senates.

Submissions sought for Dream Initiative Art Exhibition

Student Unions & Activities, in collaboration with the U of M Twin Cities College of Liberal Arts, will host a “Dream” Art Exhibition during the weeks of and following the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom (Aug. 17-Oct. 13). Artists are invited to express what they see, hear, feel, and believe when they recall the march; reflect on racial progress and/or setbacks; or present a vision of what the future could look like if Dr. King’s dream became a reality. The submission deadline is June 16.  

Mental Health Awareness Month resources

Mental health is health. It impacts how we contribute to work, school, and relationships. For Mental Health Awareness month, the University of Minnesota Medical School offers a variety of resources and research dedicated to mental health. 
 

Developing a new tool to measure access to urban greenspace

Spending time in parks and other greenspaces has many positive effects on both physical and mental health, but research has shown that access to these greenspaces is uneven. To help address this imbalance, School of Public Health researchers are creating the Urban Greenspace Access Score—a new measurement system that cities, policymakers, and urban planners can use to better understand which neighborhoods in U.S. cities have limited access to greenspace.

Surge pricing in rideshare apps influences customer evaluation of driver performance

Surge pricing in rideshare apps leads to more complaints from customers, which ultimately eats away at drivers’ incomes, according to new U of M research. Researchers say the findings highlight the importance of adapting platforms to better serve both customers and service providers.

Research Brief: COVID-19 mortality spiked among white and rural populations in U.S. during Delta and Omicron waves

Racial disparities in U.S. COVID-19 deaths narrowed substantially from the first to the second year of the pandemic. While this has been touted as a sign of progress, new research found the shift mostly resulted from an increase in COVID deaths among white people, and a geographical shift in mortality from large, urban cities to rural and smaller metropolitan areas. See additional recent Research Briefs.

Talking bank collapses and interest rates with U of M

Investors remain uneasy as several banks, such as First Republic Bank, have collapsed so far this year. Many remain concerned over how these bank failures will impact the U.S. economy. Michael Iselin, an associate professor at the Carlson School of Management, answers questions about factors at play in the banking crisis. See more editions of "Talking with U of M."