Minnesota private colleges prepping for return of student on campus

Minnesota colleges and universities have been meeting with state health officials every week getting ready for fall with COVID-19 plans.

Emails have been going out recently to new students and parents about what to expect on some of the campuses in the weeks leading up to the start of the semester.

Seventeen nonprofit members of the Minnesota Private College Council will all welcome back students to campus, according to the group.

At Bethel University, it will be a new experience as students return this fall to the campus in Arden Hills with COVID-19 safety enhancements.

"The success of our ability to do this rests on the shoulders of every single individual in our community," said Kristi Moline, Director of COVID operations.

Moline is in the newly created role that is in charge of 20 teams that have worked to craft and design a return-to-campus plan that was just released to students and parents.

At the security gate to get onto campus, an employee quickly questions those coming through about COVID-19 symptoms.

Some of the other new changes on the campus for the fall include socially distanced classrooms, dorms limited to no more than two students, online meal orders at campus dining locations, a mask policy, COVID-19 testing on campus and an isolation space if someone is infected with the coronavirus.

The university said it is also providing new learning options that include in-person, distanced or a hybrid models, depending on a student’s comfort level during the pandemic.

"I think creating modes and avenues that are safe and adaptable to each person is what we’re hopefully striving hard to do,” Bethel University President Ross Allen said.

If you’d like to learn more about other colleges and universities COVID-19 plans, you can visit the Minnesota Private College Council list.

The use of masks varies from campus to campus, according to the plans reviewed.