Recent Program Features

Greetings,

As we continue to plan for the fall semester with the majority of our courses and services offered in person, we are reminded that this pandemic is not over. We have recently seen an increase in the Delta variant of COVID-19 in our region and rising infection rates.

On Tuesday, July 27, the CDC updated its 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. While Blue Earth County briefly entered the “substantial” category, as of today, the CDC COVID Data Tracker shows Blue Earth County and Mankato’s surrounding counties currently at a “moderate” level of community transmission.

Therefore, at this point we are not instituting a face covering requirement on campus for fully vaccinated individuals.  However, unvaccinated individuals are expected to continue to wear a face covering in public indoor settings.  As we continue to monitor the CDC data for sustained trends indicating “substantial” community transmission, we as a campus must be prepared to adjust our mitigation strategies, including a pivot towards new face covering protocols, as consistent with CDC guidance.

I also strongly encourage students and employees who have not already been vaccinated to do so. There are vaccination sites across Minnesota, and many are allowing walk-ins without appointments. If you need assistance finding a vaccination location, please contact Natalie Schuette at natalie.schuette@mnsu.edu.

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 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

FIND YOUR CLASS TOURS: Sunday, Aug. 23

FIND YOUR CLASS TOURS

An important part of the final day of Welcome Week is a series of Find Your Class tours. Repeated throughout the afternoon, these valuable tours help you avoid Monday morning frustration and panic by helping you locate your classrooms across campus. Just bring your class schedule and join a tour.

Three Find Your Class Tours on Sunday, Aug. 23, will leave from residence hall lobbies at 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Aaron received his bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics education rather than a strict Physics BS. But after a few years of student teaching they found physics itself more enjoyable through their application of mathematics to nature and the real world. Since his undergraduate education was not a full physics degree, he was encouraged to take the Masters in Physics after meeting with then Minnesota State University Physics Graduate Coordinator Dr. Thomas Brown who explained the Department's enthusiasm for helping students to bridge any academic gaps in their education while working toward a master's degree. In addition to this, the class sizes for PHYS 500 and above were relatively small and this, Aaron said, "gave me confidence the department could help me 'catch up' in my coursework."

Aaron specifically recalled the importance of two aspects of education in advancing him in his career. First "the technical knowledge gained through taking courses and working in Dr. Dall'Asén's research lab ‐ especially regarding optics, microscopy, and spectroscopy ... and the relationships, both professional and personal, developed with grad students and faculty members. I sill stay in contact with some of those people to this day." Aaron believes his coursework and thesis research developed both his foundational physics knowledge as well as the ability to research and problem‐solve. "Writing my thesis and teaching physics labs matured both my written and verbal communication skills," he said, "through all these experiences, I learned the importance of collaboration and being a diligent worker."