Message from the Office of the President: Congrats on a strong start to the Spring semester!

Dear Twin Cities students, faculty, and staff,

We started the week by celebrating the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and on Wednesday, Inauguration Day reminded us that our democracy remains strong. We also started our spring semester amidst this good news.

As optimistic as we are, it is important that we continue to help and uplift one another. Over the past 10 months, COVID-19 has created many financial challenges for our students and employees. Students are encouraged to contact One Stop Student Services for information about student emergency funds. Faculty and staff systemwide can now also apply for a one-time grant from the Employee Emergency Assistance Fund. All applications are handled confidentially.

If you want to help those in need, please spread the word about these resources and consider donating to the Student Emergency Fund or to the Employee Emergency Assistance Fund.

COVID-19 Update

We also help each other by remaining diligent with the most effective ways to control the spread of COVID-19—wear a face covering, wash your hands, physically distance from others, and avoid large gatherings. Continuing these actions will help us bridge the time until we have reached widespread vaccination of our community.

The vaccine rollout is proceeding more slowly than we would have hoped, but we are actively working with the State to accelerate distribution of the vaccine. We have also asked that we be allowed to vaccinate our own community. We have a vaccine team planning for the moment that the vaccine is more widely available and determining how we can put the University’s expertise and resources to work to rapidly distribute the vaccine to all members of the University community. I would like to thank our Boynton Health/Health Emergency Response Office team for their tireless work on behalf of our five campuses in the midst of the incredible challenge of limited vaccine supplies. Learn more about our work at the Safe Campus website.

In the meantime, remember that testing opportunities are broadly available and accessible. The Minnesota Department of Health strongly recommends that college students take advantage of these testing options. The University offers daily testing through Boynton. Make an appointment at our RecWell site for special testing clinics today through Monday. The State of Minnesota also offers free saliva testing to any Minnesota resident. Order your free test online, or visit community testing centers around the state.

Executive Order 13950 Revoked by President Biden

While the pandemic has been an area of focus, we have also remained committed to equity and inclusion. We are pleased to report the revocation of Executive Order 13950, which was implemented during the Trump administration. We have spoken in the past about this executive order and joined with other institutions in exposing its negative impact on institutions like ours. With our great appreciation, President Biden has revoked the order, meaning none of its requirements will move forward.

In this spirit of celebration, we also recognize an important historical marker from earlier this week—the University’s first graduation ceremony held at the Academy of Music in Minneapolis on January 19, 1873, which honored our two graduates, Warren Eustis and Henry Williamson.

I wish you all a great Spring semester and look forward to successfully ushering in a new cohort of graduates soon.

Be healthy, safe, and well.

With warmest regards,
Joan Gabel