Recent Program Features

Dear Campus Community,

On Wednesday, August 11, Governor Tim Walz announced a new COVID-19 Proof of Vaccine and Testing policy, effective September 8, which states all state employees who are assigned to work at a workplace or otherwise provide agency services outside their home are required to either provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or be tested on a weekly basis. Chancellor Malhotra notified all Minnesota State employees about this requirement later that afternoon.

I met with members of my cabinet yesterday to determine how we would operationalize this requirement at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Thankfully, we have exceptional staff and resources, which allows us to quickly, comprehensively and confidentially receive, monitor and aggregate reports on employee vaccination and testing requirements.

As we roll out this new policy, please keep in mind that our focus is on serving students so they can safely continue their progress towards their educational goals. Further, this policy is one more step in our effort to provide a meaningful student experience in-person, online and in hybrid mode, with safety protocols in place.

I know you may have questions such as: I've been vaccinated, what do I do next? Are there exemptions? Can't I just work from home?" These and others have been compiled on the University COVID FAQs webpage. We will continue to add questions we receive and information on operationalizing the policy to the FAQs as it becomes available.

The latest information and COVID-19 related announcements can always be found on the COVID-19 and Our Campus Community webpage.  If you still have questions, please email provost@mnsu.edu.

Sincerely,

Edward S. Inch
President

Colleagues,

Today Governor Walz announced that, effective September 8, all state agency employees, including employees of Minnesota State, who are assigned to work at the workplace or otherwise provide agency services outside their home are required to either show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or be tested at least weekly. Teleworkers who wish to access the workplace for more than 10 minutes or provide agency services outside their home will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination before being allowed to do so. This new policy is the Governor’s latest effort to combat the spread of COVID-19 and protect Minnesotans, especially as the Delta variant is driving the latest surge in cases. We are working on how you will attest to your vaccination status and how you will access testing and will share details with you in the coming weeks.

While this policy does not take effect until September 8, I strongly encourage that we all get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are the way we end this pandemic. They are safe and protect those who are medically unable or ineligible to get vaccinated, our families, and our economy. Vaccine appointments are available at VaccineConnector.mn.gov. (If you receive your first dose by August 15, you will even be eligible for a $100 Visa gift card!)

In addition, we will continue using all the tools in our toolbox to maintain workplace safety:

• We are following updated CDC guidance on face coverings in indoor public areas of substantial or high levels of transmission (as I shared with you in my message to you on Monday, August 2).
• We encourage you to protect yourself and others by staying home if you are sick, washing your hands, and reviewing other prevention strategies as recommended by MDH.
• We continue to strongly encourage our students to be vaccinated as soon as possible, but we will remain flexible and adaptable in our approach to ensure that our colleges and universities continue to protect health and safety.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health, the state is seeing a steady increase in COVID-19 cases, nearly entirely driven by the highly-contagious Delta variant. The overwhelming majority of these cases are among unvaccinated Minnesotans. If you have been waiting to get your shot, now is the time.

We know there will be many questions and we will be working with MMB to provide clarity on next steps and we will be sharing that information with your leadership. As always, you can access our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and other well-being resources at any time.

I would like to thank you all for remaining attentive and vigilant in focusing on our two priorities: protecting the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff, and supporting our students as they continue progress towards their educational goals.

Stay safe!

Devinder Malhotra
Chancellor

Greetings,

Last week I shared with you the updated CDC interim public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people in response to increases in COVID-19 cases. The new guidance recommends that both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals wear a mask in public indoor settings if they are in an area of substantial or high transmission. Blue Earth County had been staying within the “moderate” community transmission level; however, the CDC COVID Data Tracker now shows Blue Earth County has reached a “substantial” level of community transmission and is trending upward.

Therefore, effective Monday, Aug. 9, all students, employees, visitors, contractors and vendors of Minnesota State Mankato are required to wear a face covering over both the nose and mouth when entering a campus building regardless of vaccination status. This action is being employed under MDH and Minnesota State system guidance and in care for the wellbeing of our campus community. We will continue to monitor trends within the region, but the current face covering requirement will remain in place for at least 14 days.

Face coverings are required in all hallways, classrooms, meeting rooms, public spaces and common areas. Face coverings are not required inside residence hall student rooms, office spaces or in an office setting, cubicle or workstation where physical distancing can be maintained.

I strongly encourage students and employees who have not been vaccinated to do so. Vaccination continues to be the most effective means for reducing community transmission and severe illness from COVID-19. As vaccinated individuals can transmit the virus, the addition of a face covering requirement allows us to progress with our fall plans to provide a more robust and in-person campus experience.

We are hosting several vaccinations clinics on campus open to both students and staff. Additionally, there are vaccination sites across Minnesota, and many are allowing walk-ins without appointments. If you need assistance finding a vaccination location, please contact the Student Health Services COVID Healthcare Hotline at (507) 389-5591.

We will continue to monitor the situation and will update you on changes as necessary. If you have any questions, visit our COVID-19 website (updates reflecting the new protocols coming shortly) or email provost@mnsu.edu. Students who need assistance with services may contact the Student Affairs Office at student-affairs@mnsu.edu or (507) 389-2121.

Please continue to practice safety measures and do your part to keep our #MavFam safe.

Sincerely,

Edward S. Inch, Ph.D.
President

"The Pre-Licensure program at Minnesota State University gave me a solid foundation to build my career as a nurse. The hours at clinicals were gold & I would not trade them for anything. Graduating from the program gave me a sense of confidence. Future & current students of the nursing program need to know that every assignment, clinical, project & presentation is preparing them to be outstanding nurses!"

"My Minnesota State University nursing degree has prepared me for my career by honing my clinical, research, and communication skills. Clinical placements offer rich opportunities to improve our hands-on skills, while the classroom challenged us to conduct baccalaureate-level research. An emphasis is placed on communication early in the program to make us more comfortable communicating with patients, families, and other interprofessional team members in practice. I owe so much to Minnesota State University for landing me a position at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. The program had a new capstone project placement method that allowed students to have more control over their placement. Luckily, I was placed on a medical/surgical unit one floor below where I started as a nurse at Mayo. It was such a valuable experience that familiarized me with the hospital before even starting!"

"Minnesota State University's Pre-Licensure Program helped prepare me for my career in critical care nursing. The program taught me how to deliver quality care not only to my patients, but their families too. The nursing faculty are passionate about the profession and provide a supportive learning environment with many leadership opportunities for students. My classmates became some of my closest friends and the relationships I made are lifelong!"

"The family-focused nursing practice I learned at Minnesota State University's School of Nursing well prepared me for my first post-graduate nursing position through teaching me resilience, professionalism, and the means to facilitate effective collaboration. All of which are concepts that I believe are of utmost importance for professionals in healthcare today, enabling me to graduate with confidence and have the tools to continue lifelong professional development."

"The Pre-Licensure Program is established in a way that ensures each and every individual in the program is set up for success. The variety and diversity in clinical sites ensure you get the experience you need in the different aspects of nursing, which in turn gives you all the tools required for you to find what you want your nursing practice to be."