| Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff, Congratulations on completing such a challenging and unique fall semester. Finals are done, campus is quiet, and my heart is filled with gratitude. Thank you - I simply cannot say it enough. I appreciate each of you and your efforts to keep our campus community safe and moving forward. Please take a minute to watch and listen to this winter break video message, which perfectly and poetically describes this last year. |
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I’d like to give a special thanks to members of the UMD figure skating club for helping with this video, Lisa Johnson from KUMD for the voiceover, and David Cowardin for the poem and video production. As well, I’d like to thank our faculty and staff who donated 302 pounds of food for Champ's Cupboard and $409 for the Union Gospel Mission during our end of the semester boxed-lunch event on December 8. Spring Semester Updates Spring semester will start as planned on January 13. More information for those new and returning students living on campus will be shared in early January. In the meantime, we expect that the spring semester will be very similar to fall. Seats in classrooms will continue to be 6 feet apart, and masks will continue to be required indoors and required outdoors whenever physical distancing cannot be maintained. Our faculty have determined how their classes will be offered: remotely, online, in-person, or blended. Instruction and learning continues and we are leaning in to the best methods and tools available. COVID-19 Update We had positive cases of COVID on campus in 2020. But, through the dedication and collegiality of each of you, we had no major outbreaks and were able to complete our semester as planned. COVID-19 testing remains an important part of our health safety plan, and there are many options available to you during the break. We encourage anyone who feels they need a test to get one, in addition to continuing to practice physical distancing and wearing a face covering. There are more than 250 community test sites across the state. Last Tuesday, the first approved COVID-19 vaccine was administered in Minnesota. A University team of public health, medical, and other experts is hard at work collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Health to prepare for vaccine access for members of our campus community. Dr. David Worley, Director of UMD Health Services, is leading efforts locally. This process will rely on a phased approach based on risk factors that will take some months to implement. We will share more information when it’s available, likely during the first quarter of 2021. As we look forward to the vaccine being widely available and feel hopeful anticipation, we also know that many are still very much affected by the pandemic. We extend our support and our gratitude to all who work on the frontlines, including our employees who keep our buildings, grounds, and other services running. Please, take some time to relax and unwind over the break. This has been an unpredictable and stressful year. There were times when we were all pushed to our limits, yet in true UMD fashion, we persevered. We have many accomplishments to be proud of. I am thankful for each of you and I am looking forward to a new year. See you in 2021! Sincerely, Lendley C. Black Chancellor |
