Your Upcoming Fall Semester at UMD - New Incoming Students

Dear Incoming UMD Students,

I am looking forward to this upcoming fall semester that will provide our new students with the exceptional educational experience you deserve and expect, while prioritizing the safety of our campus community. This week, the president of the University of Minnesota System, Joan Gabel, outlined the University’s plans for fall semester. I want to share UMD’s roadmap for welcoming you to campus.

Please know, the University continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. We invite you to campus this fall in accordance with public health guidelines and with the following in mind:

• The University as a whole is doing everything it can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among our University community.
• We all have an important role to play: being honest about our own health and keeping others around us safe.

Adjustments to our instructional, recreational, and living spaces will take place in order to support a safe and productive learning environment. This includes appropriate physical distancing and the availability of masks and hand sanitizing stations. We are also currently considering extending the instructional day with some courses offered during evening hours, moving some courses or portions of courses online, and adapting student support services for both in-person and virtual delivery.

All areas of UMD are engaged in planning a fall semester that can adapt as needed while supporting your successful transition to UMD. Any changes to your schedule and classes will be communicated in your MyU account on or before August 1. We will start our fall semester as scheduled with classes beginning August 31.

I can assure you that all adjustments prioritize the well-being of our community members and are made in consultation with public health guidance. Please visit the UMD Coronavirus website for more information about this plan.

We will keep you informed as fall planning continues. In the meantime, I encourage you to remain committed to your educational, career, and personal goals. We look forward to welcoming you to campus this August and to supporting your success every step of the way. At this time, we hope to have a full spring 2021 semester, but we have to continue to be flexible as public health conditions evolve.

In addition to dealing with and adjusting to COVID-19, the pain, frustration, and fear created by the killing of George Floyd continues to disturb me and our UMD community. As I work to take meaningful action, I am listening to your concerns and thoughtfully considering the many suggestions and requests that have come to me over the past few weeks. In addition, I am working with UMD administrators, faculty, staff, and student leadership to develop specific action plans to move our critical work in equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice to new levels, to address structural racism, and to demand accountability from units and departments on addressing equity and inclusion. We will continue to work with students and partners to ensure equitable access to technology on and off campus.

Best wishes and I look forward to seeing you in the fall.

Sincerely,

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor