End of Semester Buffet

 Dear Faculty and Staff,

Since we can't meet in person for our annual faculty and staff end of semester buffet, please enjoy a boxed lunch instead! Pick up will be on campus on Tuesday, December 8 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the bus hub. Please fill out this form no later than noon on Tuesday, December 1 to ensure we have your order.

If you would like to donate a non-perishable food item to Champ's Cupboard or Chum, or a cash donation to the Union Gospel Mission, we will collect those at the same time.

If you have questions, contact Carlee Williams at cwillia1@d.umn.edu or 218-726-7005.

Thank you and be well,

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor 

UMD's 125th Celebration

 

Good morning UMD friends and alumni,   On April 2, 2020, the University of Minnesota Duluth officially turned 125 years old. Our plans to celebrate UMD's 125th anniversary have changed due to the current circumstances surrounding COVID-19. Our homecoming activities have also gone virtual.     We have so much to celebrate! Please take a few minutes to watch this video message from me, as well as this one from a few of our fantastic alumni throughout the years.   We hope that we will be able to resume in-person events very soon. In the meantime, take care and Go Bulldogs! Sincerely, Lendley C. Black Chancellor

Update on UMD Budget

 Dear Colleagues,

I am writing today to keep you informed about budget discussions that are occurring. Over the past few days, the Vice Chancellors and I have had conversations with President Joan Gabel, Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations Myron Frans, and Budget Director Julie Tonneson regarding UMD’s budget. We are thankful for the continued support and collaboration with system leadership. COVID-relief funding has helped fill some budget gaps caused by the pandemic. As well, President Gabel allocated $2.5 million in additional recurring funding this fiscal year to help offset the decrease in tuition and other revenues we experienced last year. However, COVID-19 and enrollment declines this fall have once again created significant budgetary constraints for UMD, especially in the operations and maintenance (O&M) portion of our budget.  

The major source of O&M revenues is student tuition. Prior to COVID-19, we were tracking fall 2020 tuition revenues to provide a virtually balanced budget for this fiscal year. The hard work we did last year to reduce our O&M expenses by about $5.1 million, combined with a projected strong fall 2020 enrollment, would have put us in the best financial position we have been in for many years. However, because of COVID-19 and the associated enrollment decline in first-year and returning students, our tuition revenues are approximately $4.8 million below the budgeted tuition revenue for this fiscal year. In important ways, this gap will carry over into next year as we endeavor to meet student enrollment targets for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Over the next few weeks, we will be developing plans to address budget shortfalls in all areas by examining the positions of people taking the Retirement Incentive Option and currently vacant positions. We will also be developing additional strategies that might include eliminating or reducing additional positions and cuts to operating budgets. 

I know that budget reductions are difficult, especially given the work that was previously done to balance our budget and this unexpected COVID impact. While we have difficult decisions ahead, our work is important, our mission is critical, and I am regularly impressed with how our campus community demonstrates an ongoing dedication to ensuring student success.

On a related note, you received an email today from President Gabel announcing that pending Governor Walz’ approval, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bonding bill in a special session this week. I am extremely grateful to our strong local legislative delegation for their support and leadership. We have spent several years advocating for these projects at the Capitol and it is wonderful to see that come to fruition. This capital investment from the state will provide UMD with much needed one-time funding to make upgrades to AB Anderson Hall and other campus facilities. 

Thank you. I will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor

Diversity, Inclusion, and Managing Bias Training

 Dear Faculty and Staff,

UMD has partnered with EVERFI to provide critical education and training to our faculty and staff members. As part of our comprehensive training program, you will be invited to complete two training modules:

• Diversity: Inclusion in the Modern Workplace
• Managing Bias

These modules are a baseline training as part of our educational training plan. 

I am committed to taking impactful and measurable actions to provide a safe and welcoming campus for all. Earlier this summer I introduced seven diversity and inclusion action steps to serve as priorities for campus this academic year. This training relates to action item 2. 

You will receive an email invitation and information about the modules by October 14. We ask that you complete the training by December 31, 2020.

Thank you for your commitment to Goal 2 of the UMD Strategic Plan to “advance equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice within the campus community.” 

Sincerely,


Lendley C. Black
Chancellor 

COVID and Academic Schedule Updates

 Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I hope your semester is going well and you’ve had a chance to enjoy the beautiful fall colors. I have a few updates to share with you. 

Academic Schedule
It always seems like each semester goes by so quickly. As a reminder, starting with Thanksgiving on November 26, with limited approved exceptions, all instruction through the end of the fall semester will move to online and remote formats. Please contact your instructor if you have specific questions about your class. 

We continue to prepare and plan for the upcoming spring semester, which will start as scheduled on January 13, 2021. However, we will alter the spring break schedule. Spring break was previously scheduled for March 8-12. As you know, the pandemic has changed how we interact with others and we must take extra precautions such as limiting our exposure and travel. We will maintain the same number of days off throughout the semester, allowing critical breaks to help students navigate a demanding academic schedule, but change how those days are allocated. We will maintain the first two days of spring break as scheduled and not have classes on Monday, March 8 or Tuesday, March 9. Then, instruction will resume on Wednesday, March 10. Classes will end three days earlier, on April 27, and we will add three “study days” without classes April 28-30 prior to final exam week beginning May 3. 

COVID-19 
Regarding COVID-19, dealing with the challenges of this pandemic continues to be stressful and filled with uncertainty and anxiety. On top of that, the polarizing political environment mixed with the anguish and rage spotlighting racism across the country are enough to overwhelm anyone. I want to say that if you are feeling the physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion of this time, I am there with you. I understand and I urge you to look for self-care opportunities and allow yourself space to step back to help ease the burdens. I am continuously inspired by our courageous and dedicated campus community. Thank you. We will get through this together. 

While we are here to support each other and get through this pandemic, we have to be mindful of how our actions impact each other. I urge you to recommit to our shared responsibility to stop the spread of COVID-19. Monitor your health closely, practice physical distancing at all times, wash your hands, and properly wear your face covering. The positive COVID cases in our region continue to climb. Our COVID dashboard has been updated to reflect Minnesota Department of Health data for all (self-reported) cases associated with UMD. 

When we all work together and comply with the health and safety regulations, both on and off campus, we are able to help slow and stop the spread of this virus. Over the last week, I’ve received reports that compliance with the face covering requirement on campus has deteriorated. We have heard very strongly from students that being back on campus and having access to campus services is important - if we are not able to prevent the spread of the virus through wearing face coverings while indoors and keeping physically distant, the necessity of moving all instruction and most campus services online becomes real.

On Monday, University of Minnesota System President Joan Gabel announced a new COVID-19 testing resource, in partnership with the State of Minnesota. The student component of this program will go to the Board of Regents for approval this week. Further information about how the program works and how to access your mail-in saliva test will follow. 

As always, you can find more information about COVID-19 on our safe campus website. 

2020 Vote
Do you have your vote plan ready for the election this year? The University of Minnesota Duluth has historically been one of the nation’s top universities in voter turnout. With the election just weeks away, every individual should have a vote plan in place to make sure that your voice is heard. Click here for voting resources. 

Thanks for your continued commitment to UMD. 

Sincerely,

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor

UMD's 125th Celebration

 Good morning Bulldogs,

Our plan to celebrate UMD's 125th birthday with you on April 2 was derailed by the pandemic. We then pivoted and planned to celebrate with you today, on UMD's 125 1/2 birthday. However, given the continued pandemic and limitations to large in-person gatherings, we won't be getting together today either. Instead, I'd like to share with you this short video and this great collection of stories to commemorate UMD's 125 successful years.

We have so much to be thankful for since our humble beginnings in 1895. I'm proud of all that we have accomplished and all that is yet to come.

Have a restful weekend and be well.

Lendley "Lynn" Black
Chancellor