diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index e5eb881d..4577f6f3 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+<!-- markdownlint-disable MD013-->
 # Modulus Pull Request
 
 ## Description
@@ -10,8 +11,8 @@
 - [ ] I am familiar with the [Contributing Guidelines](https://github.com/NVIDIA/modulus-sym/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md).
 - [ ] New or existing tests cover these changes.
 - [ ] The documentation is up to date with these changes.
-- [ ] The [CHANGELOG.md](https://github.com/NVIDIA/modulus-sym/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md) is
-up to date with these changes.
+- [ ] The [CHANGELOG.md](https://github.com/NVIDIA/modulus-sym/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md) is up to date with these changes.
+- [ ] An [issue](https://github.com/NVIDIA/modulus-sym/issues) is linked to this pull request.
 
 ## Dependencies
 
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cadc35b1..8d00fbe9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
-## [unreleased]
+## [1.2.0a0]
 
 ### Added
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Dependencies
 
-## [1.1.0] - 2023-08-xx
+## [1.1.0] - 2023-08-08
 
 ### Added
 
diff --git a/modulus/sym/__init__.py b/modulus/sym/__init__.py
index d53e143e..c8c0991d 100644
--- a/modulus/sym/__init__.py
+++ b/modulus/sym/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-__version__ = "1.1.0"
+__version__ = "1.2.0a0"
 
 from pint import UnitRegistry