Recent Program Features

Dear Students:

Our extended Spring Break ends this weekend and classes resume online or in alternative delivery format on Monday, March 30. I know this is not how any of you expected this semester to go, and it is certainly not what I expected either! I would much rather see you in person on campus this week instead of interacting with you virtually. Please know that even though many of you are not here with us physically, we care deeply about each of you and want you to be successful this semester and into the future.

Since remote teaching and learning is a change for many of us, this message contains information on the various resources we have put in place to help you succeed.

• Get Started With Online Learning: Download the quick guide to student tech resources for learning online. For an extensive and continually growing list of all student resources, visit the  Keep Learning website.
• Stay Informed: Please check your MavMail account regularly as that is our official way of communicating important information with you. All of our announcements are also posted on the University Coronavirus webpage.
• Student Advising and Course Registration: University Advising is available to answer any questions you have about advising or course registration for summer and fall semester. Learn more here, or contact them at advising@mnsu.edu. Please also update your contact information in E-Services so we are able to connect with you!
• Student Worker Information: State and federal legislation provides for student worker compensation during the COVID-19 situation. Please contact your student worker supervisor or visit the Student Payroll webpage to learn more.
• Refunds: Students seeking refunds for residential life housing, dining services, or parking permits, please be patient with us as we work through these decisions and implementation. Further information will be shared as it becomes available and will be posted on our Coronavirus webpage.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we all work together to figure out how to move ahead in our new reality. Even if we are not together on campus, we are all still part of the #MavFam! Our faculty and staff are all working in unison to help you complete the semester successfully. Please contact your faculty, college dean or the Office of the Provost with any concerns or needs.

I wish you well with the rest of your spring semester—and I look forward to seeing many of you again next fall as well.

Go Mavs!

Richard Davenport
President

Dear Students,

Earlier today you received a message from Chancellor Malhotra announcing Governor Walz’s Executive Order 20-20 which states, in part, that:

“Beginning on Friday, March 27, 2020 at 11:59 pm through Friday, April 10, 2020 at 5:00 pm, all persons currently living within the State of Minnesota are ordered to stay at home or in their place of residence except to engage in the Activities and Critical Sector work.”

The colleges and universities that are part of the Minnesota State system are among the entities identified as “Critical Sector work,” and thus, the University will remain open to provide essential educational services and resources for students. Classes will begin again on March 30, through either online or alternative instruction. Your instructors will be reaching out to you with more details, if they have not already done so.

Although most buildings on our campus are now closed and most of our staff is working remotely, we remain committed to providing the services you need. More details about how to access the services you need can be found at www.mnsu.edu/coronavirus.

The University administrative team is diligently working to identify how Minnesota State Mankato will comply with this Executive Order to maintain the health and well-being of all our faculty, staff, and students, while also providing the necessary educational services. More information will be forthcoming as details are finalized.

Thank you all for remaining committed to your education during this time of uncertainty. Until my next message, be safe and well.

Sincerely,

Richard Davenport
President

Message to Students from Chancellor Malhotra

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Earlier today you received a message from Chancellor Malhotra (copied below) announcing Governor Walz’s Executive Order 20-20 which states, in part, that:

“Beginning on Friday, March 27, 2020 at 11:59 pm through Friday, April 10, 2020 at 5:00 pm, all persons currently living within the State of Minnesota are ordered to stay at home or in their place of residence except to engage in the Activities and Critical Sector work.”

The colleges and universities that are part of the Minnesota State system are among the entities identified as “Critical Sector work,” and thus, Minnesota State University, Mankato will remain open to provide essential educational services and resources for our students. Classes will begin again, as previously communicated, on March 30. 

Please note, this Executive Order does not restrict virtual work or telework (i.e. work from home), and in fact it encourages those Minnesotans who are able to telework to do so. Many of our staff and faculty are already engaged in telework arrangements and should continue to do so unless directed otherwise by their supervisors.

The University administrative team is diligently working to identify how Minnesota State Mankato will comply with this Executive Order to maintain the health and well-being of all our faculty, staff and students, while also providing the necessary educational services. More information will be forthcoming as details are finalized.

Thank you all for continuing the University’s good work during this time of uncertainty. Until my next message, be safe and well.

Sincerely,

Richard Davenport
President

Message to Faculty and Staff from Chancellor Malhotra

Dear Campus Community,

A member of the Minnesota State University, Mankato campus community has reported that they have been diagnosed with lab confirmed COVID-19 (coronavirus). While the Minnesota Department of Health has determined that the risk of exposure at our University is low, my thoughts are with this individual and my wish for them is a speedy recovery.

I understand that this news may create unease in our community. The safety, security, and health of our staff and students is our top priority.  To that end, we have followed cleaning procedures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and are working closely with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for further guidance. We are also working with MDH to identify and notify any close contacts.

The most important actions each of us can take to further protect ourselves include:

• Staying home if you are sick
• Washing your hands often with soap and water; covering your cough and sneeze; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Practicing self-care by eating a healthy diet and taking time to rest
• Frequently cleaning all commonly touched surfaces
• Avoiding large gatherings

This is our first notification of a case of COVID-19, and we are thankful to this individual for their self-awareness and reporting their condition to Minnesota State Mankato. As access to diagnostics increases (through clinical diagnosis or laboratory confirmation), so will the number of positive cases – both in the wider community as well as here at Minnesota State Mankato. Therefore, we expect that future diagnoses like these will not necessarily result in school-wide communication.

If you feel you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, The Minnesota Department of Health recommends:

1. Stay at home for at least 7 days, and for 3 days with no fever and improvement of respiratory symptoms – whichever is longer. (Your fever should be gone for 3 days without using fever-reducing medicine).
2. Use the CDC website on how to Care For Yourself at Home with COVID-19.
3. If your household contacts were exposed to you while you had symptoms, they should try to stay home as much as possible for 14 days.
   1. They should closely monitor their health, and if symptoms occur, they must isolate themselves. More guidance on this can be found here: MDH COVID-19 Basics
   2. Use the CDC website for How to Minimize Spread.

If you are concerned about your personal health due to symptoms, please contact your medical clinic prior to arriving so they can take the necessary precautions to keep other patients and medical staff safe. There are many resources listed on our website dedicated to COVID-19 with reliable and up to date information. 

This is a challenging time, and I know many of you may be feeling stress or anxiety.  Faculty, staff, and students may call the Minnesota Department of Health hotline at (651) 201-3920 with questions about symptoms, treatment, or risk of COVID-19. An Emotional Support Help Line is available for all students at 866-342-6892, and Student Health Services is answering student questions related to COVID-19 at (507) 389-5591. In addition, both the University Student Health Services and the Counseling Center are offering remote services for students.  Of course, the Employee Assistance Program is vital in promoting well-being among our employees with confidential counseling services.

We will get through this together as a community, and will be stronger when we emerge.

Take care,

Richard Davenport
President