UPDATE: U of M Board of Regents approves proposal to delay fall move-in
[anvplayer video=”4956161″ station=”998122″]
Monday, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved a proposal to delay move-in at the Twin Cities, Duluth and Rochester campuses and move classes completely online for at least two weeks.
U of M President Joan Gabel explained her proposal in an email to students, faculty and staff on Friday, saying that delaying move-in dates for university housing would provide additional time to evaluate new and emerging testing guidance, and would allow officials to further evaluate techniques used to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
The board voted, 8-3, to approve Gabel’s proposal. Regent Thomas Anderson was absent for the vote while regents Richard Beeson, Michael Hsu and Darrin Rosha voted against it.
While undergraduate courses for all three campuses will still proceed as scheduled, they’ll be completely online for at least two weeks, with some limited exceptions. Graduate and professional students would also continue as communicated with their programs.
[KSTP/File]
Gabel cited recent outbreaks at several campuses across the country after students moved in — including at Michigan State University, the University of Maryland, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Notre Dame — as the reason for her proposal.
Additionally, Gabel recommended providing students prorated refunds or comparable financial assistance for housing and dining services students would miss during the delay.
On campus, students were disappointed, but not surprised.
"I was kind of looking forward to my one in-person class, so I’m kind of bummed about not seeing anyone other than my rommates for a while, but I think it’s the right call," said U of M Junior Jackson Gregory.
"I don’t know what to do. We are looking at apartments right now, because I am worried they might shut down the dorms. We are just trying to figure it out," said incoming freshman Michelle Ganopolskiy.