Dear (Name of Student)
As I indicated in my June 12 email
to you, we are committed to providing the exceptional educational
experience you deserve and expect, while also prioritizing the safety of
our campus community. Fall semester planning is well underway, and I
want to share updates on UMD’s roadmap for welcoming you to campus.
Academic Calendar
The
fall semester on the Duluth campus will start as planned on Monday,
August 31. All instruction will transition to remote instruction after
Thanksgiving. The last day of fall classes will be December 11, with
final exams scheduled December 14-18.
On-campus Housing
We
are planning a measured move-in process to support physical distancing.
First-year and new transfer students will move into their fall housing
August 26-28. Specific move-in dates are based on the building into
which students have been assigned. If you will be living on-campus this
fall, you will receive additional information in your housing assignment
notification in mid-July.
Health and Safety Plans and Expectations
Effective
July 1 and continuing until rescinded, all UMD students, faculty,
staff, and visitors are required to use an appropriate face covering at
all times when in any enclosed or indoor space on University campuses
and properties. Additional information and exceptions to this practice
are posted on the COVID FAQ website.
The
University is committing to enhanced cleaning and sanitizing practices
throughout all of our facilities. We ask all of our community members to
commit to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through a number of steps
outlined in our “Stop the Spread of COVID-19” campaign.
This includes monitoring your own health, staying home when sick,
washing your hands, maintaining physical distance, and wearing a mask
when and where required.
Fall Course Instruction
We
are currently assessing each fall semester course with consideration to
physical distancing guidelines, which may reduce classroom capacity. As
a result, some courses will be moving to blended instruction where a
portion of the course is delivered both in-person and online. While not
every class will be taught face-to-face, you will have access to the
courses you need to make progress towards your degree in a number of
formats. Additional information will be shared over this month and
updates will be made to course instruction plans by August 1.
Information Resources
The University’s Return to Campus Site & FAQs provides ongoing updates on COVID protocols and fall reopening.
Continue to reference the New Student Orientation Guide to learn more about and to reach out to campus resources.
We’re
here to support you and your transition to UMD. We will continue to
communicate additional information as it becomes available.
Go Bulldogs!
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
