Planner

Microsoft Planner is a task management and team collaboration tool that is part of the Microsoft 365 suite licensed to students, faculty, and staff at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM). It provides a simple, visual way to organize work by creating plans, assigning tasks, setting deadlines, and tracking progress through boards and charts. Planner integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft 365 applications such as Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint, making it easy for groups to coordinate projects and stay aligned. As part of UWM’s Microsoft 365 environment, Planner is accessible through a web browser from any device, allowing users to efficiently manage tasks and collaborate with others within a secure, university-supported platform.

Features

• Task and Project Organization (Planner Boards) – Organize tasks into visual boards with buckets (e.g., projects, departments, or priorities), helping UWM staff track work across teams and initiatives.
• Easy Task Assignment and Tracking – Assign tasks to team members, set due dates, and monitor progress, making it easier for staff to stay accountable and aligned on responsibilities.
• Integration with Microsoft Teams – Add Planner directly into Teams channels, allowing UWM staff to manage tasks alongside conversations, meetings, and shared files in one workspace.
• Visual Progress Tracking (Charts and Status) – Use built-in charts and status indicators to quickly see project progress, overdue tasks, and workload distribution across team members.
• Notifications and Reminders – Receive alerts about upcoming deadlines, task updates, or assignments, helping staff stay on track and avoid missed responsibilities.
• Collaboration and File Attachments – Attach documents, links, and notes to tasks and collaborate within each task, ensuring all relevant information is centralized for UWM teams.