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 the Vice Chancellors, Director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion Susana Pelayo-Woodward, the Campus Climate Leadership Team, and UMD 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.
The Campus Climate Leadership Team meets next week, and we will develop the process to identify new initiatives, programs, and scholarships, as well as the process to examine systems that impact campus climate. We will move forward plans to increase required training for faculty, staff, and students in diversity, equity, inclusion, and implicit bias. We will work with students and partners to ensure equitable access to technology on and off campus.
We will work closely with our UMD Police Department and with the police and public safety departments in the Twin Ports area to ensure all members of our community are treated equitably with a primary focus on public safety.
Fall 2020
I am looking forward to this upcoming fall semester that will provide our 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 back to campus.
Please know, the University continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. We invite you back 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.
All areas of UMD are engaged in planning a fall semester that can adapt as needed while supporting your academic goals. 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, cancel the fall break, and end face-to-face classes by the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Details about campus services after Thanksgiving will be shared as the summer progresses.
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. 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.
Best wishes and I look forward to seeing you in the fall.
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
