I have a few updates for you about the upcoming fall semester and recent actions from the Board of Regents meeting.
- COVID-19 testing plans for campus
- Fall semester preparations
- Board policy changes to address new federal Title IX regulations regarding sexual misconduct
- Board policy updates on student services fees
COVID-19 Testing Plans
In developing our plans for the fall semester, we started with safety as our top priority. That prioritization includes a commitment to ensuring our plans are public health informed and consistent with guidance from University of Minnesota globally-recognized experts and state officials. Physical distancing, self-monitoring, handwashing, and other healthy behaviors are pivotal to a successful return to in-person instruction and work.
Even following this guidance, exposure is possible, so the University of Minnesota System also formed a Testing and Tracing Advisory Team to offer insight and recommendations for fall. This team was led by the U of M Health Emergency Response Office (HERO), with participation from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and experts from Boynton Health, the University’s Medical and Public Health schools, and UMD’s Health Services medical director Dr. David Worley. The Team was tasked with proposing, reviewing, and working across the University system to implement all aspects of our testing plans for students, faculty, and staff as we return to campus.
HERO presented what the university is calling the “MTest” plan to the Board of Regents yesterday, and we have started implementing this plan. Campus leaders are working with local public health and healthcare partners to effectively integrate COVID-19 testing within our campus health operations. Here is more information on UMD’s testing protocols.
Students can access testing through UMD Health Services or through their healthcare provider. We are ready to support students in University housing navigate a COVID-19 exposure or positive test result, including space for isolation or quarantine, as appropriate. Faculty and staff should access testing through their healthcare provider or other public testing sites.
MDH has provided broad instructions for developing personal and family contingency plans in the event of exposure. Additional information from the CDC is available about managing through isolation or quarantine. We encourage each of you to develop contingency plans in case you are exposed to or test positive for COVID-19, and we will continue to develop ways to help you in the event an exposure happens.
As guided by your healthcare professional, St. Louis County Public Health and MDH officials will interview people exposed to COVID-19 and notify others in our community who may have been exposed through close contact. This process is known as contact tracing.
Despite all of our best efforts, we know members of our community will contract COVID-19. We are prepared for that eventuality and are committed to providing an effective learning and research environment for our students, faculty, and staff while we all take steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Fall Semester Preparations
As we near the start of the fall semester, we continue to prepare campus with new health and safety measures. Staff are in the process of posting instructional and informational signage around campus to signal things such as one-way traffic, enter only, and line markers. Classroom and lounge spaces have been measured and are being arranged to ensure physical distancing of furniture. For as long as the weather is nice, we will also utilize our wonderful campus grounds to help spread out campus community members while you are on campus.
Off campus, our faculty continue to prepare their courses and next week, students will receive more information about any updates to their class schedules and formats.
Title IX Changes
On July 9, President Gabel informed you of new regulations from the U.S. Department of Education around Title IX compliance enforcement. Full compliance with the new approach is required by August 14.
After reviewing proposals at its June and July meetings to bring our Title IX-related policies into compliance with the new regulations, yesterday the Board approved amendments to University policies that were recommended by the system Title IX team. We plan to implement these changes across our entire system and apply them to reports filed with the University on or after August 14. We will provide more details as implementation proceeds.
As these changes take effect, please know that the University's continued commitment to the long-term work of culture and climate change to prevent sexual misconduct and sexual harassment remains. We will protect and support members of our community who have experienced sexual harassment and violence of any kind and we renew our commitment to prevention.
Student Service Fees
The University continues to provide all students with services that support their educational success, as well as their health and wellbeing. We learned quickly during spring semester when the pandemic emerged that continued student services are critical for student health, wellbeing, and success. Throughout the transition to distance learning, students utilized services like student counseling remotely, and many students communicated directly to University leaders about the importance of continued access to these resources—particularly for members of our community who cannot access similar services elsewhere.
Many of these services—including Health Services, which are at the center of our fall “MTest” plan—rely on the student services fee to continue. Existing Board of Regents policies based assessment of the fee on in-person course enrollment, but these policies did not anticipate a pandemic in which distanced or hybrid learning environments would be used widely by undergraduates in person or at a distance. During this pandemic, and to ensure continued high levels of student counseling, healthcare, and activities for students on campus, as well as for those living and learning remotely, the Board of Regents acted to clarify its Student Services Fee policy for the upcoming academic year. The fee will be collected as typical in any semester. Importantly, the fee is unchanged from last year.
A cornerstone of our campus community is our world-class instruction and our student life and student services. These services empower our students to thrive and be their best selves, and we are delighted that we can continue to provide support both in person and via distance in innovative new ways to our students wherever they are located.
The Governor’s K-12 Announcement
Yesterday, Governor Tim Walz announced that schools across Minnesota would be able to decide locally, through their school boards and with the guidance of local public health officials, in what mode they would reopen. We recognize the significant impact this decision will have on the parents and guardians among us.
I empathize with how challenging it is to achieve balance and manage uncertainty these days. We want to remind you that our current operational status allows many faculty and staff to continue working from home, which we hope helps with necessary adjustments to accommodate the needs of school-aged children this fall. The University will continue to provide benefits and programs that support employees and their families during this challenging time and continue to lean into flexibility.
While we know we will face challenges this fall, much is still uncertain. We continue to plan for what lies ahead, knowing that every step we take today, however difficult, better prepares us for the future. Your patience, understanding, and exceptional work under pressure are sincerely appreciated.
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
