Chancellor's Welcome for All Staff and Faculty 2018

Chancellor's Welcome for All Staff and Faculty 2018

When:    Monday, August 20, 2018

Time:      8:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Where:   Ward Wells Field House (follow the ramp down to the field house on the side where the tennis courts are located)

Chancellor Black invites you to join him in kicking off a new fall semester. A continental breakfast will be served (pastries, fruit, and yogurt).

We will be collecting nonperishable food for Champ's Cupboard, the UMD Food Shelf located in 245 Kirby Plaza. Unused/unopened items specifically needed are:

• Canned chicken/tuna
• Boxed noodles, pasta, etc
• Pasta sauce
• Boxed meals and dinner sides
• Canned meals: spaghetti's, ravioli, etc
• Canned fruit
• Peanut butter, jelly, condiments
• Lighter meals/snacks, granola bars, etc
• Miscellaneous toiletries, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo
• Diapers and laundry detergent

For information contact: 218.726.7106 or chan@d.umn.edu

Getting Ready for UMD! Parent Information

Dear UMD Parents and Family Members:

As the University of Minnesota Duluth's Chancellor, it is a pleasure for me to welcome you to our outstanding university community. The faculty, staff, and students of UMD join me in our commitment to making your student's new university home an intellectually stimulating and enjoyable place to learn and grow.

We take every part of the UMD experience very seriously, and we are committed to making a difference with our students. Most of our students excel, but many of them also encounter challenging situations involving alcohol. Most relationships among students are positive and supportive. However, there are times when abusive relationships appear between students.  When abuse occurs, it is often related to alcohol use. We've implemented a comprehensive prevention program to help our students make the safest, healthiest decisions possible.

• Our health services and student life staff offer resources and programming designed to heighten student awareness of the dangers of alcohol abuse and underage drinking. A comprehensive resource page may be found by visiting this website.  
• When violations of university alcohol policies occur we have disciplinary procedures in place to address these issues in a manner focused on education and changing behavior. The emphasis is on helping students be successful in every aspect of their college experience.
• At UMD, we value our partnership with parents regarding the health and safety of our students. To that end, we will contact the parents of any UMD student who has been taken to the hospital emergency room or to a local detoxification facility by UMD police for an alcohol-related emergency. On a case-by-case basis, we may also contact the parents of underage UMD students who have violated the university's alcohol policy, on or off campus.
• This summer every incoming student will be required to complete AlcoholEdu for College, a 2-3 hour online course that uses the latest prevention techniques and research to educate students about the impact of alcohol on the mind and body. Whether or not your student drinks alcohol, AlcoholEdu for College will empower your student to make well-informed decisions about alcohol and help them better cope with the drinking behavior of peers.

We also understand that parents are the first line of defense against alcohol misuse and abuse.  There are several things you can do this summer to help your student get ready for the decisions they'll be making after they get to UMD. We're providing a brochure to serve as a resource and a guide if you decide to discuss the dangers of underage drinking and excessive alcohol use with your student. 

Minnesota State Law requires that every incoming student must participate in training on sexual assault prevention. One way our students will receive training is through another online course called Sexual Assault Prevention. 

Our partner for providing the AlcoholEdu and Sexual Assault Prevention is a company called EverFi. (By the way, EverFi also provides online training required for every UMD employee). We're providing you with a link to an EverFi website that has information for parents of college students. The site includes downloadable resources to support conversations with your student about these important topics. In addition, this UMD website has links to an overview for each of the required courses.

The deadline for completing the AlcoholEdu and Sexual Assault Prevention courses is August 20, 2018. We hope you will encourage your student to meet that deadline.

We are proud of the safe and supportive learning environment at UMD, and we thank you for helping us educate students about the dangers of behaviors that put them at risk and that detract from their academic achievements. 

Sincerely,

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor

Completion of Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct Training

Dear UMD Faculty, Staff, and Administrators:

I would like to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to the UMD community for completing the Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct online training. As of today, 98.94% of UMD employees and 99.76% of UMD supervisors have completed the training, which translates to only 11 employees and 1 supervisor at UMD who have not yet finished the training module. The Office of Human Resources for the University of Minnesota System will follow-up with those who did not complete this requirement. In addition, they will develop a process for all new employees to take the online training as part of their onboarding at UMD.

Combating sexual assault and sexual harassment continues to be a priority at UMD, and this one training alone will not be enough to achieve our goal of a campus that is safe and welcoming to everyone. However, it is a positive beginning in the right direction. I will follow-up on the recent and productive discussion I had with the UMD Commission for Women about the training and what next steps we can take to reinforce the principles found in the training module.  

The UMD Sexual Violence Response Team is also developing follow-up initiatives to the online training in order to give faculty and staff ongoing opportunities to further develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to combat inappropriate behavior. We also need to continue our efforts to ensure that victims know how and when to report incidents and how to acquire the support they need. We also need to equip supervisors with the skills and knowledge necessary to assist employees and to create ever better work environments. Additional information about the UMD Chancellor's Initiative to Prevent Sexual Misconduct can be found here: http://d.umn.edu/sexual-assault/prevention.

Like the prevention of racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination, preventing sexual misconduct begins with understanding when behaviors are inappropriate. In addition, individuals should take an honest look at their own biases and commit to not engaging in harmful behaviors or excusing the bad behaviors of others.

Thank you again for your efforts to create the welcoming and inclusive campus climate we all deserve.


Lendley C. Black
Chancellor