We know that as Fall 2020 gets closer, there are still a number of questions about what courses and campus life will look like in light of COVID-19. To help you plan a bit better, we've addressed frequently asked questions about fall here. Please note there will likely be changes between now and September - please watch your UMN email, the University's Fall 2020 info site, and this blog post for updates.
How will my Fall 2020 courses be delivered?
As of July 29, Fall 2020 plans are mostly finalized, with the understanding that changes may still be made primarily to scheduled in-person courses.
Please continue to watch your MyU dashboard, course schedule (under MyU: Academics), and UMN email for updates. Please note many courses will be available
online or remote – if your course is currently listed as online or remote, it will likely continue
as such for Fall 2020. You can find information on delivery methods here: https://onestop.umn.edu/covid-19#accord-3
Is there a way for me to take all online courses from home?
To adhere to physical distancing and public health requirements, due to
limited classroom space, many Fall 2020 courses will be delivered online or remote, and
may be available from home. Some courses will have in-person components – this
includes fully in-person or hybrid/blended. Some of these hybrid/blended
courses may be available to complete fully online. Please contact the
instructor if you have questions about that particular course.
Can I take my courses in-person instead of online? How do I change my schedule?
To maintain adequate physical distancing and keep our community safe, many University of Minnesota Fall 2020 courses will be online- or remote-only due to classroom space. While some courses may have an in-person component, you should expect the majority of your Fall 2020 courses to be online or remote. At this point in the summer, we do not recommend making changes to your Fall 2020 course schedule unless absolutely necessary. Many Fall 2020 courses are full – if you were to drop a course and not be able to find an open seat again, we cannot guarantee being able to get back into that course.
To maintain adequate physical distancing and keep our community safe, many University of Minnesota Fall 2020 courses will be online- or remote-only due to classroom space. While some courses may have an in-person component, you should expect the majority of your Fall 2020 courses to be online or remote. At this point in the summer, we do not recommend making changes to your Fall 2020 course schedule unless absolutely necessary. Many Fall 2020 courses are full – if you were to drop a course and not be able to find an open seat again, we cannot guarantee being able to get back into that course.
If you ultimately choose to change your schedule, it is
strongly recommended that you first reach out to your academic advisor to
discuss your options and plans. We do not recommend trying to
rebuild your entire schedule; instead, you can search for individual sections
of the course you would like to change – preferably a section that does not have a time conflict with your other courses – and make the change via the Swap function on
MyU. You can find step-by-step How-To Guides for searching for, enrolling, and
swapping courses here: https://onestop.umn.edu/how-guides#accord-1
When will I get more information about fall?
Many common questions can be answered on the
University's Fall 2020 info site. Please continue to watch your MyU Academics tab and your UMN email, as well.
Where can I find more information about different campus
services and their plans for Fall 2020 (i.e. housing, dining, health services,
etc.)?
Answers to questions regarding many campus services can be
found on the University's Fall 2020 info site.
Please contact the individual office for specific questions.
Where can I find more information on campus safety measures
being taken regarding COVID-19?
Information on steps campus is taking and expectations of
campus community members when on-campus can be found on the University's Fall 2020 info site.
How will I get my lab kit for CHEM 1065, CHEM 1066, PHYS 1301W, or PHYS 1302W?
- Chemistry (you can also find this information on your Chemistry Canvas site): You will pick up or be mailed your lab kit around the first week of classes. The Chemistry department will contact you via UMN email for an address to send your kit to, or, if you will be on or near campus during the first week of classes, you will be asked to come to campus to pick up your kit.
-Physics: You will purchase your lab kit through the U of M Bookstore. As of August 17, these kits are not yet available. You may order these for delivery, or for pick-up at the Bookstore. You will need to construct a ramp that will be 3-4 inches wide by 24-36 inches long. This can be done in a number of ways, including purchasing a long cardboard box made available through the Bookstore. Other options include purchasing a board, tipping a table to the appropriate angle, etc. If you have questions about the ramp construction, please contact your Physics instructor.
What about Welcome Week?
This year, Welcome Week has been expanded to Weeks of
Welcome. Virtual gatherings and information sessions that will connect you to
other incoming students and prepare you for your time at the University will be
held over the month of August and first week of September. More information can
be found here: https://ote.umn.edu/weeks-of-welcome
Please note that follow-up information from the University will come to your UMN email and MyU homepage. If you are a new incoming student, please make sure to have your UMN email set-up now (all UMN communications will come to your UMN email from this point on), and Duo access set-up by the time you start classes. You can find information on setting up your UMN email here: https://it.umn.edu/services-technologies/gmail. Duo information can be found here: https://it.umn.edu/services-technologies/how-tos/duo-enroll-duo-device.
Please contact your advisor if you have further questions.
