Campus hallways were abnormally empty at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon. The global pandemic led universities to try to minimize the amount of people on campus at any given time. Photo by Hunter Dunteman

Fall semester will undoubtedly be a new experience for anyone at the University of Minnesota Duluth — with new classroom formats, guidelines and policies, here’s what to expect.

The first notable change to fall semester is that not all classes are meeting in-person. The format of your class will be determined by your professor and your schedule on MyU will be updated accordingly.

Here’s a few options of what your classes may look like:

In-Person: Your class will be meeting face-to-face in a classroom on campus at scheduled times throughout each week. All people will be required to be six feet apart and wear face coverings at all times while in the classroom.
Blended/Hybrid: This means your class will be both online and in-person. The class will most likely be split into sections, with students rotating between in-person and online instruction. Classrooms will be limited to 20 people or less when proper social distancing between every person is possible.
Online: Your class will be operated in the same manner as traditional online classes. This typically means you will not be required to meet at certain times in the week and will be responsible for meeting deadlines on your own time, with your professor available via Zoom office hours and email.
Remote: If you were at UMD last spring, this format will seem very familiar. Remote instruction means that your class will take place online, but you will most likely be required to meet via Zoom on a weekly basis.

All classes will meet solely online after Thanksgiving, meaning finals will be conducted either before winter break or online. Fall break is not included in this year’s academic calendar.

While on campus, things will look different than usual, and there will be strict guidelines and policies that all students, faculty and staff will be required to adhere to.

What once was a bustling study space, tables in the Kathryn A. Martin Library now nearly empty. Photo by Hunter Dunteman

So, what will campus look like?

Most studying areas on campus, such as the Kirby Student Center and the Kathryn A. Martin Library will have limited spaces available, with fewer chairs and tables.
The library released a statement regarding what their specific space will look like, with the Multimedia Hub now located on the first floor and the Rotunda open as a study space.
The Annex will be closed to students, as capacity has been limited to 25% in the library. There will also be six feet between any students studying at tables and protective barriers around the service desks.

In-person meetings in the student club offices will be limited to ten people and all will be required to wear a mask. Most professors will not be holding in-person office hours and all advising will be done via Zoom.

These guidelines apply everywhere on campus, with masks and social distancing required.

What Will be Expected of Me?

Anyone on campus is required to wear a face mask at all times unless eating, drinking or alone in a closed office space. Face masks are not required when you are outdoors and properly socially distanced, but administration has stated that they are “strongly encouraged.” While facemasks are not required while outdoors, administration “strongly encourages” them while on campus property.

Students are encouraged to wash their hands as often as possible and avoid touching their face. If you do not feel well, you are instructed to stay home and inform your instructors of your conditions.

According to the Safe Campus website, “Any employee, student or visitor who fails to abide with this directive may be asked or directed to leave the campus space. Faculty, staff and students who are directed to leave a campus space for failure to comply with these guidelines may be taken off duty and/or subject to disciplinary action.”

What if I live on campus?

After postponing move-in day by two weeks, the dorms and apartments on campus have now opened to students, but there are some new rules.

After moving into housing, students will be required to quarantine for ten days, with the exceptions of leaving to shop for essential items, eating meals, working, visiting the library, participating in mental health activities and visiting the fitness center.
After ten days of quarantine, students will be granted increased access to campus and the surrounding community with a curfew of 10 p.m.
Once two weeks of the 10 p.m. curfew have passed, the students’ curfew is extended to midnight.
After two weeks with the midnight curfew, students living on campus will be allowed to resume their normal activities so long as COVID-19 guidelines are followed.

I Have More Questions:

The Bark is dedicated to providing students, faculty, staff and the public with as much knowledge as possible during these turbulent times. More information and updates can be found on our website and social media. Other helpful resources are available online at d.umn.edu by typing key search words into the website’s search engine. If you have additional comments or would like to share your thoughts regarding UMD’s COVID-19 policies, please reach out to us at barkumd@d.umn.edu or contact a Bark staff member directly.

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