Fall 2020 Academic Plans
In a message sent to the 亚色影库 community today, President Becky Roloff and Provost Anita Thomas shared initial plans for welcoming students back to campus this fall.
鈥淭his plan is based on our best knowledge and information as it is known today and on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), other health experts, and our Safe Return to Campus Committee (SRC)鈥 said Anita Thomas, executive vice president and Provost at 亚色影库. 鈥淭he plan also takes into account the insights we have gathered to date from our summer term, in which we are engaging in limited on-campus classes to understand our challenges and opportunities in welcoming our community back to campus.鈥
A total of seven options were assessed before selecting a plan that best ensures students have access to a rigorous curriculum designed to maximize learning in this current environment.
Fall Semester Courses
St. Kate鈥檚 will follow the currently scheduled academic calendar, with fall semester classes starting on September 9 and ending on December 20. Some class times will be altered to allow for safe social distancing and cleaning between face-to-face classes, as well as longer breaks between online sessions to allow students to transition from one topic to the next.
Courses will be delivered in three formats: face-to-face, hybrid, and online. Face-to-face courses have been prioritized based on the need to have access to specialized equipment and/or lab spaces. The full fall course schedule will be finalized in early July, and include more details, such as delivery format by course, as well as which online classes will follow synchronous or asynchronous formats.
On-Campus Housing and Dining Services
Plans for fall semester housing and dining services are still being finalized, based on guidance from the CDC, MDH, and local public health experts. On-campus housing will be modified to accommodate safe social distancing, as well as any emerging quarantine needs that could arise over the semester. Details around housing priority and the updated assignment process will be announced by the end of June.
Meal plans and dining options will be adjusted to support these new health and safety precautions for on-campus food and beverage services. Changes will include multiple order ahead options, as well as increased grab-and-go options, as well as contactless pick-up.
鈥淲e know and understand that public health conditions related to COVID-19 will continue to change, and our plans allow us to be flexible and adapt quickly to changes as they arise while maintaining the health and safety of our community,鈥 said Thomas.
The full message may be found on the 亚色影库 COVID-19 Information page.