Welcome to the Spring Semester

 Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I always like it that this is called “spring” as we enjoy more daylight everyday and look ahead to spring temperatures. I’d like to start off by welcoming the new students, faculty and staff who are joining our campus community. We are pleased to have you with us.

Last semester, I saw so much creativity from our campus as we adjusted how we teach and learn during a pandemic. From Dr. Margaret Elmer-Dixon in Physics & Astronomy taking to the football field to work on trajectory predictions, to Tom Isbell in Theatre taking an entire theatre production outside, we continue to provide great learning experiences. As we look ahead to this new semester, I am confident that we will continue to find new and innovative ways to learn, teach, work, and engage with each other.

I'm very proud that we were able to keep COVID-19 numbers under control last semester and I hope that we have the same track record this semester. Each of us has a role to play in order to keep each other safe and healthy. We must all continue to practice health and safety measures such as properly wearing a face covering, physical distancing, washing hands regularly, and monitoring our own health.

We made a number of updates to our UMD Safe Campus COVID-19 website. Please continue to check this updated website for the most recent resources and COVID-related information.

• To help students navigate the steps to take if they have symptoms, are exposed to COVID-19, or test positive, please follow the steps on this student decision tree. 
• UMD has applied to be a site for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. In preparation for receiving approval, we are currently working on a phased approach for access to the vaccine for students, faculty, and staff that follows guidelines developed at the federal and state level. In this graphic from the MN Department of Health, you can learn more about when you will get the vaccine. We have also added a vaccine page to our COVID-19 website, which will be updated as needed. 

I wish you all a great semester and hope to see your faces soon.

Sincerely,


Lendley C. Black
Chancellor

Recognizing You - Our Greatest Asset

 Dear Faculty and Staff,

Welcome back and happy new year. I hope that you were all able to relax and disconnect a bit over the semester break. As we gear up for the second half of the academic year, I want to recognize what makes this campus the exceptional institution that it is - you. Each and every one of you. Our greatest asset truly is our people.

I want to recognize the nearly 100 faculty and staff who opted to participate in the early retirement incentive program. I echo the comments, appreciation, and good wishes that we have seen over the last few weeks from units who shared retirements with campus. UMD has been incredibly fortunate that these individuals shared their time and talents with us over the years. We are losing a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge, and I am aware of the impact that will have on our campus community. At the same time, we are happy for each of them as they celebrate their time at UMD and, hopefully, find more time for themselves and their family and friends in retirement. You will each be missed and I hope that you continue to stay engaged with our UMD community.

In the last ten months, along with all of the challenges the pandemic brought to our campus and the world, the one constant that has kept me going is our students, faculty, and staff. We have persevered, we have adapted, we have changed how we teach, learn, research, and work. We have each dealt with new stresses outside of work and balanced a whole new set of work/life challenges. I see and understand the toll this has taken on members of our campus community. Yet, we haven’t changed our commitment and dedication to higher education. Thank you!

As we begin to welcome students back to campus, and as classes start next week, I want you to know that the leadership team and I appreciate you and your work. I have no doubt that we are stronger as a result of what we’ve all been through this last year, and I look forward to 2021.

Sincerely,


Lendley C. Black
Chancellor

Response to Capitol Attack

Statement from Chancellor Black 

January 7, 2021

Chancellor Black encourages a renewed commitment to "respect diverse individuals, perspectives and ideas, and work through differences in productive ways."

On Thursday, Jan. 7, University of Minnesota Duluth Chancellor Lendley Black shared the following statement regarding the insurrection that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

“I join with President Gabel in condemning the attack on our U.S. Capitol. This insurrection endangered members of Congress and tried to disrupt our critical democratic process of officially naming America’s next president. We must all condemn this violence and affront to our democracy.

"Our UMD Core Values include Integrity, where we strive to adhere to the highest ethical standards and take responsibility for our ideas and actions. Our UMD Mission Statement emphasizes the importance of public engagement as we prepare students to thrive as lifelong learners and globally engaged citizens.

"My hope is that yesterday’s insurrection will not deter the UMD community from our commitment to public and civic engagement, and that we renew our commitment to act with integrity, respect diverse individuals, perspectives and ideas, and work through differences in productive ways that promote our democracy, instead of violent attempts to tear it down.”