Timeline extended for change to U-M payment process for restaurant purchases

In response to feedback from the university community — and to accommodate the needs of student organization — the cutoff date for shortcode use with contracted restaurants has been extended from Jan. 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026. While the date has been extended, faculty and staff are encouraged to begin using PCards or Travel & Hosting Cards for restaurant purchases and update ordering processes as soon as feasible. Beginning July 1, 2026, shortcodes will no longer be accepted as payment for dine-in, carry-out, and delivery services. This extension will help ensure that units and student organizations have adequate time to adapt to the new process. “Engaging and collaborating with the university community is a vital part of how we enhance procurement operations and provide outstanding customer service,” said a news release on the matter. Restaurant suppliers also have been advised of the new effective date. A variety of resources, including guidelines for restaurant ordering and U-M’s Travel and Business Hosting Expense Policy, are available on the Procurement Services website. U-M departments are encouraged to review their current PCard policies and update them to reflect the new university guidelines for PCards and Travel & Hosting Cards. Learn more.

U-M to convene scholars, industry leaders to shape human-centered AI

As artificial intelligence reshapes nearly every aspect of society, the School of Information and the Michigan Institute for Data and AI in Society will convene leading voices from academia and industry to chart a more human-centered future for the technology. The U-M Symposium on Human-Centered AI, set for 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 29 at Rackham Amphitheatre, will feature keynote addresses, research talks, poster sessions and a panel discussion, all centered on designing AI systems that amplify human capabilities while addressing issues of fairness, transparency and trust. By centering people in conversations about the future of AI, the event highlights U-M’s interdisciplinary strength and its commitment to shaping technologies that work for society as a whole. The symposium brings together a distinguished lineup of keynote speakers and featured presenters, each offering unique perspectives on how AI can be designed with people at the center. MIDAS affiliate David Jurgens, associate professor of information and of electrical engineering and computer science, underscores why these conversations matter now more than ever. He is co-organizing the symposium with Sabina Tomkins, assistant professor of information and faculty associate at U-M’s Center for Political Studies. “AI is touching nearly every part of society, which raises important questions about how we center humans in the development of AI,” Jurgens said. “I hope attendees leave with a clearer sense of how human-centered approaches can be applied in their own research, teaching or applications — and with new collaborations that advance this vision of building AI that supports people and society.”

U-M study helps hospitals reduce wasteful pre-surgery testing

Every day, patients with an upcoming operation roll up their sleeves for blood tests or get heart and lung tests and scans. But in many cases, they don’t actually need to have these tests, because the results won’t change how their surgical team cares for them. Reducing unneeded pre-operative testing could save time, hassle and money. But hospitals have struggled to reduce wasteful tests while keeping valuable ones, because of a variety of factors. Now, a study led by a U-M team shows a way to achieve sustained success in reducing unneeded pre-op testing. The findings have already spurred an expansion of the program, called Right-Sizing Testing Before Elective Surgery, or RITE-Size for short. The three hospitals in the study started out with unneeded testing being done in 68% of healthy patients having three types of elective surgery, to remove their gallbladder, fix a hernia or remove a breast lump. By the end of six months, thanks to a tailored approach to educating and supporting teams, about 40% of such patients had the tests. One of the hospitals achieved a near-zero wasteful testing rate for a while. For more on the study.

Lending a hand to close friends boosts daily mood in older adults

Providing practical help to a close friend — such as picking up medication, cooking a meal or helping with household chores — may be linked to a more positive mood among older adults in daily life. However, there are potential gender differences: Older men are less likely than women to provide emotional support to friends, and if they do, they may experience a lower positive mood on days they provide emotional support — a pattern not observed in women. New U-M research, supported by the National Institute on Aging, sheds fresh light on the emotional impact of supporting close friends in later life. It also reveals key gender differences that could inform tailored approaches to promoting well-being among America’s aging population. Women’s friendships tend to be rooted in emotional intimacy and conversation, while men’s friendships are often more activity-based. For more on the study.

— Compiled by Jeff Bleiler, The University Record