Campus Updates

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

As we continue to progress through the semester, I hope you are all well.

I continue to appreciate how our campus community is respectful and following COVID-19 health and safety protocols, which are proving to help keep our campus community safe. As you can see on our COVID-19 dashboard, our numbers are still trending downward, and we will maintain these trends with everyone’s help. Please continue to be diligent. As always, you can find more information, including that of vaccines, on our Safe Campus website.

Commencement Update
I know there is a lot of interest in our plans around 2021 commencement.

We have been in communication with the State of Minnesota and understand that officials will soon issue commencement-specific guidance for higher education institutions. In the meantime, University of Minnesota System leadership has provided guidance as we begin contingency planning for graduation this spring to be either online, hybrid, or in person, understanding that current state restrictions limit gatherings to no more than 250 people.

We appreciate that planning for multiple possibilities is frustrating, and our hope is that this planning, in combination with updated state guidance, should allow us greater flexibility for commencement than last spring. As the guidance is released, and our planning continues, we will finalize our plan and convey it to you as soon as possible.

The forecast for the weekend is looking favorable. I hope you are all able to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

Sincerely,

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor

Sharing Sad News on the Passing of Joel Labovitz

 Dear Faculty and Staff,

It is with sadness and a great sense of loss that I share with you today that Joel Labovitz passed away on Saturday, February 13. Joel’s intelligence, energy, and care for people made him an extraordinary figure at UMD and within the Twin Ports business community. He graduated from UMD in 1949, just two years after the Duluth State Teachers College became the Duluth Branch of the University of Minnesota. Joel took over the Maurices family business and built it into a nationwide success in the women’s clothing industry. Thanks to the generosity of Joel and his wife, Sharon, the UMD School of Business and Economics and its building carry the Labovitz family name.  

In addition to being a caring and giving person, Joel was a model entrepreneur, and he shared his expertise with many students, faculty, and staff at UMD. I’ve been blessed to know Joel and his family, and UMD will be forever grateful to him and thankful for the many ways he made us better.

You can find an obituary and memorial online. The family asks that any memorials be made to the Labovitz Family Scholarship. 

Sincerely,

Lendley C. Black 
Chancellor

February 5, 2021 Updates

Dear UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff, 

I hope your semester is off to a good start. We will be dealing with extreme cold weather this weekend and next week, so please be sure to take extra precautions to stay warm and safe. 

I am writing with a few brief updates of importance to our campus. 

Each February our nation celebrates Black History Month. This year we recognize and grieve for the very visible reminders of racism and bias that continue to haunt our nation and our community. As the University examines our own role in perpetuating inequities and injustices, we also celebrate, admire, and champion the very real work of those among us who are making a difference. 

Diversity and Inclusion Updates
In July, I shared seven priority diversity and inclusion action steps for the academic year. I am pleased to say that we have continued to make progress on all of them. You can find a list of the action steps and their progress on my website. 

Linked to this work, I would like to note that as of February 1, 80 percent of our faculty and staff have completed the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Managing Bias online modules. Seventy percent of students enrolled in UST 1000 completed the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion module as well. Training by itself is not enough, but it is an important piece of addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion issues on campus. Training continues with a new Preventing Harassment and Discrimination module that will roll out over the next few months. I would like to give a special thanks to Susana Pelayo-Woodward for her continued work and leadership on this initiative.

As well, my leadership team and I continue to engage with various groups around campus, including the Employees of Color and American Indian Group and the Anti-Racist Committee, to help support their efforts and address their recommendations. 

Each year the Campus Climate Response Team (CCRT) conducts a review and analysis of how incidents are handled on campus and to identify trends and patterns occurring over time. After such a review, the CCRT makes recommendations to the Campus Climate Leadership Team (CCLT). Reports on the frequency of campus climate incidents (as well as the annual reports to the CCLT) are available on the CCRT website for the campus community to review. 

UMD’s Annual Summit on Equity, Race, and Ethnicity is scheduled for March 2-4. Organizers of this event have an excellent lineup of presenters again this year. If you’re available to participate I encourage you to register for the summit. 

American Indian Advisory Board
I am pleased to announce that UMD will be reestablishing our American Indian Advisory Board. The board will serve as a liaison between American Indian communities and UMD. It will have a strong focus on campus programs and services for American Indian students and will seek to address their concerns and barriers to success. Creating this board is part of a systemwide effort to establish similar advisory boards on all campuses across the University of Minnesota. Our goal is to form the UMD advisory board by the end of the spring semester. As well, CEHSP is currently moving forward with hiring key positions in the American Indian Learning Resource Center.  

COVID-19
New, emerging variants of the COVID-19 virus are much more transmissible than earlier versions. We have done very well as a community by not coming to work or attending class when sick, maintaining physical distancing, and wearing masks, but testing is also extremely useful as these variants emerge. The University and the state are providing widespread and easy access to free testing. Whether you feel ill, believe you have been exposed to COVID-19, or are simply concerned about your current health status, we encourage all members of our community to use any of the testing resources available to you.

• Students can call UMD Health Services at 218-726-8155.
• Get tested at any of the hundreds of community test locations across the state.
• Order your free, at-home saliva test.  

COVID has brought about many changes to how students live and learn. Last semester, Student Life conducted an “Ask Our Students” survey to learn more about students' experiences during the pandemic. Student participants responded to questions about COVID-19, technology, campus resources, and their overall wellbeing. Student Life created several action items as a result, including a campaign to encourage students to continue their good work in supporting their wellbeing. For more information, view the summary report on the student life website. 

Have a nice weekend and stay warm.

Sincerely,

Lendley C. Black 
Chancellor

News about EVCAA Fernando Delgado

 Dear Faculty and Staff,

I write to you today with news that our Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Fernando Delgado, has been appointed to the position of President at Lehman College in New York. He starts his new position on July 1, 2021.

Since Dr. Delgado joined us in July 2016, he has been an integral part of my leadership team. During his time as UMD’s chief academic officer, I have been impressed with his leadership, commitment to excellence, and strategic thinking. He has led efforts around our strategic plan, reaffirmation of accreditation, curricular development, and furthering our distinctive research mission. His support and collaboration with Student Life and Finance and Operations, in addition to his commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, has reinforced UMD’s focus on a holistic approach to campus climate and student success. Dr. Delgado helped us navigate difficult budgetary decisions and the dramatic shift to remote learning during the pandemic. He has been a strong and influential voice for UMD across campus, in the community, and with university system leadership. 

Dr. Delgado’s talents and valuable experiences as a higher education leader will serve Lehman College well, and I congratulate him on his new role as president. His leadership and tireless work at UMD will have a lasting impact on our campus. I am very proud of the work we have done together, and I am grateful for his on-going collegiality and friendship. 

I am currently in discussions with President Joan Gabel about this leadership transition and will work with her and the UMD campus to ensure a smooth transition. I will provide you additional information when it is available. 

Congratulations Fernando! 

Sincerely, 

Lendley C. Black
Chancellor