Return to Learn Update, Aug. 10, 2020
Good afternoon,
Today marks two weeks until classes begin and one week until faculty contracts start. Next Monday, our campus will be opened to the public. One key part of returning to campus is daily self-screening. Our Return to Learn work groups created a local screening questionnaire several weeks ago. However, our questionnaire has been replaced by an online screening tool created and mandated by the System Office. The screening tool needs to be completed by all employees, students, contractors, and visitors prior to entering campus starting today, Monday, August 10th.
The System Office screening tool:
- Must be completed daily before coming to campus
- Requires a login using your StarID and password and acceptance of a Tennessean warning since personal data is being collected and stored
- Was built with Qualtrics and individual versions of the tool were created by the System for each MinnState campus
- Sends an email upon completion
While we are still asking questions about how campuses should use the tool, everyone agrees that personal self-screening is an essential part of keeping our campus safe. Every employee, student, and campus visitor must complete the tool each day.
One outstanding issue we are following is the development of metrics to guide conversations about localized campus closings in case of outbreaks. The System Office, Office of Higher Education, and the Minnesota Department of Health are finalizing an approach we expect will be similar to but more nuanced than the state’s formula for determining the mode of delivery for public P-12 schools. We expect the higher education metrics to be finalized this week and will share more as soon as we have that information.
Once again, I want to thank everyone for their patience this summer as our Return to Learn teams have worked through the complex planning required to potentially open in a hybrid, FlexSync, in-person, and online mode this fall. I am proud of the work our faculty, staff, students, and administrators have accomplished this summer.
With just a week before campus buildings reopen and many of us return to our offices, we have done our very best to assure the campus is as safe and secure as it can be. If you have questions, ideas, concerns, or comments, please email: provost@mnsu.edu.
Thank you for all you do for our students and our university.
Kind regards,
Matt
