We are excited to announce the University of Minnesota's plans for returning to campus this fall. U of M President Joan Gabel announced that all of its campuses (Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester and the Twin Cities) are planning to return to fully on-campus operations this fall.
"Given projections on the number of Minnesotans who will be vaccinated, and relying on continued guidance from our public health colleagues, we are increasingly reassured that we can bring students, faculty and staff back to our campuses while effectively minimizing the risk to our community," Gabel said.
In the interest of ongoing support for public health and information-sharing in the coming months and into fall, the University will continue to provide widespread access to COVID-19 testing for all students, faculty and staff. The University has announced that vaccines will NOT be required for faculty, staff and students at this time. While the University will not require vaccination at this time, it is highly encouraged, and vaccine resources and information are available at z.umn.edu/vaccine.
While the University also no longer requires face coverings and physical distancing in most buildings for those who are fully vaccinated, those who are feeling sick are encouraged to stay home, and all are encouraged to continue practicing good personal hygiene, such as regularly washing hands.
Further, those who wish to continue to wear a mask for any reason are encouraged to do so and should be supported as such. The University will continue to monitor the current situation, as well as follow the guidance of the Minnesota Department of Health.
"We will continue to closely monitor the status of the pandemic, as well as vaccination rates," Gabel said. "Unforeseen changes in the pandemic may cause us to adjust our planning, but for now we are confident that this decision is supported by the trends related to pandemic, vaccination rates and the high degree of compliance that Minnesotans overall have shown to reduce the spread of the virus."
Additionally, summer orientation for incoming students will be virtual as we gradually shift from the pandemic operations to the fall back on campus approach. Welcome Week is currently planned to be an on-campus experience on September 1-6, 2021.
University leaders, faculty and staff will continue the planning necessary to prepare for fall course registration, and on-campus courses and activities, as well as returning to pre-pandemic status in University residence halls, dining facilities and the variety of services offered through student life.
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We know that COVID-19 has impacted every part of your life, including your academic life. We want to assure you that as you apply to the U of M, we will be especially understanding of all the current circumstances. While we continue to pause our in-person visits and events through December 2020, we promise to provide many opportunities for you to explore the University’s world-class opportunities, ask questions directly with our admissions counselors, and get the support you need throughout your college search process. In-person tours of Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses are now available again. For more information on tours, including dates, times, and availability, please visit z.umn.edu/campusvisit. We promise to treat you—and review your application—with compassion, understanding, and the greatest respect for your individual circumstances. |
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The health and safety of our campus community will always be our greatest priority. We continue to monitor public health data daily and regularly review our pandemic response and plans for the future. Flexibility and adaptability have been critical since the first days of this pandemic, and we will quickly adapt our operations and procedures based on how the pandemic evolves. In all aspects of our plan for fall semester, we are following the latest and best guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and our own globally recognized public health and medical experts. |
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The University of Minnesota no longer requires masks for those who are fully vaccinated in indoor or outdoor spaces (except as posted, such as in health clinics). Those not fully vaccinated should continue to mask while in indoor spaces and when social distancing is not possible around campus. |
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The information about campus impacts and admissions impact changes often. Please access the following resources for the most up-to-date information: Twin Cities Campus COVID Updates: Please reference the system-wide Safe Campus website which provides frequently updated information on safety measures, back-to-campus plans and more. Undergraduate Admissions Adjustments: We have made a variety of adjustments for the Fall 2021 application process to support students and their families during this time.
Flexible Application Your application will be read in its entirety, and we promise to review your experiences with compassion and understanding. Rather than using equations to grant admission, we get to know your individual story—and that includes the ways in which you faced the challenges of COVID-19.
Holistic Review The U of M has proudly joined 350 colleges across the country in signing Care Counts in a Crisis: College Admissions Deans Respond to COVID-19. Care Counts is a promise to you on what admissions professionals value as we read your applications this year: self-care, academic work, service and contributions to others, family contributions, and extracurricular activities.
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Yes, we will review situations on a case-by-case basis. Contact the Office of Admissions at z.umn.edu/contactadmissions
The University of Minnesota accepts additional English proficiency tests during COVID times, for a total of seven test options, so that students have options for completing the English proficiency requirement. To learn how to meet our English proficiency requirements, please visit English Proficiency Information for International Students.
As long as you meet high school graduation requirements, there is no concern from the university.
The University of Minnesota respects the expertise of testing boards, schools and educational institutions to make alternative assessment plans, due to COVID-19, for students finishing their schooling in 2020. View IB updates related to COVID-19.
We won't penalize students for the unprecedented end to 2020. Students should complete the courses as planned for by the school districts. Rest assured that the university academic advisors will be expecting some different grading patterns for this final term and will work with you for the right level of coursework this fall.
As of February 2021, the University has not made a final decision regarding COVID-19 vaccine requirements, but it's important to note that setting any sort of requirement at this time would be premature for several reasons.
In the meantime, we remain vigilant in our ongoing health and safety efforts, including expanded COVID-19 testing and renewed calls for continued adherence to the University's protocols.
For your information, there is more information about the vaccine and the processes that are being used for distribution on our Safe Campus website. We remain committed to monitoring and studying the quickly-evolving situation.
Please see our gap year page for more information!
The University of Minnesota respects the expertise of testing boards, schools and educational institutions to make alternative assessment plans, due to COVID-19, for students finishing their schooling.
Therefore, we will honor the plans set forth by International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), GCE A-level examination boards and other institutions for final documentation of a student's examinations and work. We will continue to honor our current transfer credit rules for International Baccalaureate (IB) and GCE A-levels.
We won't penalize students for the unprecedented school impacts due to COVID-19. Students should complete the courses as planned for by the school districts. Rest assured, the university understands there will have been shifts in grading patterns and will work with you.
Yes, we will review situations on a case-by-case basis. Contact the Office of Admissions.
If you are considering taking courses outside the U.S. or in your home country this summer, make sure that courses and credits are transferable to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, and discuss with your academic advisor how you may use these courses toward your degree at the U of M. If you are uncertain whether or not they are transferable, contact the Office of Admissions.
Note: Summer programs at Chinese universities are generally not transferable to the UMTC. For more information, visit International Transfer Credits "Non-Affiliated Study Abroad Program."
At this time there is no change to I-20 issuance for admitted students. The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on F-1 international students, and will reach out if we anticipate any impact on students who are planning to attend.
The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Office provides support and information on how to obtain a VISA.
The University of Minnesota respects the expertise of testing boards, schools and educational institutions to make alternative assessment plans, due to COVID-19, for students finishing their schooling.
Therefore, we will honor the plans set forth by GCE A-level examination boards, IBO, and other institutions for final documentation of a student's examinations and work. We will continue to honor our current transfer credit rules for GCE A-levels and International Baccalaureate (IB).
The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is dedicated to serving the University of Minnesota's international community. ISSS continues to support international students, scholars, staff, and faculty impacted by COVID-19 and offer services while off-site. Visit the ISSS COVID-19 updates and FAQs page for more info.
For more information and updates related to COVID-19 and our University's response, please see University of Minnesota's Safe Campus site.
Please reference the following information on S/N policy as it pertains to your future U of M college.
| College | S/N Policy for 2020-2021 Academic Year | Contact Person | Email Address | Additional Notes/Consideration for students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlson School of Management | Accepting S/N grades for Spring 2020 through Summer 2021 | Eric Ly | carlsontransfer@umn.edu | View Carlson School of Management's comprehensive S/N guide for their programs. |
| College of Biological Sciences | Accepting S/N grades spring and summer 2020 only | CBS Transfer Team | cbs-tsfr@umn.edu | CBS will accept S grades for courses taken in Spring 2020 and Summer 2020, and will not for Fall 2020 and forward. For ICT/IUT students, a GPA of 2.5 or higher is required in at least three science courses so at least one cours needs to be graded. For NAS students, CBS will accept S grades for courses taken in Spring 2020 and Summer 2020. |
| College of Continuing and Professional Studies | Accepting S/N grades for Spring 2020 through Spring 2021 | Willie Wong | wkwong@umn.edu | |
| College of Design | Accepting S/N grades for Spring 2020 through Summer 2021 | Woody Stulberg | destrsfr@umn.edu | |
| College of Education and Human Development | Accepting S/N grades for Spring 2020 through Summer 2021. | Sheri Beck | cehdtrfr@umn.edu | If students plan to later apply to graduate/professional programs, this is an additional factor to consider as it is unclear how graduate/professional programs will use S/N grades. |
| College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences | Accepting S/N grades for Spring 2020 through Spring 2021 | Jeff Polski | pols0025@umn.edu | We caution students interested in Dietetics, Pre-Vet, or other graduate or professional programs that we do not know how S/N grades will be viewed or if they would be accepted. |
| College of Liberal Arts | Accepting S/N grades for Spring 2020 through Summer 2021 | Lexie Warlof | clatrans@umn.edu | Recommend students contact admissions if their application is on hold pending Spring 2021 grades when making S/N grade changes. |
| College of Science and Engineering | Accepting S/N grades for Spring 2020 through Summer 2021 with restrictions | Dave Finlayson | csetransfer@umn.edu | ICT - CSE will allow S/N grading basis to satisfy degree requirements. However, we are not changing our policy requiring at least three posted grades A/F at the time of application review to be eligible for admission consideration. In addition, S/N grades could still influence a future admission decision despite not impacting the students' GPA, especially for more competitive programs. IUT - The Provost's message only addressed changing grade basis for students at the Twin Cities campus so until further notice the assumption is that all system campuses are remaining A/F. We are not changing our policy requiring at least three posted grades A/F by the end of Fall 2020 to be eligible for Fall 2021 admission consideration. |
| Medical Laboratory Science Program | Accepting S/N grades for Spring 2020 through Spring 2021 | Robin Peterson | cahpinfo@umn.edu | Would prefer to see admission prerequisites taken on the A-F grading scale |
| Mortuary Science Program | Accepting S/N grades for Spring 2020 through Spring 2021 | Ashley Mishek | mortsci@umn.edu | |
| School of Nursing | Accepting S/N grades for Spring 2020 through Spring 2021 | Greta Simons | gophernursing@umn.edu | We will accept courses on the S/N grade basis but highly recommend taking prerequisites on the A-F grade basis to be a competitive applicant. |
