University of Minnesota faculty, staff, students, and visitors (including contractors, service providers, vendors, and suppliers) are required to wear a mask in the locations listed below in accordance with the Face Mask Protocol.

• The University expects all community members to respect those who choose to wear a mask, as well as those who choose not to wear one.
• While masks are not required in many University spaces, we know that masking is an important preventive measure against COVID-19. Everyone may wear a mask in settings that do not require them if they choose, especially in large classrooms or settings in which there are large numbers of people and potential increased risk of transmission. 
• We recommend KN95 or N95 masks for greater protection. SPH has ordered KN95 masks for SPH faculty, staff, and students who will be on campus during fall 2022 semester.

• Policy decisions regarding mask use are currently made centrally and reflected in the University’s Face Covering Protocol, which will be revised as needed based on changes to public health conditions and public health guidance.
• While masks are not required in many University spaces, SPH strongly recommends the use of high-quality masks in all indoor spaces on campus, including classrooms.

Yes. SPH has ordered KN95 masks for employees and students who will be on campus in fall semester 2022. See details below about mask distribution.

SPH Mask Distribution

• Employees and Instructors: Masks are available to all SPH faculty, staff, and instructors to pick up in the following spaces on campus:
  • SPH Dean’s Office front desk, Mayo A302, (T – F, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
  • Divisions (contact your division administrator for pick-up locations and details)
• Students: Masks are available for SPH students to pick up at the Student Services Office, Mayo A395, during regular business hours (M – TH, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.). 
• Events: SPH event coordinators can request KN95 masks by emailing sphevent@umn.edu

• At this time, the University is not emphasizing the importance of physical distancing. 
• Many of the classrooms assigned for SPH courses will be at capacity and we may not be able to physically distance ourselves and students. 
• However, MDH guidelines for Higher Education maintain the importance of physically distancing indoors when there is a population of mixed-vaccination status. You may want to consider ways to assign small-group work in the classroom that help maintain physical distancing. 

If your classroom permits, students may certainly choose to “spread out” from each other. If it does not and you want to explore changing classrooms, for this or any other reason, please reach out to ocmsched@umn.edu or your local classroom scheduling unit.

• The capacity of classrooms is available through the Office of Classroom Management.
• You may request a bigger classroom; however, there are limitations in what is available. 
• To request a bigger classroom: Contact the program coordinator who manages your course and they will see what is available online. 

• Meeting and conference rooms: 
  • Many SPH spaces have been tested by Neil Carlson and/or Facilities Management (FM). See SPH Conference Rooms + Spaces: COVID-19 for details. 
  • Questions? Contact your division administrator or Tamara Hink at hink@umn.edu.
• Classrooms: 
  • HVAC systems in all 780 classrooms on the UMN Twin Cities campus have been tested by a task force of Facilities Management (FM) engineers, University Health and Safety (UHS) professionals and faculty experts. 
  • All classrooms meet CDC, OSHA, and ASHRAE guidelines. 
  • University Health and Safety can provide information about the HVAC system in your classroom. If you have questions or concerns about their findings, contact the Office of Classroom Management at ocmsched@umn.edu for assistance in exploring alternative classrooms.

• It is recommended to use a microphone in larger classrooms so that students can better hear you with a mask and in order to record lectures for students who cannot be in the classroom.
• There are two types of microphones: 1) podium microphones, and 2) lavalier microphones that clip onto your clothing and allow you to move around the room. You can check what technology is available in your assigned classroom through Classroom Technology.

• You can submit an online request for a technology orientation for your assigned classroom.

• No.  University policy states, “Students enrolled in their classes based on, among other things, the modality offered, which was decided in collaboration between the instructor and the unit, based on pedagogical appropriateness, student demand, and personal health conditions of the instructor (see the March 12, 2021 message for details on this guidance).”
• Instructors should clearly communicate with their students about course delivery.
• Questions about effective delivery of online components of courses? Consult the SPH Office of E-Learning Services

A faculty member’s responsibility to manage their classroom and their obligation to respect the privacy rights of students are the same as they have been in recent years. Under the University’s codes of conduct and other policies, University faculty, staff, and students have obligations to maintain safe learning, instruction, and other environments, and to be respectful, fair, and civil with one another. We all must avoid making assumptions about others’ health status or impermissibly discriminating against others based on perceived health or immunization status.

Instructors may establish, communicate, and maintain expectations for the classroom environment as long as they do not violate any of these obligations. The Faculty Consultative Committee of the Senate has helped develop some suggested syllabus language that you can use to explain expectations to your students.

If a student fails to comply with communicated expectations, an instructor can refer the matter to the student conduct office on their campus. Non-emergency safety concerns can be reported via the University’s Safety Concern Form and/or to a supervisor. A medical emergency should be reported to 9-1-1.

As was the case before the pandemic, an instructor should refer a student who voluntarily and without solicitation discloses a medical condition toward the process of seeking an accommodation. That said, in most circumstances, neither testing positive for COVID-19 nor being unvaccinated would constitute a disability such that the University would need to provide reasonable accommodations. If a student tests positive for COVID-19 and needs to isolate or falls ill, the instructor should provide the student the opportunity to make up missed work per the University’s Administrative Policy: Makeup Work for Legitimate Absences. Just as with any other illness, the instructor would not need to provide remote instruction, although you certainly may if you wish.

We suggest a message like the following:

With the University returning to standard practices, we will not be offering this course remotely or online.  If this is a barrier for you, please consult with your academic advising team to make an alternative plan and to explore the possibility of taking an alternative course. If you are requesting an accommodation for a documented disability, please begin the accommodation request process with the disability services office on your campus. Once that office has evaluated your request, I will work with their consultant to identify ways to minimize barriers and facilitate inclusion in the class.

• Yes. If it doesn’t interfere with the effectiveness of student engagement.

• FCC has developed suggested language you can use.

• It is understandable if you find this coming semester stressful. Reach out to your program coordinator, program director, and/or division head if you need help.
• University employees also have access to mental healtlanguageh and well-being resources through their health plan or the Employee Assistance Program.
• There are also a variety of mental health and well-being resources for students available, including SPH Mental Health Advocates.

See detailed guidance on the following websites: 

• UMN Faculty & Teaching Considerations FAQ: “What is an instructor’s responsibility if they learn of unvaccinated students, or if they learn that students have tested positive for COVID?” 
• UMN OVPR Guidance on Student Positive Cases; you are encouraged to read the full guidelines. Also available in PDF.

Faculty are strongly encouraged to adopt and communicate educational practices that enable and encourage students to stay home when they are sick. These practices must be consistent with the policy on Makeup Work for Legitimate Absences. However, we all must avoid making assumptions about others’ health status or impermissibly discriminating against others based on perceived health or immunization status.

• No. instructors or supervisors should not inquire about or otherwise solicit a student’s immunization status or medical test results, either individually or anonymously.

• Detailed information can be found on the OVPR Guidance on Student Positive Cases website.