University of Minnesota President, Joan Gabel, sent an email on August 21 informing students of a possible “fall pivot” in which students would not return to UMD campus for an additional two weeks, postponing in-person learning and move-in dates for campus housing until September. 

According to Gabel, the proposal to delay in-person activities comes from concern regarding the recently rising rate of COVID -19 cases in Minnesota and the experiences of other college campuses that recently reopened. 

Pending approval, the proposal would prevent any students from moving into residence halls for at least two weeks, with the exception of international students or students with dire circumstances. It would also delay all hybrid and in-person learning models. Students, faculty, and staff would be asked to limit time on campus and shift instruction fully online until further notice. 

These changes would affect the university campuses of Duluth, the Twin Cities, and Rochester, with the Morris and Crookston campuses remaining in-person. 

“I have been following, along with many of you, how the rapid spread of COVID-19 has forced changes to campus plans at many higher education institutions that start classes earlier than we do,” Gabel said, citing recent developments at the colleges of UNC Chapel Hill and Notre Dame.

This new plan will be presented to the University’s Board of Regents during a special meeting at 10:30 a.m. on August 24. 

As a result of Gabel’s announcement, students have started a petition to prevent the delay of move-in day, stating, “We already have precautions to stay safe during COVID, just because other schools can’t handle it doesn’t mean it should be taken from us.”

Kayla Lorenz, a freshman at UMD, said that moving into the dorms was the only thing that she and her friends had to look forward to.

“As a class of 2020 graduate, we’ve already gotten everything taken from us,” Lorenz said. 

 According to Lorenz, online classes is understandable, but pushing back move-in day is not. 

However, there has also been great concern expressed by students and staff regarding the re-opening of campus and student housing. 

On August 13, professors of the Swenson College of Science and Engineering mailed a letter to UMD Chancellor, Lendley Black, addressing some of these concerns. 

“We are very concerned about the impact of bringing students back on campus in the midst of a pandemic without more detailed plans when we are less than two weeks from arrival on campus,” the letter stated, “We are concerned about the students, staff, and faculty at UMD as well as the Duluth area which will be impacted by our actions during a time of rising cases.”

UMD senior Aaron Roessler also recently voiced their opinion on UMD’s return to campus in an op-ed for the Duluth News Tribune.

“This pandemic is getting worse,”  Roessler told The Bark, “We should switch now to having online instruction all semester, and plan for next semester, and build the infrastructure and skills to learn in this online environment. It is too dangerous right now to be putting resources into having people on campus. Let’s invest resources in students and their safety and their online education.”

Black sent an email following Gabel’s announcement, outlining the new proposal and asking students and staff to prepare to adjust accordingly.

“This is not the way we wanted to start the semester and I share in your disappointment,” Black said, “I regret that this change is happening now with little time for us to prepare and adjust.”

With UMD’s academic season scheduled to start on August 31, seven days will remain between the time a decision is made and the school year begins.

“Only through stopping in person contact and class can we truly be student centered,” Roessler said.

At the time this article was published, 536 students had signed the petition to stop the possible delay of move-in day.

“Corona isn’t going away anytime soon and we cannot cancel the rest of our lives because of it,” Lorenz said. 

The changes to fall semester will be enacted if approved by the Board of Regents in Monday’s meeting, which will be open to public viewing online.

To submit comments, questions, or concerns to the Board of Regents, click this link.