Lake Superior College to make masking optional as of Monday, March 7

Lake Superior College will be adjusting the masking protocol on all LSC campus locations effective Monday, March 7, 2022.

Based on updated guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Minnesota State system, and updated COVID-19 community levels from St. Louis County, Lake Superior College will be making masking optional as of Monday, March 7. Masking has been required at LSC, and all Minnesota State colleges and universities located in counties with high community levels, in recent months. As of Thursday, March 3, community levels in St. Louis County were reduced from a high level to a low level, allowing LSC to remove the mask mandate and instead make masking optional.

“I want to thank everyone for helping keep LSC safe and open during these challenging times,” said Lake Superior College President Patricia Rogers. “I know masking, social distancing, speaking through plexiglass, and endless zoom meetings have been challenging for these past two years, but now here we are! I am so pleased to officially lift the mask mandate as of Monday, March 7, 2022. We will, of course, continue to monitor the situation and must remain vigilant and flexible as things change around us. But for right now, beginning Monday, masking on campus is optional.”

Students, staff, faculty and campus guests who choose to continue to wear a mask will be fully supported. Lake Superior College also continues to strongly encourage all students and employees to get vaccinated and boosted, and continue to do all they can to help keep the campus community safe. College officials will continue to work closely with public health officials and community and state partners to monitors community levels and guidance. If community levels increase, masking may become required once again. Additional information and updates will continue to be posted on the website, www.lsc.edu/coronavirus. Questions and/or concerns can also be sent to [email protected].

Update from Minnesota State Chancellor Devider Malhotra – Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Dear Lake Superior College Colleagues and Student Workers,

Starting September 8, 2021 if your job requires you to be in the workplace (campus or system office); need access to the workplace (campus, system office, etc.) for more than 10 minutes; or otherwise provide Minnesota State college and university services outside of your home, you must either provide proof of being fully vaccinated or consent to, and participate in, weekly medical testing for the COVID-19 virus. Individuals who attest to the fact, and provide proof, that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are exempt from the mandatory COVID-19 testing process. Refusal to get mandatory testing as directed may result in denied entry to your workplace, being sent home and placed in no-pay status, and you may be subject to disciplinary action. We strongly encourage you to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

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Good Morning LSC Campus Community –

Welcome to Fall Semester 2021! As we begin the new academic year, please continue to help keep our campus community safe. Mask up and take the shot.

Mask Up, IceHawks

Please remember masks/face coverings are once again required inside public spaces on all Lake Superior College campus locations. Employees, students, and visitors, including contractors and vendors, are required to wear a face covering in public indoor settings inside college facilities, regardless of vaccination status. Signs are posted at every main entry point of campus – on all four campus locations, as well as throughout digital screens on campus as well as a reminder. If you happen to forget your mask (it happens, we understand), masks are available in many offices throughout campus including Student Life and the Advancement & External Relations Office. Thank you for your cooperation!

Take The Shot

Lake Superior College is a member of Minnesota State, which is following the guidance from the State of Minnesota and Minnesota Department of Health regarding vaccinations of students and employees. All state workers, including all LSC employees, must either be fully vaccinated or be tested for COVID every week beginning September 8. We are working to provide COVID testing on the main campus for those who have medical or other reasons for not getting the vaccine. In the meantime, employees are able to find additional information on available vaccines at www.mn.gov/covid19. While students are not currently required to be vaccinated (with exceptions in some programs, including some healthcare programs), we are strongly encouraging all students to get vaccinated as soon as possible, if you’re not already. We are working on our own LSC incentive program which will be announced in the coming week or two. In the meantime, the State of Minnesota recently extended its $100 reward program for people who get their COVID-19 vaccinations by another week. Now, any Minnesotan age 12 or older who gets their first shot through this Sunday, August 22, can claim a $100 Visa gift card at mn.gov/covid19/100. Anyone who has gotten their first shot since July 30 is also eligible. All you have to do is roll up your sleeves, and take the shot.

St. Louis County will be hosting a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on LSC’s main campus next Tuesday (8/24) and Wednesday (8/25), from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. Walk ins are welcomed! Second doses will then be given on Wednesday, September 15, also on LSC’s main campus. The County has been an outstanding community partner with Lake Superior College and encourages anyone with questions, concerns or anyone who just wants more information to contact them directly [email protected] or call (218) 726-2623. You can also just stop by and talk with them in person on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you do see them on campus, please join us in thanking them for all they, and all healthcare professionals, are doing to help keep us safe. We are grateful for their work and partnership.

The most effective way we can all help reduce the spread of COVID-19, avoid further restrictions, and ensure we can remain fully open and operational to successfully serve and support students as we move forward is to get vaccinated as soon as possible, if you’re not already. For more information on this and how to find a vaccine location, please visit mn.gov/covid19/. To stay updated on all the latest COVID-19 guidance at Lake Superior College, please visit www.lsc.edu/coronavirus and follow Lake Superior College’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or LinkedIn. Also, please feel free to send general questions to [email protected] and we can help forward them to the most appropriate contact.

Thanks for doing all you can to help keep yourself and others safe. We wish you a successful and safe fall semester!

Dear LSC Community:

By now you have all read the Chancellor’s message announcing the requirement for all state workers to either be fully vaccinated or be tested for COVID every week beginning September 8^th. We are working to establish processes for handling this requirement at LSC, and we are in communication with the system office to ensure that all processes follow MDH, State, and MinnState guidelines.

These processes include employees providing proof of vaccination and signing an attestation form (see https://mn.gov/mmb/employee-relations/laws-policies-and-rules/statewide-hr-policies/ for the COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination and testing policy #1446). We are working to make our local process as simple as it can be, and hope to have an electronic solution in place, as well as drop-in times for employees who prefer to meet with HR in person.

We are working to provide COVID testing on the main campus for those who have medical or other reasons for not getting the vaccine. This testing will be available is such a way that all work shifts will be able to take advantage of the testing during work hours. More details to follow soon.

We can do this, LSC!

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

Good Afternoon LSC Campus Community –

The health and safety of our campus community remains among our absolute highest priorities. As we prepare for the start of fall semester, we are again faced with having to take some additional steps in order to help keep our campus community as safe as possible.

As you have likely heard, the CDC and St. Louis County health officials announced yesterday afternoon that St. Louis County is experiencing substantial transmission of the surging Delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19, which means everyone is strongly recommended to again wear face masks in indoor, in public places, regardless of vaccination status. Substantial transmission is defined by the CDC as 50 or more cases in a week per 100,000 residents. As of yesterday, the case rate in St. Louis County has risen to 54.4 cases per 100,000 residents. While the rate in our county isn’t as high as some other counties throughout the state, it’s significant enough to cause great concern among our community partners at the County, as well as with local healthcare providers. To help put it in perspective, the County shared that currently in St. Louis County, 114,987 people have received at least their first dose of a COVID vaccine. This represents 67% of people over the age of 16. While that percentage continues to climb up in the right directly, frankly it isn’t climbing fast enough to prevent us from having to take additional measures to do everything we can to stop the spread in our community and on our campus community.

Much like the University of Minnesota system announced yesterday, campuses in the Minnesota State system are now implementing masking protocols consistent with the new CDC guidance. As Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra announced yesterday, “all of our colleges and universities are preparing to pivot toward masking protocols, consistent with CDC guidance. Currently, those protocols require employees, students, and visitors, including contractors and vendors, to wear a face covering in public indoor settings inside college or university facilities, regardless of vaccination status.”

For those reasons, Lake Superior College will once again require masks/facial coverings to be worn in public indoor settings on all four of our campus locations starting tomorrow, Wednesday August 4.

It is our sincere hope that this will be a temporary and short-lived requirement that will help us all, collectively as a community and beyond, reverse the current surge in cases and eventually return to more normal circumstances as soon as possible.

We still plan to offer all on campus and online course offerings and support services as planned this upcoming academic year, and believe there shouldn’t be any major further changes as long as everyone complies with the masking protocol and we are able to reduce the spread. We remain in close communication with the Minnesota State system, MDH, St. Louis County and various healthcare and community partners, all of whom will enforce at least a temporary mask mandate. Community partners including UMD, local hospitals, and the Duluth Chamber of Commerce are all moving this same direction so that, together, we can help keep our community safe.

The most effective way we can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and avoid these type of restrictions as we move forward is to get vaccinated as soon as possible, if you’re not already. Governor Walz announced that every Minnesotan who gets vaccinated between now and August 15 will get a $100 gift card. For more information on this and how to find a vaccine location, please visit mn.gov/covid19/.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. We’ve been through this before and handled it very well for the past year and half. I honestly believe, as long as we all do what we can to help keep ourselves and others safe, that this should be a fairly short-lived mask mandate. It makes sense to take this step now as cases increases again in our region, as well as with more and more faculty, staff and students returning to campus in the coming weeks. We will continue to monitor numbers and the situation closely and will continue to provide the most up to date information at lsc.edu/coronavirus. Please feel free to send any questions or concerns to [email protected] and we will help direct those to the best point of contact.

The top priority of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and Lake Superior College is protecting the health and safety of all students, employees, and community members while also enabling students to progress with their educational goals. We are as committed to these priorities as we have always been. I am so grateful for the work that so many are doing to help us prepare for a safe and successful semester.

Thank you for all YOU are doing to help support our students and each other.

We have this, LSC!

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President, Lake Superior College

Lake Superior College is open and staffed, health and safety precautions are in place, and we are ready to welcome IceHawks to campus when fall semester begins on August 22.

More Information

Lake Superior College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our students, faculty, staff, and members of our campus community. To ensure that, we have developed this Back-to-Campus Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic utilizing guidance offered in Emergency Executive Order 20-40, Allowing Workers in Certain Non-Critical Sectors to Return to Safe Workplaces.

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The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), which was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. In total, the CRRSAA authorizes $81.88 billion in support for education, in addition to the $30.75 billion expeditiously provided last spring through the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Lake Superior College administration, in close consultation with the LSC Student Senate and other student groups, has set up a disbursement plan to distribute more than half of the funding directly to students. The plan has been approved by President Rogers and the Minnesota State system office.

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The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is intended to provide relief to due to the impacts of COVID-19. The act contained provisions specifically intended to provide relief for higher education institutions and their students.

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To the extent reasonably possible, provide guidance for Minnesota State colleges, universities, and system office on balancing the risks for all students, employees and other visitors regarding entering campus enclosed facilities, including classrooms, offices and other building areas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Good Afternoon Lake Superior College Campus Community,

To protect the health and safety of students, employees and guests/community members from the threat resulting from the spread of COVID-19 to the extent reasonably possible, Minnesota State will be requiring mandatory web-based self-screening of all employees, students, contractors, and visitors prior to entering campus buildings for potential exposure to COVID-19 and symptoms of COVID-19 using a new electronic screening tool. This goes into effect starting on Monday, August 10. However, it’s clear some campuses may need more time to figure out the logistics so there will be a rollout period and some flexibility on the timeline. Our goal at Lake Superior College is to begin a soft launch of this new tool starting on Monday, August 10, in hopes of working out any issues prior to the start of the new semester on August 24.

Prior to this new electronic screening tool, we have been asking anyone coming on campus (students, employees and/or guests) to take the self-assessment and answer the four questions posted at the doors and online. This new electronic screening tool essentially replaces that now. It’s a quick, simple and completely online at http://minnstate.edu/CV19-LSC (we have also put a re-direct link right off our main LSC website lsc.edu/covid19selfassessment). You can complete it on your phone or on most electronic devices. Minnesota State just posted some additional information about the tool on their website, along with a tutorial video and a FAQ section. Here are a few examples from the FAQ section:

Who is required to use the tool?

Everyone who plans to visit any facility within the Minnesota State system, including all students, employees, visitors, contractors, and vendors, must complete the self-assessment before they arrive each day they will be on campus or at the workplace for longer than 15 minutes. This applies to all 54 Minnesota State campuses and the system office. Students who live on campus are required to complete the assessment every morning.

How does the tool work?

The tool will be available from the website of each college and university and MinnState.edu, and will be accessible from any device capable of interacting with a web page including most handheld devices. Users will be guided through a series of questions to identify COVID-19-related health risks. Individuals who pass the self-assessment will receive an email that reflects approval — anyone may be asked to show this email upon entering campus or the workplace, or at the beginning of a class. The application will inform individuals who do not pass the self-assessment that they should not come to campus or the workplace and will display campus-specific contacts and guidance on steps to take in order to protect health and safety.

What if an individual doesn’t have access to the tool electronically or doesn’t have a smart phone?

They could use a computer on campus within 15 mins of arriving and print out their results, or use a written tool once at campus.

The attached screen shoots have been provided by Minnesota State and help show how the process looks. The attached COVID Self-Assessment Posters are being placed in all main entry points on all LSC campuses. This information is also being shared on LSC’s website www.lsc.edu, social media and will discussed by supervisors and instructors. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to talk with your supervisors (employees) and instructors/advisors/Dean of Students (students) and you can always send general questions to [email protected] and we will help route them to the appropriate contact.

This information has also been updated in the Lake Superior College Back to Campus Preparedness Plan: https://www.lsc.edu/preparednessplan/. Here is that section:

Beginning August 10, 2020, employees and students are required to complete the COVID-19 Screening survey at: lsc.edu/covid19selfassessment before coming to the main campus or any Lake Superior College location. Every employee, student, and visitor to campus or the system office must complete the electronic health screening instrument adopted by Minnesota State each day prior to the initial entry to any college or university building or other designated confined campus space, including the system office. In the event that the electronic instrument is not available, a hard copy version of the electronic health screening instrument may be employed, or screening questions may be asked (see below). Employees and students are required to answer the screening questions truthfully and correctly to the best of their knowledge.

Employees and students should NOT come to any campus location if they are sick and/or believe any of these conditions apply to them: 1) they have a temperature or fever greater than 100.4 degrees 2) they have a new or worsening cough 3) are experiencing shortness of breath and/or 4) have been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days.

For students/faculty in the classroom and/or lab setting:

Before a student enters a classroom or lab, the faculty should ask if the students have completed the screening assessment, and if not, students should complete the assessment. In all other cases, at minimum, the following screening questions should be asked:

1. Do you have a temperature or fever greater than 100.4 degrees?
2. Do you have a new or worsening cough?
3. Are you experiencing shortness of breath?
4. Within the last 14 days, have you been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19?

If they answer no to all questions, or if they are approved by the screening assessment tool, the student may enter/remain in the program space. If they answer yes, the student must leave the premises immediately. If they need to wait for a ride, they should be directed to the designated waiting area on that campus (i.e. the Disabilities Services office area on main campus). Faculty should report such an incident to the Dean of Students or their Dean/supervisor immediately.

All of that information and future updates will continue to be posted on https://www.lsc.edu/coronavirus. Attached is also a Help Prevent the Spread handout, which is also available at https://www.lsc.edu/helppreventspread/. In addition to this new screening tool, consistent with the Governor’s Executive Order 20-81, all employees, students, and visitors are required to wear face coverings in all buildings as well as other designated spaces, except in locations or circumstances exempted under EO 20-81.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this unique time. Our top priority is the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, guests and community members. We appreciate your help in ensuring our campus is as safe and welcoming as possible.

Memo from Ron Anderson, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
To Academic and Student Affairs
June 9, 2020

SUBJECT: Fall 2020 Planning: New Media Code and Guidance for Course Delivery, Scheduling, and Coding

In response to campus requests, a new media code has been developed and is now available for campus use. This new media code (code 14, HyFlex), corresponds to new course delivery approaches for in-person instruction that includes remote synchronous options for student participation and/or remote asynchronous options (i.e., lecture capture for remote viewing). This HyFlex delivery mode meets eligibility requirements for veterans’ education benefits.

The information below builds upon previous guidance and scenario planning and provides further information about the use of the new media code, as well as planning considerations for program and course delivery, course scheduling, media coding, and associated tuition coding.

Assumptions

1. Campuses will be open for students fall semester, and delivering instruction and services both online and in-person (within the limitations established by Executive Order 20-73 and consistent with Minnesota OSHA Standards and MDH and CDC health, safety, and operational guidelines).
2. Campus planning will continue to focus on Scenario B outlined in earlier planning documents, while also including the development of contingency plans for shifting instruction and service delivery modes if conditions change and stricter gathering restrictions are required.

Guidance

1.  Due to gathering size limitations, courses typically delivered in-person will likely need to be offered as HyFlex (New Media Code 14) or Blended/Hybrid (Media Code 09) with preparation for in-person components to transition to remote synchronous and/or remote asynchronous delivery. In-person/remote synchronous components should be entered into the appropriate ISRS field, so students understand the course meeting requirements (full seat time for HyFlex or partial seat time for Blended/Hybrid). Online tuition differential is not applied to these courses (campuses should use the appropriate instructional unit type for in person courses).

NOTE: It is possible that current gathering size restrictions (i.e., gatherings of no more than 25 individuals) will be relaxed further in the coming weeks/months and allow for larger gatherings, though that is not a certainty. Campuses are encouraged to plan

in a manner that would provide flexibility in responding to such changes should they occur.

2. Courses that can be delivered intentionally online according to high standards of quality and rigor should be delivered as completely online asynchronous (Media Code 12) or completely online with synchronous components (Media Code 13). Online synchronous components should be entered into the appropriate ISRS field, so students understand the course meeting requirements. Online tuition differential is applied to these courses (campuses use appropriate instructional unit type).
3. Fall 2020 course schedules should be adjusted and finalized by late June, once 2020-2021 tuition and fee rates will are established and entered into ISRS
   1. If a course’s delivery mode changes after tuition and fees are assessed, campuses should communicate with students regarding those changes, particularly if online tuition differential is subsequently applied
   2. Any course delivery mode change occurring after fall semester begins should not change the tuition rate for a course or program already started
4. In service of equity goals, campuses are encouraged to identify local solutions to offset higher costs that may differentially impact students of color, first-generation, or low-income students. This might include the use of CARES funds, or the use of foundation funds to cover differential tuition expense for online courses typically offered in-person.

Dear LSC Community:

This is a very different June than any past years in the history of Minnesota State and Lake Superior College. We are in the double-fisted grip of two pandemics, and both are serious public health issues. Both pandemics have us staying at home when we can and/or when we are ordered to do so, both have dangerous consequences, and both have a history of causing fear and stress and death. One of these pandemics is the latest version of past viral infections, the other a much more ingrained and ongoing, frequently covert and insidious virus that infects our society’s policies, practices, and values.

What is LSC’s response to these two pandemics?

The first pandemic, COVID-19, is following patterns of infection and spread similar to the 1918 influenza, polio, SARS, and H1N1, to name a few of the more recent pandemics. LSC is carefully keeping to all of the required and recommended operations, health practices, and guidance from MDH, CDC, and own system office. You can read more details about our plans and practices at https://www.lsc.edu/coronavirus. Our current plans for fall are to be open and ready for students, with limited face-to-face time on campus, synchronous classes using zoom and other technologies, as well as asynchronous elements in classes. These options have been carefully planned by our faculty and Deans. We will have a robust fall semester, and it is modified to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible.

Does this mean LSC is returning to “normal?” No. Our plans are in response to the realities of the lingering pandemic and how we will move forward to ensure  the best outcomes for LSC students and for a healthy LSC. Those strategies and actions will continue to impact our future.

The other pandemic, systemic racism, is the pandemic that has been with this country throughout its history and is by far the more difficult to address. The latest manifestation of this public health hazard—please note: the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians emphasize that racism is a public health issue—once again this public health hazard has overtly expressed itself in the recent death of George Floyd. Right there in South Minneapolis, where my friends and friends of friends are mourning his death. Right there where, in the days after Mr. Floyd died, friends found charred wood in their own back yard, others found stashes of chemicals and rocks, and others now have no home left at all.

Where violent riots happened side by side with peaceful protest and daily neighborhood work at cleaning up and supporting each other: People delivering groceries and medications to those who have no transportation and no longer have access to local stores.

Does this mean Minnesota is returning to “normal?” I hope not! It should not mean that at all, because frankly “normal” is not working.

Please be assured, LSC will not return to normal regarding this particular health pandemic. Systemic racism requires those of us currently in leadership positions to respond, and our response is to strengthen our campus goals for true equity and inclusion. Thankfully, we have already begun this work as our LSC Strategic Plan aligned with Minnesota State’s Equity 2030 framework calls for plans with actions, not just “thoughts and prayers,” even when the latter response is heartfelt and well intended.

It is summer break. What can I do right now?

• Get involved with our Strategic Planning process when you come back in the fall. We need your good thinking!
• Become well-versed with the goals of Equity 2030.
• Attend an upcoming Minnesota State Zoom meeting on June 3, 2020 at 11:30-1pm, organized by the Minnesota State Indigenous Men & Men of Color Workgroup This is a strategy session to counter systemic racism within Minnesota State and in our communities.
• Get engaged with a team working on Equity by Design (the team is forming now! Watch for more information coming soon).
• Participate in upcoming campus and state-wide seminars, professional development opportunities, and discussions to develop your “equity lens.” More on this soon.
• Watch for more developments regarding other deliberate actions we will take to actively make systemic change.

In the coming days, I plan to meet with our local business and community leaders to discuss our city’s response and actions to make Duluth and our region safe, welcoming, and truly inclusive.  Together, we must strive to change the old “normal” to a mindful and more powerfully aware future, to be unafraid to name the infection of racism, and to be ready and willing to aggressively work to end the racism pandemic.

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

Good Afternoon LSC Campus Community-

A few campus facilities related updates as we begin to slowly and strategically open up a few offices to the public which had been previously closed due to COVID-19.

We have now received written guidance from the State’s Office of Higher Education (OHE) on the Governor’s recent executive order, 20-56. This is the order that allowed non-critical businesses to begin re-opening, including college courses to be taught with some updated restrictions.

The new guidance is available on OHE’s website. Below are some of the key points:

• Services and courses that can be delivered remotely should continue to be delivered remotely. Employees that can continue to work remotely, should continue to work remotely.
• For any activity in-person activity to resume, campuses need to have a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in place and must train employees on that plan. Masks and face coverings are encouraged, per MDH and CDC guidelines.
• Campuses can conduct in-person instruction in any credit and non-credit program, to all students, as long as the group size is no larger than 10 (including instructors and staff). This would include finishing any spring semester in-person instruction for students not covered by previous executive order 20-52, as well as new summer courses that require in-person instruction.
• Based on previous executive order 20-52, programs included in the list of higher ed programs in critical sectors providing in-person instruction to students in their final term are not subject to the gathering size limitation, and can hold courses of sizes larger than 10.
• Campuses can conduct other campus business, such as admissions visits for prospective students, as long as the group size is no larger than 10 and social distancing strategies are in place.

For this reason, we will have some limited offices re-opening to the public tomorrow, May 27, with limited hours and staffing.

As of tomorrow, Student Services will be open from 10 am – 2 pm, Monday – Friday. Social distancing will be enforced so there will not be any in-office meetings, but meetings can be arranged in the Welcome Room and/or an available conference room. The Business Office will also be open daily from 10 am – 2 pm. The LSC Bookstore will now be open 10 am – 1 pm on the following days:  May 27 – 28, June 1 – June 5, and then every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from June 8 – July 10.

The main entrance and the S building entrance will be the only doors open from the outside, and some sections of campus including the H Building and T Building will still largely be closed to the public, including students, unless arrangements are made with faculty or staff. Other campus locations (ERTC, Downtown, and the Center for Advanced Aviation) will also remain closed to the general public.

The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) bus route to LSC has now resumed. The bus is now dropping off and picking up riders in front of the S Building, at the S-1 door. The DTA typically has three routes servicing LSC’s main campus: Routes 5, 8 and 9MT. At this time, the DTA will only be servicing routes 8 and 9MT. The DTA is still offering free fares to all riders.

Required Notice:

Everyone who enters the campus will see the required (by the State of Minnesota) Tennessen Notice signage posted on the doors, as well as on digital signs throughout campus. This notice informs anyone entering campus that they may be asked a series of questions and that the data is classified as private under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. We will use this information to screen individual seeking admission to campus for potential health risks to try to avoid the potential spreading of contagious diseases including COVID-19. The data helps LSC officials determine whether risk factors are present and whether you will be denied admission for the protection of students, staff and/or the public. This is not a COVID-19 test and is not a determination of whether or not an individual is infected with or has been exposed to COVID-19. This data will be gathered and reviewed by agency staff, including non-medical personnel, in deciding whether to permit you admission to the campus. You are not legally required to provide this data and providing the data is voluntary. However, if you refuse to provide the data, you will not be admitted and/or allowed to remain on campus. The data collected from you may be shared with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities staff collecting the data, HR staff, campus safety administrator, administration, and other persons or entities authorized by law.

The questions are posted on the signs:

1. Do you have a temperature or fever greater than 100.4 degrees?
2. Do you have a new or worsening cough?
3. Are you experiencing shortness of breath?
4. Within the last 14 days, have you been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19?

If you answer no to all questions, you may enter/remain on campus.

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you must leave the premises immediately. Students who answer yes to any question, please contact your instructor for further details. Employees who answer yes to any of these questions, please contact your supervisor and/or HR for more detail.

Thank you for your cooperation as we all work together to stop the spread of COVID-19. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] and we will route your question to the best source.

As per the previously shared May 13, 2020: COVID-19 Back-to-Campus Preparedness Plan, posted on the website: 

Employees and students have been informed that they are required to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being implemented to assess the health status of employees and students prior to entering campus and for employees and students to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms.

Employees and students should NOT come to any campus location if they are sick and/or believe any of these conditions apply to them: 1) they have a temperature or fever greater than 100.4 degrees 2) they have a new or worsening cough 3) are experiencing shortness of breath and/or 4) have been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days. 

For students/faculty in the classroom and/or lab setting:
Before a student enters a classroom or lab, the instructor should ask the following questions to confirm:

1. Do you have a temperature or fever greater than 100.4 degrees?
2. Do you have a new or worsening cough?
3. Are you experiencing shortness of breath?
4. Within the last 14 days, have you been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19?

If they answer no to all questions, the student may enter/remain in the program space.  If they answer yes, the student must leave the premises immediately. If they need to wait for a ride, they should be directed to the designated waiting area on that campus (i.e. the Disabilities Services office area on main campus). Faculty should report such an incident to HR immediately.

For employees:
Employees must follow the normal process of informing supervisors if they are sick or experiencing symptoms while at home or on campus. If an employee feels sick and/or feel that any of the four criteria outlined above apply to them, they must notify their supervisor immediately and contact HR. They may be required to complete COVID-19 related leave paperwork. If the employee is on campus when he/she feels sick and/or feels any of the above criteria applies to them, they must contact HR and will then be escorted to a designated waiting area (i.e. the Disabilities Services office area on main campus.) The employee and/or supervisor should report such an incident to HR immediately.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and patience. All of this information and updates are posted at www.lsc.edu/coronavirus. Please send any questions not addressed on the website to [email protected] and we will route your question to the most appropriate contact.

Thanks again.

FAQs from Minnesota State system are available on their website
FAQs from the Office of Higher Education are available on their website

If my class is moved from face-to-face to online, will I get a discount or refund?
Minnesota State is implementing alternative modes of delivery that will minimize person-to-person interaction while allowing students to complete Spring semester courses. Although the delivery mode of a course and the way services are being delivered are changing as a result of this unprecedented situation, we have established a path to allow students to complete spring semester 2020. As such, upon completion of the semester, students will receive credit for completing their courses.

Will libraries and computer labs be open to those of us staying in campus housing during the Stay At Home order?
All instruction and student support services will be available while the Stay At Home order is in effect. That includes libraries, computer labs, and student support. (Some of those services could be delivered online and/or on campus, but services should remain available)

I’m a student and I am very stressed or anxious about this situation. Where can I get help?
This is a challenging time and many of us are feeling stress or anxiety. United Healthcare is offering a free emotional support help line for all students through Optum, one of their subsidiary companies. Their 24/7 toll-free helpline number, (866) 342-6892, is free of charge and open to any student.

I am an employee. Will I get paid during the Stay At Home?
At this time yes, but how you get paid depends on your individual situation. At this time, Minnesota State intends to provide paid leave to employees who are being directed to stop performing their job duties by a Stay At Home directive. Unless directed to continue working by your supervisor, either as an essential employee or working remotely, employees who report their hours should begin to charge their time to payroll earnings code, CVD – Covid-19 Paid Leave.
Employees who do not regularly report their hours of work, but do report absences from work (faculty and administrators for example), should report this time as CVD – Covid-19 Paid Leave if they are directed to stop working.  Paid COVID-19 Leave is authorized in place of the employee’s normal work schedule until the shelter-in-place order is lifted or you are otherwise notified to return to work.

I’m an employee and I am very stressed or anxious about this situation. Where can I get help?
Employees may seek support through the Employee Assistance Program available at no cost.

What about students who have no or limited access to technology or broadband?
Equity in access to technology has been a primary concern as we move courses to alternative delivery modes. Minnesota State has asked campuses to remain open to students so that they can campuses resources, including broadband, computer labs, and technology.

What will occur with concurrent enrollment courses?
Academic and Student Affairs staff have been in communication with Minnesota Department of Education, and they are developing guidance on how to proceed. We are also developing guidance and are in communication with NACEP. We will follow up once we have more information.

What if students are unable to complete course and/or program requirements this semester?
Faculty should work with students who have program requirements disrupted because of the suspension of normal in-person classes or the closure of a host organization, such as a business, clinic, hospital, or school where off-campus learning occurs. Minnesota State will be in contact with state licensing agencies to work on behalf of colleges and universities to address these situations, though that does not preclude individual campuses contacting those agencies when needed.

Updated Information for LSC employees from Lake Superior College Human Resources
Updated information regarding new codes for tracking time spent on pandemic planning and paid leave related to Covid-19.  Additional information can be found in the Tracking COVID-19 Activities and Absences Reference Guide.
C19 – COVID-19 Mitigation Planning: AVAILABLE NOW

• Who Should Use It:  Employees involved with work activities related to COVID-19 planning and mitigation for Minnesota State or any of its institutions; this would including meetings, phone calls, conferences, development, and activities.
• When it Should Be Used: Mitigation Planning Code is available for use effective February 19 and will be available until pandemic planning efforts cease, as determined by system leadership.

CVD – Paid COVID-19 Leave: IN DEVELOPMENT; WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PPE 3/31

• Who Should Use It:  Employees using paid leave for reasons related to COVID-19.  Reasons include K-12 School Closures/Child Care Needs, Health Leave for Employees and Dependents, Distance Leave due to required quarantine and institution closure.
• When it Should Be Used:  Paid COVID-19 Leave is available for use effective March 18 and will be available until the COVID-19 peacetime emergency is terminated.

Here is a link to information that can be shared with employees. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your direct supervisor and/or the administrator in charge of your department. If they’re not able to answer your question, please feel free to contact Judi or LeAnn in the HR department.

Updates about Travel & Returning to Campus

• As of March 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its Novel Coronavirus Travel Information. Most countries in Europe have now been designated at Level 3 (meaning avoid all unnecessary travel), along with China, Iran, and South Korea. The rest of the world, including the United States, has now been designated at Level 2 (practice enhanced precautions) as a Global Outbreak Notice.
• All international travelers are being asked to self-isolate before returning to campus. See tips for self-isolating practices. In addition, if you plan on returning to work on campus, you must also email your supervisor to inform them of any recent travels and potentially explore options as appropriate for an alternative work arrangement (i.e., staying home, teleworking or staggering work schedules).

Dear LSC Community:

Today’s update is all about students, which means it is all about the LSC Community!

By now you have heard that on Monday May 10, Governor Walz issued a new Executive Order (20-52) that allows limited face-to-face instruction in programs that prepare people in “critical sectors.” Most of the technical and professional programs at LSC fall within the listing of critical sectors. This week, as we begin the process of bringing students and staff back to campus for limited face-to-face instruction, we will keep everyone updated on how our plans are working, what changes and adjustments may be made, and how these changes will influence and inform our summer programming (go to the website at: lsc.edu/coronavirus). As you can imagine, this process involves the entire campus community and millions of details concerning safe and deliberate adherence to MDH and CDC and Minnesota State guidance on how LSC will conduct classes and manage support services, adjust cleaning schedules and building operations on the main campus and its satellite locations downtown, the airport, and ERTC.

The great news is, LSC will be able to graduate more students this spring! Due to the nature of their disciplines, many of these students will complete the required face-to-face hours they need to graduate with the rest of the 2020 class. And these students will be able to immediately move into these critical sector positions in which they are so desperately needed.

On behalf of our faculty, staff, and friends of LSC, congratulations to all of our 2020 graduates! Your success is our success. You have made it to a real milestone in your career path. We know you will be successful because you are already successful! You next steps are filled with excitement and anticipation of a bright future. We are proud of you and we will always be here for you. You will always be a part of the IceHawk family.

On May 18, 2020, the city of Duluth will light up the lift bridge with LSC teal blue in honor of your graduation. If you are not in town and would like to view this wonderful sight, I suggest you use one or more of the webcams provided by Visit Duluth. We are grateful to Mayor Larson for her leadership with this very special tribute!

Faculty and staff, I hope you also take a look at the bridge on May 18th. The students have worked hard, and you certainly have worked hard. This wonderful tribute is to you as well. Think about how much we have accomplished, how much we have learned since the beginning of the peacetime emergency.

My sincere thank you to everyone at LSC for your dedication and caring. My deep appreciation to the entire faculty and staff for their work to support our students through this challenge. My humble admiration and heartfelt gratitude for our campus leadership: union leaders, student senate leaders, program directors, vice-presidents, deans, supervisors. And let’s all thank our dedicated staff who keep the facilities humming along with extra cleaning and attention to common spaces.

And my thank you and admiration to our students for their bravery and willingness to move into new ways of attaining the dream. You did it! Be proud, IceHawks!

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

Dear LSC Community:

Thank you for the positive comments and emails regarding the May 1 campus update. Some of what Pema Chödrön discussed in the quote I included touched a number of you, and I’d like to build on that for a bit.

It is true that we are all tired of being stuck in place (literally and figuratively), even though there is a lot of positive action going on. It often feels very much like standing still or hesitating with so many question marks and too few concrete answers. Reaching into our reservoir of courage to deal with the here and now is essential, as is realizing that things are actually always changing despite our fear or anxiety about change.

It is interesting, isn’t it? We want this whole COVID thing to change, because it seems to be too permanent. Yet in other areas, we fight against change because change is scary, frustrating, hard, or puzzling. Why can’t things just stay the same?

Change is a reality of life, even as we hold dear certain perceptions of permanence. That is a basic Buddhist teaching: nothing is really permanent: Not the forest, or any political situation, or the rocky shore of Lake Superior.

To better illustrate my point, let me go back just once more to Pema Chödrön’s Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves From Old Habits and Fears:

“ Nothing is static and permanent. And that includes you and me. We know this about cars and carpets, new shirts and DVD players, but are less willing to face it when it comes to ourselves, or to other people. We have a very solid view of ourselves, and also very fixed views about others. Yet if we look closely, we can see that we aren’t even slightly fixed. In fact, we are as unfixed and changing as a river. For convenience, we label a constant flow of water the Mississippi or the Nile, very much the way we call ourselves Jack or Helen. But that river isn’t the same for even a fraction of a second. People are equally in flux—I am like that, and so are you. Our thoughts, emotions, molecules are continually changing” (p.63).

Think of the changes we have been through in the last two months. Think of yourself and your mindset in January of 2020. Then you in March. Then April, and now May. You know you are not the same person today with the same mindset and the same skills you had back in December or January. If you had not changed, you would likely be unable handle today’s reality. Your January self could not cope with the realities of May 7. Thus, you have faced change and you continue to flow. You are successful today and ready for tomorrow.

So find time to celebrate! You are a river, you are the seasons, you are a human capable of handling changes because you are able to adapt and learn and grow with change. There is no need for either fear or frustration with change. Change simply is.

As our situation changes, as the stay home order eases, as staff, faculty and students find new ways to help and support each other in our college environment; we will tap our courage reservoir and keep moving forward.

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President

Dear LSC Community:

By now you may have heard that yesterday Governor Walz extended the stay home order until May 18th. He is easing some holds on small businesses that can deliver or rent their goods using curbside pickup or delivery.

You may also be aware that one academic program, law enforcement, was previously approved as a test case across our system for implementing limited face-to-face instruction (with cautious and deliberate guidelines) for the skills portion of the program. With this modified order, the Governor and the Minnesota State Chancellor are letting us know that LSC made the right decision to operate our current online and limited campus for the rest of spring semester.

I know you are tired of this situation and very much want to “make it all go away.” You want clarity and date-certain plans. We all do! Yet our reality right now is to continue in the best way we can just as we are. When we have any new information or are given the “go ahead” for any face-to-face options, we certainly will inform the entire campus community.

But please don’t think everything is just static and nothing is happening. There is so much going on, it’s hard to track! Deep cleaning work and clearing away projects. Great discoveries in connecting with students, new and highly successful ideas for creative enrollment management and retention, amazing marketing and recruitment, faculty and staff calling both prospective and current students just to be in touch and lend encouragement and advice. Zippy Hour. Meditation. Outstanding video presentations.

Every day I see examples like these as a testament to your dedication to LSC and our students. Even your frustration (and mine) about the situation stems from your very real caring for the lives and futures of our students.

The great work going on here at LSC was on my mind during my reading hours. I came across this quote from Pema Chödrön in Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves From Old Habits and Fears:

“Deep down in the human spirit there is a reservoir of courage. It is always available, always waiting to be discovered.

In the last years of his life, Chögyam Trungpa taught unceasingly on the very real possibility of creating enlightened society—a society where individuals cultivated unconditional friendliness for themselves and unconditional caring for others. It is true that when we try to do either of these things, we find that it’s not so easy. The resistance to accepting ourselves and to putting others’ welfare first is surprisingly strong. Nevertheless, he spoke with enthusiasm and confidence about our remarkable capacity to be spiritual warriors, fearless men and women who can help to heal the sorrow of the world” (p.95).

Recognize your frustration with this COVID crisis situation for what it is: an argument with reality.

So come on! Each of you has already tapped into your reservoir of courage when together we made this major change over the extended spring break. You accepted the fact that some of what we did was maybe not so perfect, yet it was and remains quite effective. You put our students’ welfare ahead of your own, ahead of your fears and worries. Based on Chögyam Trungpa’s teaching, you are spiritual warriors striving for an enlightened society. And it’s not so easy, but we now know that we can do this!

The planning for re-entry is well underway. These plans prioritize not only academic programs but also include the other services necessary to support more students back on campus and campus locations. You will hear more about that soon, as the group has begun sharing the outline with Administrator’s Council, Faculty Shared Governance, and other groups. Watch the website for more information.

So keep going. Find the courage to roll with this a while longer until we know more and are able to do more.We are ready for action, and right now our action is focused on doing our very best for the last weeks of spring semester.

We have this, folks!

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

Dear LSC Community:

Well, we have reached the end of another busy, and very quiet, week as an online College. I personally have much to reflect upon these days, as April is my birthday month. As with all of you celebrating birthdays or other milestones, I am sad that my wife and I cannot join our families and friends in one of our more traditional “birthday bash” parties. In my family, we celebrate all of the monthly birthdays together, with April and May being our “biggest bash ever.” With friends scattered around the country and the globe, we often make travel plans and fun meet-ups in various locations. But for this April 2020, we pop into Zoom, we use the phone, we send cards and gifts to each other. Right, that’s not quite the same, yet we are still connected, still in touch, and very much mutually supportive.

That is also what we, your Lake Superior College family, strive for: keeping each of you connected and supported, keeping you informed, and keeping you on track to finish your spring semester. And the very good news, dear LSC students: we are getting some help from the federal government as well.

In the next few days, all of you will hear more about the CARES Act, and how each college and university in Minnesota will distribute some monetary relief for students. Our team at LSC is working hard right now to get these funds and the award plan in place before the end of this month. Stay tuned to the website www.lsc.edu/coronavirus for more information. And students, please watch your emails, cell phones, and other devices for more information regarding your award.

More good news: we continue to move forward with plans for summer and fall semester. We will likely be 100% online this summer and likely primarily online in fall. It all depends on the Governor’s stay home order as well as our LSC care and caution in adding face-to-face components to the schedule. Right now, I am asking that our Contingency Planning Task Force, Student Senate Leaders, and some key campus leaders to meet soon to draft a “re-entry” plan for moving our campus safely and carefully, and in staged steps, toward limited face-to-face instruction. Keep in mind, it isn’t as simple as opening a classroom and teaching a class. Bringing more people back to campus means more need to be aware of physical distancing, management and cleaning of the facility, more access to various student and employee services, and more people who need to be on campus to handle these classes and services.

Phasing in our face-to-face teaching, learning, and working environment will take good cross-campus planning. We need great College-level thinking. And I know we can do this!

I will close this update with a few lines from a very interesting old book called Physics as Metaphor, by Roger S. Jones:

“It is for us to decide whether it shall be our dreams or our nightmares that will come to pass. …The hidden potentiality of the human mind and our collective imaginings is staggering. It is for us to decide to use that potentiality, that creative imagination, for the betterment of the world, not for its destruction” (p. 202).

We continue to persevere. We continue to thrive within the COVID-19 context in which we find ourselves. We will use our potentiality and creative imaginations to shape and create our future. We will imagine amazing things and make our best dreams come to pass!

Stay safe, enjoy the sunshine.

Pleasant dreams!

Email from Registrar to Faculty
Wednesday, April 15, 2020, 3:59 p.m.

Dear Faculty,

Attached you will find information outlining updates to Grading Options for this spring term. Students were sent this information today.

As you will see, students have the option to switch their grading method to Pass/No Credit instead of the traditional letter grade. It is important to note that students MUST complete the attached Pass/No Credit Request form and connect with an advisor in order to do this. Students will be allowed to do this until June 23, 2020.

If students choose to elect this option, you will not need to do anything. The grades will be changed in the Records Office after the form is approved.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this process. We are happy to help in any way that we can.

Sincerely,

Melissa Leno
Registrar
Lake Superior College
(218) 733-5903
[email protected]
Please note change in email address.

Email to all students and employees
Friday, April 10, 2020, 11:16 a.m.

Dear LSC Community:

We have arrived at April 10th, a date we had hoped would see much improvement in the outlook for Minnesota, and indeed it has helped the situation. On Wednesday, Governor Walz correctly extended the “stay home” order for most Minnesotans which means our current 100% online College is still in effect.

Knowing that many of you are concerned about the face to face (F2F) components of classes and services, the LSC cabinet has determined that for the remainder of spring semester, any and all instruction that has been migrated to an online/alternative delivery mode will stay that way for the remainder of the spring term and will not revert to in-person instruction. Even if the Governor lifts the “stay home” order on May 4th, we will finish our semester as we are currently operating. The College will work with faculty to implement a plan to move all remaining spring semester instruction with required F2F components into the summer. That of course causes a bit of challenge for summer session.

Summer session:

It is unrealistic to think that we can simply start F2F as usual in the summer. It is actually (and frustratingly!) too early to tell if and when we can return to any F2F instruction in the summer.

For this reason, we will limit our plans for in-person instruction to those classes that cannot be delivered without a F2F component, such as flight lessons, clinicals, etc. I suggest that it would be wise to consider further limiting any summer F2F to only those classes that were unable to meet their F2F requirements in the spring. Adding more new F2F in summer could have difficult implications for fall. If any F2F is offered in summer, it is likely to be feasible only during the late summer session. Academic Affairs will work with faculty to explore scenarios and make tentative plans with alternatives. We include long-term plans, should the “stay home” order extend into fall semester.

Our best choice: All summer classes that can be delivered in an online/alternative delivery mode will be scheduled fully online/alternative modes, with no F2F requirements. This means that Academic Affairs will make additional adjustments to the summer schedule, changing delivery modes and possibly cancelling a few classes. The good news is, most of our summer classes are already scheduled to be fully online.
Special cases for spring and summer:

INTERNSHIPS: These are off-campus and therefore, per recent guidance from the Office of Higher Education (OHE), student internships can continue only when the following two conditions are met:

1. The business or agency at which the student is interning falls within one of the 16 critical industry sectors (CIS) identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, AND
2. The position in which the student is interning qualifies under DEED’s critical worker exemption.

The business or agency itself is responsible for certifying that these conditions are met.

CECT: On-campus continuing education and customized training courses cannot be offered while the state is under a stay at home order. However, per recent guidance from the Office of Higher Education (OHE), off-site training can be offered when the following two conditions are met:

1. The business or agency that is contracting for the training is within one of the 16 critical industry sectors (CIS) identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, AND
2. The workers enrolled in the training hold positions that qualify under DEED’s critical worker exemption.

The business or agency itself is responsible for certifying that these conditions are met.

Going forward:

As a campus community, we must have a re-entry plan for carefully easing into limited F2F instruction, eventual larger F2F classes, and more F2F services. That means we will continue with many of the recommended health practices and precautions in place well into Fall 2020-Spring 2021. And as stated above, very few courses will be allowed to move to “normal” large group F2F initially. We will proceed with care, and with an abundance of caution.

Over the next week or two, the cabinet plans to call the Contingency Task Force back together, along with other key campus leaders to develop an outline for our safe return to F2F instruction and services. This plan will evolve as new information is received from CDC, MDH, Minnesota State and other sources. Each of you can support this plan by thinking about how you will personally contribute to that safe return for everyone. What might you do as a Lake Superior College community member to ensure the safety and well-being of yourself and your campus community colleagues?

I know this situation is always changing, constantly evolving, and can be quite confusing. At the same time, I have seen so many people rise to the call to greatness and make the best of the situation. While the building is eerily silent, there is so much amazing and positive activity going on. Keep calm, carry on, and thank you for your continuing efforts. We’ve got this!

April 9, 2020
Memo to Minnesota State Presidents from
Ron Anderson, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs

Updated Academic and Student Services Continuity Guidance
This memorandum provides an update to current guidance to campuses relative to academic
and student services continuity. Updates and new guidance appear in red text.

Updated Guidance: Spring Semester Classes and Services
As of Monday, April 6th all spring semester courses are being delivered via online or alternative delivery modes. No in-person instruction is occurring on campus. Similarly, student and academic support services are being provided online, on the phone, and through other technology-based communication forms such as email and videoconferencing. The only in- person services offered on campus at this time are access to technology, and access to food pantries or other basic need supports.
For those spring semester courses with outstanding in-person instructional components that need to occur before the course can be completed, there are two completion options for institutions to consider as they plan for the resumption of in-person instruction:

1. Option A: Leave open the possibility of resuming in-person instruction, communicating your intent to resume that instruction as soon as practical after the stay at home order is lifted (recognizing that this may occur prior to the end of the spring semester or after the end of the term)
   OR
2. Option B: Make the determination now that you will not resume in-person instruction during spring semester, but rather at some later date during the summer or concurrently during fall semester.

Presidents have the authority to make these determinations now, and are encouraged to do so and to communicate that decision to faculty and students as soon as feasible.
As an additional point of clarification, those courses that have moved to fully online or distance delivery (i.e., all courses other than those referenced above) should continue to be delivered in this mode throughout the remainder of the spring semester, even if the current stay at home is lifted prior to the end of the term.
Minnesota State is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and educator

Updated Guidance: Continuing Education and Customized Training
On-campus continuing education and customized training courses cannot be offered while the state is under a stay at home order. However, per recent guidance from the Office of Higher Education (OHE), off-site training can be offered when the following two conditions are met:

1. The business or agency that is contracting for the training is within one of the 16 critical industry sectors (CIS) identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,
   AND
2. The workers enrolled in the training hold positions that qualify under DEED’s critical worker exemption.

The business or agency itself is responsible for certifying that these conditions are met. Additional questions about eligibility should be directed to Trent Janezich at [email protected].

New Guidance: Student Internships
Per recent guidance from the Office of Higher Education (OHE), student internships can continue only when the following two conditions are met:

1. The business or agency at which the student is interning falls within one of the 16 critical industry sectors (CIS) identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, AND
2. The position in which the student is interning qualifies under DEED’s critical worker exemption.

The business or agency itself is responsible for certifying that these conditions are met.

Additional Guidance: Technology Access
Students should continue to have access to technology on campus throughout the duration of the stay-at-home order. However, not all students will have the ability or desire to come to campus for that purpose. Campuses should develop an outreach strategy to identify students who do not have access to computers and/or to the internet away from campus. Faculty should work with those students to identify, where possible, an alternative method of communication and possible instruction that does not rely on technology, presumably in a correspondence delivery mode. Our goal remains to complete the spring semester on the previously-identified end dates as outlined on our academic calendar. It is important that students without access to technology should not be penalized or suffer negative academic consequences during this period.
We encourage campuses to designate a limited number of specific spaces for computer and internet access that will be open to students, and to clearly communicate that information to faculty, staff, and students. In determining those designated spaces, pay close attention to both physical safety and ADA accessibility needs. Some of our colleges and universities are also making access to the internet or devices available to Minnesota State students who may be sheltering closer to a campus that is not their own. A list of those colleges and universities and what they can offer your students can be found on the Student Continuity site.

To financially support campus efforts to enhance access and student’s ability to complete online coursework, ASA and Finance have expanded the parameters of acceptable use for FY20 leveraged equipment funds to include:

1. on-campus computers for general use for students to participate in online classes
2. campus laptop leasing or loan programs for students or faculty
3. software purchases for instructional purposes or to protect testing integrity
4. laboratory equipment to support non-campus based learning, e.g., take home lab kits, simulation equipment or software, etc.

Mary Rothchild has provided more detailed guidance on these changes to key campus contacts. Additional questions should be directed to Mary at [email protected].

Updated Guidance: Campus Libraries
Library functions and services should continue to be delivered online for the remainder of the semester. Library facilities should be open to students, faculty, and staff only if they are needed as points of access to computers and technology. In such cases, it is expected that physical distancing be observed, and that all appropriate health and safety precautions are taken, following MDH and CDC guidelines.

New Guidance: Student Work Study
Guidance on paying student workers who are unable to work because of COVID-19 impacts was issued on March 23, 2020. Since then, new state legislation has been enacted that aligns state work study guidelines with federal work study guidelines, and today (April 9, 2020) the Office of Higher Education provided guidance to campus financial aid administrators outlining that alignment as well as other temporary modifications to state financial aid programs. Contact your campus financial aid director for details on this new guidance.

Updated Guidance: Course Placement
Extensive updated guidance on course placement testing was provided on April 7th. Most significant in the guidance was the announcement of a free remote proctoring option now available for students to complete the Accuplacer test online. Recognizing that some students do not have access to technology, however, guidance continues to allow for the use of cumulative high school GPA as a standalone measure of readiness when standardized test scores are not available, and for students without a reportable high school GPA (e.g., adult learners) to self-determine placement.

Updated Guidance: Summer Term
Given the anticipated progression of COVID-19 over the months ahead, it is unlikely that MDH and CDC guidance on public gatherings will be broadened sufficiently to allow for the full resumption of face-to-face instruction during the summer term. As such, the delivery mode of all summer course offerings must be modified to be either:

• Fully online, or
• Online with limited in-person instructional components (i.e., those that are critical to course objectives and cannot be delivered in an alternative format). Campuses should develop contingency plans for completing those necessary in-person instructional components in the event that another stay at home order is issued during the summer term–completing those components either between summer and fall semesters, or during fall semester.
  Campuses should continue delivering academic and student support services remotely and with only limited face to face interaction. In the event that another stay at home order is issued during the summer term, campuses should also be prepared to pivot to exclusively online academic and student support delivery.

New Guidance: Grading
Although there is no Board of Trustees policy governing grading practices, we are providing the following general principles for campuses to follow in considering grading options:

• Provide greater flexibility in the use of incomplete (I) or in-progress (IP) grades, allowing students additional time to complete course requirements where appropriate.
• Campuses are strongly encouraged to lift their local pass/fail (P/F), pass/no credit (P/NC); satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U), satisfactory/no credit (S/NC), or credit/no credit (CR/NC) grading restrictions, up to and including the possibility of allowing students to opt for P/F, P/NC, S/U, S/NC, or CR/NC grades for all of their courses this semester. Campuses changing this practice should identify downstream impacts and implications for other academic progress and related policies, and take steps to adapt those policies as appropriate to ameliorate possible negative consequences for students.
• Modifications to P/F, P/NC, S/U, S/NC, or CR/NC policies should be developed in consultation with faculty, department heads, deans, registrars, and other relevant administrators.
• Students should have choice in changing the grading options, and a reasonable time frame for making that choice.
• Campuses should develop a comprehensive approach to advising students of the potential impacts that “P,” “S,” and “CR” grades may have on their academic standing, as well as graduate school and licensure requirements that may limit acceptance of such grades. IT work is underway to create the ability to retain the original letter grades faculty record for these students, while transcripting either “P,” “S,” or “CR” grades per the student’s choice. This would allow us to later report on actual grades awarded if students needed such confirmation down the road.
• All Minnesota State institutions must accept spring 2020 grades of “P,” “S,” or “CR” in undergraduate transfer. This includes counting those courses toward major requirements, as well as toward graduation requirements and any other purposes that impact a student’s academic standing or progression.

Associate Vice Chancellors Glass and Green-Stephen have developed a more detailed guidance document that highlights key considerations for campuses as they review their current practices and consider broadening the use of dichotomous grading options like pass/fail. This guidance will be sent to campus SAOs, SSAOs, and registrars later today, under separate cover.
Later this year ASA and Equity and Inclusion will convene a workgroup to address equity in grading policy and practice across the system, with the charge of developing long-term policy and practice recommendations.

Updated Guidance: Extension of Last Day to Withdraw Deadline
The last day to withdraw from spring 2020 courses has been extended to the 90% completion point of each course. Changes to ISRS were completed on April 1, and the date has been re- calculated for all course.
Additional Guidance: Declaring the semester complete
Campuses do not have the authority to unilaterally declare the spring semester complete at a given point in time other than the predetermined final day of the semester. As has been our approach throughout this public health crisis, we want to respond with as much consistency across the system as possible, and remain committed to our collective intent of completing the semester as planned and getting as many students as possible through to completion of the term. Should circumstances arise that make this impossible, the campus president and Chancellor will discuss the most appropriate course of action.
Campuses do, however, have the discretion to determine whether or not enough of a particular course has been completed to warrant the issuance of a grade and declare that particular course complete. Campuses must determine a consistent process for making this determination, and must include both faculty and academic administration in the decision- making process. A record of these determinations and the rationale for them should be created and maintained for accreditation purposes. Campuses will also be asked to provide a record of these determination to ASA by the end of the semester.

cc: Chancellor Malhotra Cabinet
Senior Academic and Student Affairs Officers

Email to all students and employees
Friday, April 3, 2020, 3:12 p.m.

Good Afternoon LSC Campus Community –

Just a reminder: As Lake Superior College receives updated information about how COVID-19 is impacting operations from the Minnesota State system office and other government and healthcare partners, we will continue to update the website: www.lsc.edu/coronavirus as well as provide updates through official emails like this one and through other official LSC communication channels including our official social media accounts. If you have questions related to COVID-19 and impacts at LSC that are not addressed on the website, please send them to [email protected] and they will be routed to the appropriate contact.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this first week of classes resuming (through distance learning). We know it’s a challenging and uncertain time for everyone, and have truly been impressed and grateful for how well our faculty, staff and students have adapted. Thank you!

Here are the latest updates: Out of an abundance of caution we have closed down the S building main entrance the rest of the today, Friday, April 3, to allow for needed cleaning in the main lobby of the S building. This is only for the remainder of today and the first floor of the S building will be reopened on Monday morning (see hours below) for student and employee access. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Other updates as of April 3, 2020:

• Campus access, hours of operation, and staffing levels will be limited until further notice. Going forward, public and student access to main campus will be limited to the first floor of the S Building, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Hours of operation for employees will be limited to Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) This will allow students to access Student Services and other resources. Room S165 has been made into a computer lab. There is often staff on-hand and students needing additional technology assistance can also contact IT staff at lsc.edu/help-desk. The student food shelf is now available right outside the Student Services office. The rest of main campus and all other campus locations are closed to the public, including students, until further notice.
• The Student Services area and the LSC Student Payment office will remain open, with limited staff, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We recommend calling ahead or emailing to set up an appointment whenever possible as those office may temporarily close for a lunch break. You can schedule virtual meetings completely online with the following departments:
  • Advising
  • Counseling
  • Disability Services
  • Financial Aid
  • Erickson Library
  • Technology Help Desk
  • TRIO-Student Support Services
  • Tutoring and Learning Center

And more are in the works

The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) bus stop is now moved to the S Building through today, Friday, April 3. However, the DTA will be suspending bus service to LSC after today, Friday, April 3, until further notice so please plan accordingly.

Please be sure to check www.lsc.edu/coronavirus for the latest updates and thanks again for your patience and cooperation. Hope you have a good weekend.

UPDATE ABOUT LSC FACILITIES AND DTA:

Per the email from Vice President of Administration Al Finlayson this morning, all exterior doors except the S building door are now locked. The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) bus stop is now moved from circle drive to the S building, for now. The DTA has informed us that they will be eliminating several of their regular stops beginning next Wednesday (April 11), including Lake Superior College. This reduction in service is directly related to drive availability and they hope to restore full service as soon as possible, but as of now service to LSC will end on Wednesday so we are letting employees and students know that as soon as possible so those who rely on the DTA can plan accordingly. If you have any questions about DTA service, please contact Dean of Students Wade Gordon.

UPDATE FROM THE LSC HR DEPARTMENT:

Dear Employees,

As our state responds to COVID-19, Governor Walz signed Executive Order 20-07 on March 17 to support state agency employees during this unprecedented time. This order provides one of the best paid leaves in the country for employees who cannot work due to certain COVID-19-related circumstances.

We rolled out the paid COVID-19 leave policy and request form on March 18 to state agency employees. Generally, all employees who can telework should. Employees who cannot telework may be reassigned or redeployed. For employees who can’t telework or be reassigned or redeployed, Paid COVID-19 Leave is available.

Last week the President signed into law a federal government emergency coronavirus relief package. It includes paid sick leave benefits for employees who must take time off because of the spreading virus, as well as expanded Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits for leave for school and childcare closures due to COVID-19. We have updated our state policy to comply with the federal law. The revised policy is posted on MMB’s website and is effective April 1.

The April 1, 2020 revised Paid COVID-19 Leave policy includes addition of:

• Paid school care leave for kids under 18, rather than only 12 and under
  • For kids older than 12, this is another use of Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, is limited to a total of up to 12 weeks of FMLA at 2/3 pay, and runs concurrently with employees’ existing FMLA leave balance. The remaining 1/3 can be supplemented with accrued vacation or comp time. The total amount of FMLA leave available to any employee eligible for both FMLA and this leave will not exceed 12 workweeks in the fiscal year. Employees who have already exhausted their FMLA balance for the fiscal year are limited to up to 80 hours of this leave (pro-rated for part-time employees) at 2/3 pay. The remaining 1/3 can be supplemented with accrued vacation or comp time.
  • At this time, we will not impose these caps and limitations on school leave for younger kids or children with disabilities who need care.
• Care leave for individuals other than family members
  • This is limited to 80 hours (pro-rated for part-time employees) at 2/3 pay. The remaining 1/3 can be supplemented with accrued vacation or comp time.
  • At this time, we will not impose these caps and limitations on care for family members.
• We expanded some uses for the employee’s health and caring for others, but generally our prior policy already provided the benefits required by federal law, and more.

Contact your supervisor to discuss your use of Paid COVID-19 Leave. To request Paid COVID-19 Leave, you must submit a Paid COVID-19 Leave Request Form to your human resources office for approval.

Email from President Rogers
Sunday, March 30, 2020, 9:35 a.m.

Dear LSC Community:

We are now a college that provides our academic programs in online and distance delivery. Per our directive from the Chancellor of the Minnesota State system at 9pm last night, we will offer all of our courses in online and distance delivery modes. This directive is in effect for at least the next two weeks. I suggest that the faculty plan for an even longer term, and assume this situation will last through the end of spring semester.

We know this means that some of our students are disadvantaged and may not have access to the internet and/or computers at home. That’s why this directive also expects LSC and ALL Minnesota State campuses to remain open in some capacity to provide services for students, though in a limited and safe way. Faculty, if you have alternative assignments for these students (and I know you know your students very well), please consider moving assignments to something they can complete at home, (either online or possibly even without needing the internet, when possible) so these disadvantaged students do not have to make the trip to the campus. That would be very helpful to all concerned.

• For those students who need to use technology and the WiFi connection on campus, those who need to use technologies to get to their classes or connect with advisors and other services available online, we will have the building open with access to computers during our limited daytime hours.
• Let’s remember: some of our students do not have the option or privilege of attending only online from home, so anything we can do to help support them would be helpful.
• Our food pantry is also open with grab bags, Student Services is still available both online and on campus (limited hours and staffing), LSC Foundation is still processing emergency loans, and core services will remain available to help support students.
• More detail can be found later today or tomorrow on our website at: https://www.lsc.edu/coronavirus we will update with more specifics for the campus building and services as we make adjustments.

Though we will be “open” and operational, our building footprint will still need to shrink quickly. I suggest that any faculty and staff who haven’t done so already try to come in to campus in the next couple of days, as you are safely able, to gather things you will need to continue to work remotely for at least the next couple of weeks or more. We will eventually close parts of the main campus and all three campus locations (ERTC, Downtown, CAA). Again, we will provide an update on what parts of the main campus will be closed on our website at: https://www.lsc.edu/coronavirus in the coming days.

For now, we will have limited building hours (630am-6pm) and a limited area for students to access technologies and/or to connect with student services, so they have the opportunity to use technologies on campus that they may not have at home. Students can also connect to advisors, counselors, financial aid, etc. online or phone.

Thank you for all your doing to help make this transition as smooth and safe as possibly, while we continue to do all we can to support our students and each other.

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

Email from President Rogers
Sunday, March 29, 2020, 9:47 p.m.

Dear LSC Faculty, Staff, and Students:

My sincere apologies for this late notice.

This evening the Minnesota State system, of which LSC is a member, just received a directive from the Executive Branch that holding in-person instruction, even as we had planned with social distancing and CDC cleaning standards, should be delayed for at least two more weeks. This is a change in their guidance from earlier this week.

About 90% of instruction and student services throughout the Minnesota State system have been moved online, thanks to a lot of creativity and hard work by faculty and staff. These online/distance delivery classes will continue as planned. However, given tonight’s change in guidance, face-to-face classes have been suspended for at least the next two weeks.

I ask that faculty reach out to students as soon as possible to communicate directly regarding specific classes and if course plans have changed for the week.

The limited student services and the operation of the building will go forward tomorrow as planned, but those service plans may change by the end of the day on Monday. I am in communication with the system office and others on how best to provide technology access (to access advisors and financial aid, etc.) and services like the food shelf and counseling for our students who need them and who otherwise would not have access to these services.

I sincerely apologize for the late timing of this message and the inconvenience it causes, and I thank everyone for your patience as we navigate through this ever-changing situation. As we learn more, we will keep you updated and continue to update the website https://www.lsc.edu/coronavirus .

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

Email from President Rogers
Friday, March 27, 2020, 3:10 p.m.

Dear LSC Campus Community:

Today during my usual early morning scan of higher educational online journals and other media, I came across Scott Berinato’s article in the Harvard Business Review. The article discusses Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s stages of grief and insight from her co-author David Kessler. I urge each of you to read that short article carefully as it speaks directly to the higher education community and our various reactions to the grief we are feeling for our students, ourselves, our loved ones…and our previous work life.

Recall the five stages of grief are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. In answer to a question on how to manage the grief caused by the COVID-19 crisis, Kessler states:

“Understanding the stages of grief is a start. But whenever I talk about the stages of grief, I have to remind people that the stages aren’t linear and may not happen in this order. It’s not a map but it provides some scaffolding for this unknown world. There’s denial, which we [saw] a lot of early on: This virus won’t affect us. There’s anger: You’re making me stay home and taking away my activities. There’s bargaining: Okay, if I social distance for two weeks everything will be better, right? There’s sadness: I don’t know when this will end. And finally there’s acceptance. This is happening; I have to figure out how to proceed.”

“Acceptance, as you might imagine, is where the power lies. We find control in acceptance. I can wash my hands. I can keep a safe distance. I can learn how to work virtually.”

The emotional work of finding control and finding acceptance in these challenging times sparked another memory for me. During my time as a Fulbright Scholar in Iceland, I encountered a most amazing resiliency among my friends there and among the Icelandic citizenry in general. I heard the phrase “þetta reddast (pronounced thet-ta red-ust)” whenever people were dealing with a difficult or challenging situation. In a recent article, Katie Hammel provides a loose interpretation of this phrase: “It means ‘it’ll all work out in the end’ – and if Iceland had an official slogan, this would be it.”

When you live on an island of fire and ice, you can bet there are plenty of struggles to overcome. Icelanders know things will work out as they will and not as they may wish. They stay with reality and what they can control. They avoid needless suffering and anxiety by reminding each other “þetta reddast.” I witnessed this many times when I lived there. Things worked out. þetta reddast.

And all of our struggles will work out in the end! We will get through this stressful and confusing time. Realize that how well Lake Superior College thrives during and after this crisis depends on you. What we collectively do now impacts our collective future and the health and wellness of the college, since no one area or division by itself ensures success. It takes all of us doing our work in whatever ways we can within the guidelines for our own health and safety and for the health and safety and success of our students. If an area falls down, we are all likely to fall. This does not have to happen.

I hear you out there: “yeah, but…what if…” Right. The unknown, the worst-case scenario, the scary future…all of that can be categorized as anticipatory grief. This kind of grief is what causes the needless suffering and anxiety over things that have not happened.

Kessler says:

“Anticipatory grief is that feeling we get about what the future holds when we’re uncertain. … Anticipatory grief is also more broadly imagined futures. There is a storm coming. There’s something bad out there. With a virus, this kind of grief is so confusing for people. Our primitive mind knows something bad is happening, but you can’t see it. This breaks our sense of safety. We’re feeling that loss of safety. I don’t think we’ve collectively lost our sense of general safety like this. Individually or as smaller groups, people have felt this. But all together, this is new. We are grieving on a micro and a macro level.”

What to do? Find your balance. Stay in the present tense. Re-read my update from March 20th. Know yourself and be a warrior leader. Those of us who have moved into Acceptance of this situation are not more highly evolved or somehow “better.” We have just moved into that space that allows us to say “þetta reddast” (some with a better Icelandic accent than others) and move on with our work.

Judging others on their level of grief is not helpful. Rising to an Acceptance level also does not mean sitting around with our legs crossed on a meditation pillow. Acceptance is also action, which is exactly what we have been doing here at LSC: We have a plan, we are working the plan, and we will adjust the plan as the situation changes. Period. Leave out the things that have not happened and the things you cannot control. Focus on your work and our collective success.

Kessler said it this way: “…think about how to let go of what you can’t control. What your neighbor is doing is out of your control. What is in your control is staying six feet away from them and washing your hands. Focus on that.”

Visit https://www.lsc.edu/coronavirus/ often. PLEASE direct your questions at [email protected]. Send your ideas and suggestions to [email protected]. Encourage others to send their ideas, suggestions, worrisome rumors, and questions to [email protected].

We are ready for Monday, and Tuesday, and…beyond. We have this, folks!

Have a lovely weekend.

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

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Memo from Ron Anderson, PhD, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs for Minnesota State
To Presidents and Academic and Student Affairs
March 27, 2020 at 1:59 p.m.
SUBJECT: Overview of Academic Continuity Guidance

This memorandum summarizes current guidance to campuses relative to academic continuity, including some new guidance related to grading and summer term among other topics.

Spring Semester Classes and Services
As you know, instruction will resume on March 30th (or April 6th for 5 colleges), via online or via alternative delivery modes. Student and academic support services will also be available online, on the phone, and through other technology-based communication forms such as email and videoconferencing. Limited student and academic services may be available face-to-face on campus, as will courses requiring a face-to-face component–both observing strict health and safety precautions and following MDH and CDC guidelines. Guidance on cleaning protocols has been shared with campus facility staff, and you are encouraged to share that information with your faculty and staff on campus.
If an instructor teaching a course that requires a face-to-face component has underlying health conditions or finds themselves unable to teach the course for other reasons, they should be accommodated by taking COVID-19 leave. Similarly, if a student enrolled in a course that requires a face-to-face component has underlying health conditions or finds themselves unable to complete the course for other reasons, accommodations should be made that best suits their educational goals.

Continuing Education and Customized Training
Continuing education and customized training courses can continue to be offered both off-site and on-site, provided that they observe strict health and safety precautions and follow MDH and CDC guidelines.

Technology Access
Student should continue to have access to technology on campus throughout the duration of the stay-at-home order. However, not all students will have the ability or desire to come to campus for that purpose. Campuses should develop an outreach strategy to identify students who do not have access to computers and/or to the internet away from campus. Faculty should work with those students to identify where possible an alternative method of communication and possible instruction that does not rely on technology, presumably in a correspondence delivery mode. Our goal remains to complete the spring semester on the previously-identified end dates as outlined on our academic calendar. It is important that students without access to technology should not be penalized or suffer negative academic consequences during this period.
We encourage campuses to designate a limited number of specific spaces for computer and internet access that will be open to students, and to clearly communicate that information to faculty, staff, and students. In determining those designated spaces, pay close attention to both physical safety and ADA accessibility needs.
ASA, Equity and Inclusion, and ITS staff are exploring options for funding support, availability, and guidance on the equitable distribution of additional technology devices for students without remote access to technology. This guidance will be shared once it is fully developed, likely sometime next week. This forthcoming guidance in no way limits actions that you may wish to take at the campus level, but rather is meant to augment those efforts.

New Guidance: Campus Libraries
Questions and concerns about library services and access have arisen in the past two days. Our guidance is that these services be treated like other academic and student support services and be migrated to online delivery. It is strongly recommended that libraries remain accessible if they serve as technology access areas for students. In such cases, it is expected that appropriate physical distancing be enforced, and that appropriate health and safety precautions are taken, following MDH and CDC guidelines. All other library functions should be migrated online.

New Information on Previous Guidance: Student Work Study
Guidance on paying student workers who are unable to work because of COVID-19 impacts was issued on March 23, 2020. Since then, new state legislation has been enacted that aligns state work study guidelines with federal work study guidelines, and we await final implementation guidance from the Commissioner of Higher Education. We will share that information with your campus financial aid directors as soon as it becomes available.

Course Placement
All onsite and online course placement testing has been suspended until further notice. In light of this suspension, the guidance issued on March 26th suspends the standardized testing requirement and allows for the use of cumulative high school GPA as a standalone measure of readiness. Students without a reportable high school GPA (e.g., adult learners), are allowed to self-determine placement.
We will be convening a group of testing directors, admissions staff, faculty, and registrars to develop more specific operating instructions to guide timely implementation. Updates will be communicated to your staff as soon as they become available.

New Guidance: Summer Term
Given the anticipated progression of COVID-19 over the months ahead, it appears unlikely that MDH and CDC guidance on public gatherings will be broadened sufficiently to allow for the full resumption of face-to-face instruction by the start of the summer term. As such, campuses should prepare summer term courses for delivery via alternative delivery modes, as previously identified: online using D2L, Zoom, or other technologies as a first preference, or in-person with physical distancing strategies for those course components that cannot be moved to online or correspondence delivery. Campuses should also be prepared to continue delivering academic and student support services remotely and with limited face to face interaction in the likelihood that current protocols on physical distancing will continue into the summer.

New Guidance: Grading
Although there is no Board of Trustees policy governing grading practices, we are providing the following general principles for campuses to follow in considering grading options:

• Campuses are strongly encouraged to lift their local P/F or S/U grading restrictions, up to and including the possibility of allowing students to opt for P/F or S/U grades for all of their courses this semester. Campuses changing this practice should identify downstream impacts and implications for other academic progress and related policies, and take steps to adapt those policies as appropriate to ameliorate possible negative consequences for students.
• Modifications to pass/fail (P/F) or satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) policies should be developed in consultation with faculty, department heads, deans, registrars, and other relevant administrators.
• Students should have choice in changing the grading options, and a reasonable time frame for making that choice.
• We understand that P/F and S/U grading options impact course transfer, and will be working over the next few weeks to identify and resolve those issues in a consistent manner across the system.

Associate Vice Chancellors Glass and Green-Stephen will provide more detailed guidance to SAOs, SSAOs, and registrars in the days ahead. Later this year ASA and Equity and Inclusion will be convening a workgroup to address equity in grading policy and practice across the system, with the charge of developing long-term policy and practice recommendations.

New Guidance: Extension of Last Day to Withdraw Deadline
Minnesota State procedure 3.34.1 sets the last day to withdraw at the 80% completion point of a course. To accommodate the disruption caused by COVID-19 and the impact that resulting shifts in instructional and service delivery will have on students, we are extending the last day to withdraw to the 90% completion point of a course. This allows student sufficient time to
evaluate their ability to complete a given course in its new delivery modality and in light of other impacts to their academic and personal lives.
ASA will work with ITS staff to address the technology modifications needed to support this change, and will provide an update to your academic and student affairs leaders and registrars when those changes are fully defined.

Declaring the semester complete
Campuses do not have the authority to unilaterally declare the spring semester complete at a given point in time other than the predetermined final day of the semester. As has been our approach throughout this public health crisis, we want to respond with as much consistency across the system as possible, and remain committed to our collective intent of completing the semester as planned and getting as many students as possible through to completion of the term. Should circumstances arise that make this impossible, the campus president and Chancellor will discuss the most appropriate course of action.
Campuses do, however, have the discretion to determine whether or not enough of a particular course has been completed to warrant the issuance of a grade and declare that particular course complete. Campuses must determine a consistent process for making this determination, and must include both faculty and academic administration in the decision-making process.

cc: Chancellor Malhotra
Cabinet
Senior Academic Affairs Officers

Email to campus employees
Thursday, March 26, 2020, 4:39 p.m.

Good Afternoon LSC Campus Community-

LSC administration has received some questions about the Governor’s Order so we wanted to clarify a few key points.

In his Stay At Home order, Governor Walz noted that both K-12 and Higher Education are essential services, allowing our students to continue their classes and move forward toward their educational goals. The portion of the order that covers this is found on page 8 under q: The Executive Branch and w: Education.

At Lake Superior College, our top two priorities are the safety and health of our faculty, staff, and students, as well as helping our students to successfully complete their semester.  All classes have been modified to comply with CDC and Minnesota Department of Health recommendations regarding social distancing, including those that require that classes continue in-person in a modified way. In addition, our facilities team is cleaning and sanitizing our buildings according to CDC recommendations.

Key Points:

• We are open and here to support student success! We have limited hours and limited staff physically on campus but we have been, are, and will remain open as a campus. We have a lot of services available online and great work being done remotely. The expectation is that students, current and prospective, will be welcomed on campus and will be able to receive the support they need online and/or in person, using social distancing and best practices.
• Classes at Lake Superior College will resume on Monday, March 30, and will be offered through alternative delivery methods through the end of Spring Semester 2020.
• The Governor’s Order exempts Minnesota State colleges and universities as an essential service. In fact, the Chancellor has made it clear the expectation is that we will keep campuses open in an attempt to both support current and prospective students as well as to help assist and support our local communities. Lake Superior College has waived our usual application fee through April and adjusted registration dates to support prospective students, displaced workers and others being impacted by this pandemic.

As President Rogers said in an email yesterday: “Governor Walz issued a two-week stay at home order for Minnesota that at the same time exempts essential services such as grocery stores, gasoline stations, and higher education institutions, including UMD, CSS, and LSC. Travel to, and work performed at, these exempted and essential services is allowed. To be clear, this does NOT really change much for LSC at this time since we…all of YOU…have already geared up for minimal operation of our campus, with most services and classes already shifted to distance technologies.”

We continue to update the www.lsc.edu/coronavirus with the latest information. All messages from President Rogers are posted on her website as well. If you have questions, concerns or information you’d like to share on the website please send those to [email protected].

Email from Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra
March 25, 3:30 p.m.

Dear students,

Today, Governor Walz announced an official “stay at home” order for all Minnesota residents. This means that we are to stay home and limit movements outside of our homes to only essential needs. However, as part of his order, the governor has declared educational activities and services as essential, which means the 37 colleges and universities of Minnesota State are exempt from this order. Campus-based essential services will be staffed by a limited number of employees on campus in order to follow social distancing protocols and all other safety precautions. However, students can still access the campuses for needed services not accessible from home. Instruction will resume, as scheduled, on either March 30 or April 6 as previously announced. All classes will be delivered using alternative modes, and campuses will remain closed to the public, but let me be clear – you can access your campus for services that you are unable to access from home, but campus staffing will be limited.

Our top two priorities remain protecting the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students, as well as helping our students to successfully finishing the semester. In the coming days, Minnesota State campuses will be moving their students to an online experience or an alternative method of delivery that is consistent with CDC guidelines. My request is that you have patience; faculty, staff, and campus leadership have been tirelessly working to make this possible. As you might imagine, an effort like this is not without challenges.

Please watch your email for information from your instructors regarding delivery of your particular classes. I know each day brings serious news. The situation we are in is unprecedented for all of us. We will get through this together. We will continue to share additional detailed information in the coming days. For now, the most important thing is to take care of yourself and your families.  As you know, we can all further protect ourselves and others by:

• 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
• Staying home if you are sick

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

1. 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.

Thank you, stay safe, and stay strong.

Devinder Malhotra Chancellor

All employee email from LSC President Patricia Rogers

March 25, 2020 2:31 p.m.

Dear LSC Colleagues:

Today Governor Walz issued a two-week “stay at home” order for Minnesota that at the same time exempts essential services such as grocery stores, gasoline stations, and higher education institutions, including UMD, CSS, and LSC. Travel to, and work performed at, these exempted and essential services is allowed. To be clear, this does NOT really change much for LSC at this time since we…all of YOU…have already geared up for minimal operation of our campus, with most services and classes already shifted to distance technologies.

So, todays’ campus update is really a call to greatness for each and every one of us. Reminder: Lake Superior College is committed to taking the steps necessary to protect the health and safety of all students and employees, while also enabling students to complete spring semester and progress their educational goals.

Think about it: the way we react to this crisis right now will set the tone for Lake Superior College’s future. The way we handle our educational institution right now, and particularly how we respond to students’ needs online and on campus, will greatly influence our ability to attract and retain students in the coming summer and spring. We can already anticipate groups of people who will be making critical decisions about their future.

For example: Displaced Workers and Adult Learners. This national crisis will have a tremendous impact on the economy. That unfortunately creates many displaced workers, and people who will want to prepare to move into new jobs quickly. We can anticipate that State and Federal funding will include funding to ramp up workforce development and training. Our trades programs align exactly with what these people will likely seek. The American Association of Community Colleges is working on legislation and lobbying efforts in anticipation of this great need. See the attachment entitled: Update on Stimulus Efforts.

And another example: High School Students Making Different Choices. In addition to displaced and adult learners, high school students are also making different choices. The Chronicle of Higher Education ran an article this morning discussing the results of a massive survey on high school students’ plans. From the Chronicle brief

“One in six high-school seniors who expected to attend a four-year college full time before the coronavirus pandemic say they will opt for something else.”

“College administrators knew that the new coronavirus would interfere with prospective students’ plans. A new survey, conducted by the higher-ed consulting firm Art and Science Group, found that one in six high-school seniors who expected to attend a four-year college full-time before the pandemic now say they will choose a different path. Here’s what else the survey found:

1. 1. • Three out of five students said they were concerned about their ability to attend their first-choice colleges.
      • Of the 17 percent of students who didn’t think they would enroll full time at a four-year college, a majority expected to take a gap year or enroll part time in a bachelor’s program.
      • About 32 percent of students said they were considering less-expensive institutions.”

LSC is well positioned today to be the choice for students seeking part-time educational options. We are a great choice for the 32% of surveyed students seeking “less expensive” options, knowing that LSC’s liberal arts and sciences programs are top of the line choices.

To promote LSC as the right choice for all, VP Daniel Fanning and his team have just launched a large marketing campaign that waives our application fee through April, with registration dates moved up to better accommodate these new students.

What this means right now:

First, LSC must remain open and operational unless the Chancellor or Governor orders full closing of campuses. As of right now, the Governor has made a decision that all higher education is essential, and that we must continue with our already established minimal operations plan (Minnesota State and the University of Minnesota system and the private colleges association are all following this option). That means we must be responsive to all LSC students, particularly those who are already disadvantaged. That means there will be some safe face-to-face interactions that must happen to meet the needs of all students. Supervisors are working out their final plans.

Second, we want our employees to be safe, and have taken measures to move most of our work to virtual media wherever possible. And we have some face to face (F2F) options in classes and for student services with carefully orchestrated physical distancing. We have plans in place to reduce the campus footprint by closing areas that can then be deep cleaned and locked. We will reduce building hours, provide very limited café and bookstore hours and services, provide computer access for students with physical distancing and cleaning, and shift the library to a mostly online access. Remember, our top priority is: Lake Superior College is committed to taking the steps necessary to protect the health and safety of all students and employees, while also enabling students to complete spring semester and progress their educational goals.

It is a tall order, but it is absolutely crucial that we get it right, since our reaction right now so greatly impacts our future. Making our campus as welcoming as we can while still practicing physical distancing and other technology options ensures our success for our summer online courses and our upcoming fall semester.

It seems, though, that the obstacles to success are our own attitudes, behaviors, and assumptions.

Call to Greatness:

We are in no way doing “business as usual.” The actions we are taking are a big departure from our normal spring semester, revealing a variety of reactions from people. I know some folks are feeling quite anxious and have no easy way to alleviate those feelings. We do have EAP services available online and I encourage you to use that amazing service if needed, as it is a part of our benefits as state workers. In addition, I did find a nice short article on how to address COVID-19 anxiety with a few useful tips: “If Coronavirus Scares You, Read This to Take Control Over Your Health Anxiety” in The Guardian by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett.

Your physical and mental health are critical and important to me and to every member of the LSC community. We depend on each other to be supportive and positive. And rising to greatness in this peacetime emergency is also about calling on our best selves and our best behaviors. How each of us handles this crisis reveals both the challenging and the great behaviors we choose to present. I am calling each of you to greatness.

Specifically, the greatness behaviors we must choose right now are expecting and practicing clear and factual communications. Mis-communications, rumors (like the one I heard the other day about martial law being declared in Wisconsin), or well-meaning attempts to fill in missing facts can create obstacles that become harmful to our work.
I shared the following with our LSC union leadership members on Monday of this week, and I share it with all of you today:

1. 1. 1. We need ALL campus leadership (administrators, union leaders, key faculty and staff) and every employee to please help control rumors, mis-information, and general over-reactions. It is a very human response to uncertainty that leads some into speculation and undo suffering about “what if” scenarios. It makes some folks decide that everyone else is not doing their job. Innocent (or deliberate) voicing of opinions as facts translates into hurtful criticism and puts unnecessary stress on those who are trying to do their work, make adjustments, and plan for next steps. I am thinking of the GMWs, student affairs staff, and others who have reported such stresses being placed on them by well-meaning, but uninformed or mis-informed, colleagues.We need everyone to focus on their own work, keep informed through our website, and realize all aspects of the campus operation will be monitored and adjusted as the situation changes or new data is revealed. Stirring people up with “what if…” or “why aren’t you doing this job the way I think you should…” is really not helping those who are already stressed and anxious.
      2. To ensure consistent and clear communication, we must have messages coming from the president and cabinet, and not from multiple sources that usually do not have all of the current data and facts. I am calling you to greatness here: Please do not try to take on such messaging yourselves. I know each of you is dedicated to helping students and your colleagues and you really are trying to offer comfort. Comforting each other and listening is encouraged, but we must as much as possible have campus communication messages come from sources that have all of the known facts. The appropriate campus communication sources are from my office and/or from VP Fanning’s office, and what is posted on our website https://www.lsc.edu/coronavirus .That said, we DO want our campus community to have a place to voice their ideas, concerns, questions. Some folks may want to have a place to send the latest rumor they have heard so they can be reassured about what is real. That place is [email protected] That email address is carefully monitored and information is quickly passed to the appropriate place, including appropriate campus committees that may need to work on plans or updates. Messages from me, VP Fanning, the system office, CDC updates, MDH updates, and so on are added to the website: https://www.lsc.edu/coronavirus on a regular basis, sometimes multiple times a day. Rise to the call for greatness and refer all questions, concerns, ideas, and so on to [email protected] .
      3. Do not be afraid to tell folks gently, but firmly, that you need more space between you and the person if someone seems to be moving too close. Remind folks that we are not shaking hands at this time, though we want to be welcoming. And no, we are not hiring security guards to enforce physical distancing.
      4. PLEASE ask your questions at [email protected] Send your ideas and suggestions to [email protected] Encourage others to send their ideas, suggestions, worrisome rumors, and questions to [email protected].

And finally on another note, a few of you asked what three books I am reading right now. Well, as I mentioned, I am reading Erik Larson’s “The Splendid and the Vile.” I am also just about finished with Bill Bryson’s “The Body” and Curt Brown’s book entitled “Minnesota 1918: When Flu, Fire, and War Ravaged the State.”
Sheesh, who knew my reading choices could bring on the COVID Virus…oh wait, that’s a wild rumor. But just in case, I am going to start Dennis Staples’ new book: “This Town Sleeps.”

Stay well, stay positive, keep informed, and always rise to GREATNESS!

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

President Rogers’ message to students
Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 11:38 AM

Dear LSC Students:

We are moving quickly toward the start of the rest of spring semester, beginning next Monday March 30th…unless of course we hear otherwise from the Governor. It has been quite an interesting couple of weeks, and quite busy for everyone.

Your faculty have worked hard along with LSC’s fantastic support staff, IT folks, web team, and others to move to alternative methods for classes and services to ensure that you will be able to finish your spring semester. They really care! All of us care about you at LSC! We hear your concerns and worries. And we are doing our very best to get you through spring semester in fine shape.

The campus wi-fi is on, there are spaces for you to spread out and we will have computers set up with the appropriate distances in case you do not have a computer or need a device.

We will have limited services and building hours (6:30 am-6 pm), but know that we are open and can help you. Student Services, such as advising and financial aid, remain open with limited staff/limited hours. We recommend calling or emailing ahead and setting up an appointment when possible. You can now schedule virtual meetings completely online with staff in departments including advising, counseling, financial aid, technology help desk, TLC and more. Those links and the most current updates are all available on the website: lsc.edu/coronavirus. This will give you updates on building hours, library, food service, and more.

Now I know many of you are quite sad about the changes to your classes and even your schedules. I know you will miss hanging out with friends and taking part in activities long planned for spring. I know that for some of you, commencement was a major lifetime event, the capstone of your career at LSC and the celebration of your hard work. We know you are disappointed. We hear you, and we know this is a big change. And we will find a way to honor you. Stay tuned to our website for updates.

Until then, be healthy. Be in touch with your instructors and advisors, and let’s get ready for Monday.

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Related Schedule Change
Thursday, March 19, 2020, 4:24 PM

Good Afternoon LSC Employees –

This morning our talented HR team received updated information from the Minnesota State system office to ensure employees will be paid without disruption. They have provided the following summary:

Supervisors –

• It is assumed the majority of your employees who can be are now and should be telecommuting/working remotely. To ensure some parts of campus remain open so that we can continue to serve students the best we can, some employees will also be on campus periodically. Minnesota State system office has requested HR offices to track the approved telecommuting schedules. There is no need to complete an official telecommuting form. This is for internal tracking only and should be submitted to HR via email. Please contact HR if you have any questions or concerns.
• Should an established workday schedule need to be modified, HR would need to be notified of the schedule change.
• In every case, employees and supervisors must work out schedules that provide minimum time on campus for those duties/roles that must be performed for the campus.
• In some cases, employees may work 100% of their time on campus, but will have staggered schedules or different shifts based on the needs of the department to provide coverage – as determined by the supervisor. They are eligible for shift differential and should consult HR and their supervisors.
• If an employee requests an alternate telecommute shift, shift differential may apply. Example – day care centers are closed and the employee will work from 4:00 am to 12:00 pm, and the shift differential would apply.
• Some employees on the regular payroll may not have work (or enough work) that allows them to telecommute or work at a distance for longer periods of time. A separate code has been established and added to employee timesheets of CVD. This code is to be used for the following
  • Example 1: employee A usually works 100% on campus. Due to the changes in LSC’s operations, employee A is assigned to work 2 hours on campus per day, and has 3 hours assigned at a distance. The remaining 3 hours should be coded on the timesheet as CVD.
  • Example 2: employee Z must meet students two days per week on campus. Employee Z has no broadband or technology access to work at a distance. Employee Z codes the other three days work periods as CVD.
  • Example 3: employee H has an assignment to an area that has been closed by the campus administration. Employee H’s timecard records all regularly scheduled work hours as CVD.
  • Example 4: employee X works from home full 8 hours coded on timesheet as REG
  • Illness or caring for a dependent with an illness code as CVD
  • Self-isolation (as approved by supervisor) code as CVD
• An employee’s day could consist of part CVD and part REG.
• We are not requiring medical documentation to telecommute at this time. We were originally told it would be needed, but that has since changed.
• It is ok and encouraged to reassign work as needed, cross-train, etc.. to keep employees working where we can. We expect the supervisor to help arrange and manage that, and to communicate with the administrator in charge of the department.
• Due to the Governor suspending provisions related to work schedules and locations, you have flexibility to utilize employees in the work locations and schedules needed for continued operations.
• Temporary employees should be allowed to continue working until their assigned end date. If there is no work for them, they also receive pay under CVD. But do not extend assignments if not needed (supervisors should consider using current employee for the work).

All Employees –

• As of March 18, the CVD code will be available for you to code your timesheet appropriately. This code should be used to cover time when you’re not engaged in regular work duties, on campus or remotely, but would regularly be available to work. (See examples above.)
• Intermittent employees will be paid up through your already established scheduled hours through March 30.
• Employees on temporary assignments will continue as agreed upon and will follow the above rules.

If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor, administrator and/or LeAnn Ulvi in the HR department at (218) 733-1068 or [email protected].

This and other updates continue to be posted at lsc.edu/coronavirus. Thank you for your continued cooperation, patience and dedication to the institution!

Message from LSC President Patricia Rogers
Thursday, March 19, 2020, 9:22 AM

Dear LSC Colleagues:

It is a very quiet campus here today on the hills above Lake Superior. Yet I know there is so much work already underway by 7am. Plans are moving forward, people are shifting to distance work lives (and maybe already finding it challenging to cope with pets, kids, and significant others in your new work space). Supervisors are working hard to adapt work duties to distance alternatives or to find different work on and off campus for those who may not have enough work or proper technologies for distance work.

Those of us who must have some physical presence on campus to perform our duties are practicing “social distancing” and other recommended strategies. Many people quickly learned to set up Zoom meetings (Thanks, Stacy Leno!) and to think creatively about how best to handle students and others who must come to campus for tours, advising, tutoring, wi-fi, and so on.

I have to say here that I have never liked the phrase “social distancing” as it seems to conjure images of shunning, isolating, and even a form of xenophobia. That of course not how we behave or treat each other at Lake Superior College.

This morning, during my usual 4:30am scan of higher education online journals, I came across an article from The Chronicle of Higher Education written by Goldie Blumenstyk entitled “Coronavirus Crisis Underscores the Traits of a Resilient College.” Yes, the article is likely of great interest to all of you and I include for your reading pleasure. But what really caught my eye was the closing personal note at the end of the article. Ms. Blumenstyk says:

“I’ve read and heard a lot of good advice this week on how to cope. No doubt you have, too. The bit that has stuck with me the most came from one of the rabbis at my synagogue here in the D.C. area, Sid Schwarz, who counseled that we rethink the notion of social distancing. Continue to practice “physical distancing,” he said, but also “social solidarity,” by making extra efforts to support folks in our various personal communities.” (article attached as a PDF)

Yes! Social Solidarity. That is the very essence of how we must support, help, and respect each other. This is how we will move forward, with social solidarity and willingness to stay focused on how we bring our best selves to this crisis and to our lives beyond this crisis.

We all chose the field of academia because we wanted to improve the world and change lives. Our work as maintenance workers, support staff, office workers, teachers, administrators, tutors, advisors, librarians, retail staff, and so many more ALL contribute to our common calling to improve lives and change the world. You are accomplishing that by doing your best, avoiding rumors, and treating each other with respect. We succeed when we reduce the drama that often accompanies times of uncertainty: humans tend to fill in the perceived gaps with stories and wild assumptions that lack solid facts. We will succeed by staying in communication, sticking to the facts, working together even when there is physical distance between us, and staying positive.

Keep up to date on LSC’s response and any new updates by accessing this website: lsc.edu/coronavirus. Send questions, comments, and ideas to [email protected]. You might also wish to review the Minnesota State website that has more resources.

Through our new operations plan that shifts us from primarily on-campus to limiting (but still providing) F2F time on campus to support our students, we have an opportunity to save lives and slow the spread of COVID-19. Follow the health protocols.

But…every time you see “social distancing” think instead that for our LSC community, this practice is “physical distancing with social solidarity.”

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President

Update from Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra
Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 3:37 PM

Colleagues,

The work you all are doing to address the COVID-19 pandemic is an incredible lift.  Today during the Board of Trustees meeting I shared the vast scope of the work needed at every level throughout the system to meet our two priorities of keeping students, faculty, and staff safe, and helping our students to finish the semester successfully.  I thought you might wish to hear my remarks, which you’ll find here.

Thank you for everything you are doing during these difficult days.  We are a hard working bunch, and together we will get through this.

Best,
Devinder

Devinder Malhotra
Chancellor

Update from LSC President Patricia Rogers
Wednesday, March 28, 2020, 9:05 AM

Dear LSC Colleagues:

As I mentioned in yesterday’s update, things continue to move quickly and adjustments must be made. “Keep Calm and Carry On” also means that we remain ready to make adaptations to the plan as the situation changes. During yesterday’s Minnesota State system call regarding COVID -19, the Chancellor directed campuses to ramp up our efforts to move more people into working from home and/or to reduce physical time on campus. He requires that our plans for these changes in schedules to be as complete as possible by Friday March 20th.

Thanks to all of you, LSC has already been moving these plans along, and beginning today we will move more quickly to make it happen.

Think of this as a shift in our “default” campus operations:  Instead of the default position being that employees come to campus and we make exceptions for those who need accommodations (doctor’s notes, etc.), the new default is people will work from home or other distance options and we make exceptions for those who absolutely need to be on campus to perform a portion of their duties.  This of course includes having staff on campus for services to students, facilities, and F2F components of classes.

What this means right now:

Staff: Supervisors and staff must ramp up their planning for alternative distance work, work from home, changes in shifts, alternative duties, etc. that help reduce time on campus. These schedules and work assignments must be approved and agreed upon with supervisors or Vice-Presidents. Supervisors will move people to these alternatives as much as possible, given there will still be “bare bones” operations and functions that must continue on campus to ensure that students can complete their semester. That means they will likely rotate people in positions such as facilities, advising, library, bookstore into some on and off campus work assignment. These new schedules will start this week or when classes resume on March 30th, depending upon the work duties.  I am asking that the staff and supervisors work on finalizing the new schedules and plans together right away.

NOTE: For those who have childcare concerns, health concerns, immune system challenges, and so on, there is no longer a need to provide a doctor’s note. That requirement was under our previous operational practice of accommodating and assigning off-campus work. Again, we are changing our “default” to accommodating those who must be on campus to perform certain aspects of their work.

Administrators: I am asking our administrative team to move as much of their duties and obligations to work from home alternatives whenever possible. This includes the work of administrative assistants and others on their teams. We know some of that work, such as signing papers and forms, will likely continue as usual and will require some time on campus to complete. Yes, there are technologies for documents, but we do not have those available at the moment.

System ITS staff are working with campus CIOs and IT teams to open some of the daily system-wide software such that VPN would not be necessary. Please discuss your needs for computer access and access to specialized software and network drives with Steve Fudally.  Please be patient with our IT team as work in IT is changing almost hourly!

Faculty: The great news is our faculty have already been diligently working to move the academic programs into alternative formats. They have training sessions, video sessions, planning, and other activities going on this week and next. They have already been following a set of guidelines that are listed below:

In determining the appropriate alternative course delivery approach for each course, academic leaders should work with their faculty to explore the options below, listed in priority order:

1. Migrate the course to an online format within D2LBrightspace.
2. If option 1 is unviable, migrate the course to an alternative synchronous format such as ZOOM or other conferencing technologies.
3. If option 2 is unviable, migrate the course to an a-synchronous format, using email correspondence or other forms of non-synchronous technology or communication.
4. If the full course cannot be delivered in one of the above manners and must retain a face-to-face component, the course must be adapted to reduce contact time, ensure social distancing, and reduce personal interactions and/or contact time. Strategies for this adaptation include, but are not limited to:

1. 1. 1. 1. • Moving non-applied components of the course to one of the formats enumerated above
            • Reducing hours in the lab/classroom
            • Implementing special safety and separation precautions (i.e., minimum of 6 feet buffer zones, etc.)
            • Splitting of sections into smaller groups
            • Expansion of lab availability, staggering students across time

Assessment and Final Examinations

1. 1. 1. 1. • Course assessments and final examinations must be adapted to the new method of instruction.
            • Face-to-face assessments and final examinations should only be used for those limited courses that cannot be fully delivered in a non-classroom format.

Finally, please remember: the building is not closed. We practice social distancing for meetings, training, or gatherings that must take place F2F. We use technologies to connect when possible, including the phone. Our work has just shifted to a different emphasis and practice. We are now working mostly away from campus, yet still educating our students, providing services they need, helping each other perform our duties and preserving the high level of excellence we hold dear here at LSC.

That said, please be kind to yourself and others. Know that we all may make a few mistakes as we make these shifts in operations, and that’s OK. Help each other, support each other, and stay healthy.

Carry on.

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

Update from Minnesota State system office/Bill Maki, Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Facilities

RE: Size of Gatherings and Commencement

• Effective immediately and according to current MDH and CDC guidelines, any gathering must have less than 50 people if social distancing can be adhered to. If possible, please adhere to the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America by avoiding social gathering in groups of more than 10 people. This is effective until you receive further guidance from us.
• Spring 2020 commencements at all colleges and universities are canceled. We know there is interest in having a virtual or online way of acknowledging spring graduation. Given our priorities of safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of our faculty, staff, and students, along with enabling students to complete the spring semester and progress towards their educational goals, please recognize that this is appropriately prioritized after these two goals.

Update from Lake Superior College President Patricia Rogers
Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 12:55 PM

Dear LSC Campus Community:

Interestingly enough (at least to me!), I am currently reading Erik Larson’s latest book “The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill.” The parallels between the rapidly changing situation that is COVID-19 in the USA and the rapidly changing situation of the early days of World War II in England are striking.

As Churchill experienced, it seems as though communications are sent with the latest plan, only to find conditions have changed and new adjustments must be made. Vendors trying to take advantage of our confusion or panic or fears bombard our social media and email. Rumors abound, and “perfect solutions” are pitched with just the right amount of sympathy and helpfulness, all offered at a new low price. My email is full of such messages trying to stampede us into buying services that will magically make it all better. Well, the hard truth is, we have many challenging days ahead. And there is no magic solution.

And yet, we do have each other and many very talented people ready and willing to fight what seems to be a shifting unseen enemy. People who are meeting (safely) and planning for a variety of contingencies and scenarios. People coming together to plan and prepare. Churchill also noticed that the best assurance of success was with the people and their planning. In his speech to the House of Commons on June 4, 1940, Churchill said:

“I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny…”

People planning and preparing. The good news is that we have many tools already available to us, and we have willing and talented people who can help others learn to use these tools. We also have options for small group F2F interactions if needed. We can have staggered schedules to accommodate various student needs.

For some folks, the need to be 100% online is a reality and necessity. We are working with them to make that feasible and workable. For others, partial time at the campus is perfectly doable and highly practical, and some of us will be primarily on campus to keep things moving and grooving, unless of course the order is given to close. We are not there yet.

In all cases, people are pulling together to do their best for students and each other within these changing conditions. Will everything we do be perfect? Nope. Will we have courses or services that just don’t measure up to our high standards? Yup, and we will still do our very best, even as we criticize ourselves.

Kelli Hallsten Erickson’s email to the faculty today summed this up so beautifully: “you are a human being, doing the best you can.” I, too, have full confidence in our LSC community and the talents, creativity, and willingness to “ride out the storm” doing and being the best we can. You are amazing, and thank you for that!

Keep calm, and carry on. Keep on truckin’ and keep on keepin’ on.

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

Dear LSC Campus Community: Faculty, Staff, Students:

Yesterday you should have received a communication from Chancellor Devinder Malhotra, the leader of our 37 state colleges and universities that make up the Minnesota State system. Chancellor Malhotra has officially extended spring break by one week to help our faculty and staff better prepare to shift classes and services to alternative distance methods, alternative schedules, or limited face-to-face options.

For Lake Superior College, this means classes will officially begin again on March 30, 2020. The spring semester will end at the scheduled end date. This helps avoid further disruption of short courses, summer sessions, and personnel considerations.

What this means right now:

Faculty and Students:

• Between now and March 30th, our faculty are making adjustments to their courses as well as shifting to alternative methods. They will inform you of how to access your courses before March 30. Our faculty and staff have stepped up to ensure a quality educational experience no matter which methods are used to deliver the courses. They are also working to make certain that students who may not have access to technologies or alternative transportation are still able to attend their courses and finish the semester.
• For those students in hourly programs, the faculty and Deans are working to ensure that you have the required contact time. In some cases, there may be other adjustments we will do to ensure your hours. We will have more conversations with the faculty and staff associated with these programs over the next two weeks and will get that information to you as soon as possible.
• Our student services staff and our IT staff will likely have alternative schedules and options for virtual work as appropriate, with those schedule conversations first happening with supervisors. Those conversations are happening this week and next to better prepare for students’ needs, as well as continuing some of our regularly scheduled activities such as small tours, limited group work, etc.

LSC Employees:

• For staff and administrators who have work duties that require us to be on campus at least during the majority of the time, we will have deeper conversations with your supervisors and the Vice-Presidents in charge of these areas to develop fair and equitable schedules and work duties that provide maximum safety for all involved.
• Faculty are working with Deans on scheduling alternatives for other duties along with their class schedules.
• See the attached “Be Ready Minnesota” for travel and other guidelines.
• In all faculty and staffing considerations, we will ask the leadership of the various bargaining units to work closely with their constituencies and the supervisors and Vice-Presidents to create a safe, equitable, and LSC-quality teaching, learning, and working environment.

And finally, I know this situation is stressful and confusing at times. We are working diligently on keeping you informed through email, social media, and our website: https://www.lsc.edu/coronavirus/.

Stay in touch with the current updates through these various channels, or feel free to call the main campus at (218) 733-7600.

Stay safe, stay positive, keep supporting each other and we will make it through this historic national emergency with all of the “can do” energy that is the essence of the Lake Superior College community spirit. Thank you!

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

Message from Chancellor Malhotra:

Colleagues,

These unprecedented times require us to think differently about the work that we do and the services that we offer. Many aspects of this issue continue to evolve and create a fluid and challenging situation. Know that the feedback we are hearing from you, students, and the campus leadership are being taken into consideration as we identify the work ahead and make the necessary adjustments.

Regardless of the changing circumstances, our priorities will always remain the same:
• To safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of our faculty, staff, and students
• To enable students to complete the spring semester and progress toward their educational goals

To that end, it is critical that during this time of great uncertainty that we enhance all communication channels and work together on the above mentioned priorities. I also ask for your patience during this time. The information set is changing at a pace that we have not experienced before. Just this afternoon, CDC issued the recommendation that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.

I wanted to share with you steps we are taking to adjust to this rapidly changing environment.

Academic Continuity of Operations

The portfolio of academic offerings our 37 colleges and universities provide is diverse not only in their focus but also in the instructional methodologies used. In light of the concerns that we have heard from campuses, we will extend the preparation time for faculty and staff by one additional week. Instruction will resume on March 30. For the five colleges currently on spring break this week, they will also receive additional time and will resume instruction for students on April 6.

Staffing Continuity of Operations
As we continue our work towards helping our students finish the semester, we must stay focused on their health and safety and that of our faculty and staff. It is important that maximum flexibility is required of both employees and supervisors. We must look at how we can do our work differently and provide services for students while also supporting our colleagues and partners. Be cognizant of the following parameters as you work with your teams to accomplish the needed work:

• For the duration of this outbreak, all campuses are expected to be mindful of faculty and staff health and safety needs, and make accommodations for those individuals with underlying medical conditions that may make them more vulnerable to COVID-19, as well as those who may live with and/or care for such individuals, or those with children home from school. Similarly, there will likely be some faculty and staff without these conditions who are for other reasons anxious about returning to the workplace and interacting with others, particularly those who may have recently traveled. Campuses are expected to make every effort to accommodate employees and allow them to work from home whenever feasible.
• For employees whose job responsibilities do not lend themselves to telework, options include adjusting work schedules or staggering shifts, where appropriate, to increase social distancing.
• Where possible, phone or video conferencing should be used to limit the size of meetings and to continue to engage those faculty or staff who may have alternative work options in place to remain engaged.
• We can predict increased employee absences due to an individual illness, to care for family members, or respond to the temporary closure of K-12 schools. We need to plan ahead, cross-train to cover essential tasks and work through your continuity of operations plan.

The State provides confidential counseling resources to employees who are struggling with life matters that impact their personal well-being. Employees who are experiencing significant stress related to this matter may choose to utilize these resources. More information is available here: https://mn.gov/mmb/segip/health-and-wellbeing/eap/eap-work-life.jsp
Additional resources and guidance for state employees for travel and the necessary precautions after returning from travel out of the state or the country can be found on the Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) BeReadyMN website here: https://mn.gov/mmb/be-ready-mn/infectious-diseases/covid-19.jsp

If you have questions regarding exposure as a result of travel, Minnesota Department of Health asks you to call (651) 201-5414 or (877) 676-5414 for guidance.

I deeply appreciate what you all do to support our students and colleges and universities each and every day. It is your creativity, passion, commitment, and energy which will enable us to overcome these challenges and provide the needed resiliency to successfully navigate our campuses through these difficult times.

Best,
Devinder
Devinder Malhotra
Chancellor

Message from Lake Superior College:

As we continue to receive updates from the Minnesota State system office, we will continue to share updated information with you via email, on the website www.lsc.edu/coronavirus, and through other official communication channels including LSC’s official social media.

Last week you received email updates from Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra and Lake Superior College President Patricia Rogers. Their messages, as well as other updated information and resources, are all available on the website www.lsc.edu/coronavirus.

Here’s a quick summary of information that has been shared over the past few days:

1. 1. 1. 1. • LSC’s spring break has been extended an extra week and classes will now resume March 23 March 30. That means there are no academic classes, on campus or online, until March 23 30 – including labs and all other academic associated course work. Administrators, faculty and staff are spending this time exploring alternative modes of course delivery as well as adjusting campus learning spaces to ensure the safety of the campus community.
            • Once classes resume on March 23 30, some classes will be delivered in a different way. Not all classes will necessarily be moved to online courses, although some will. Instructors and academic deans are figuring out the best options for each specific course, through all 90+ programs offered at LSC, and will be contacting students with that updated information in the coming week.  This may take several more days, so we ask for your patience. Many options are on the table including moving classes that can be moved online to the online format, meeting via zoom, alternative assignments, and possibly even still having some classes meet in-person but taking actions to reduce the size of classes and ensure health and safety. This will largely depend on the individual class, requirements of that class/program, and instructor. Again, instructors and academic deans are working on that now and will be contacting students to let them know the plan once it is confirmed. Several instructors have already started that communication, and others will be doing so in the coming days.
            • While there will be no academic classes during this week of extended spring break, campus is open. To be clear, campus is not closed. Most campus and student support services will remain open and appropriately staffed during this extended spring break, except those that were already planned on being closed during break (such as the Tutoring and Learning Center and the Wellness Center, those will remain closed as they were last week). Student Services, such as advising and financial aid, will remain open. The Customized Training and Continuing Education (CECT) department is still open and programs are still running as planned, although some adjustments will be made to promote health and safety. The LSC Store will remain open Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The LSC Café will be open Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., serving only coffee and snacks. The LSC Library will be open Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Once classes resume on March 23 March 30, hours will likely be adjusted once again and that information will be shared.

New information related to travel that was just shared from Minnesota State system office as of this morning:

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their Novel Coronavirus Travel Information where most countries in Europe have now been designated along with China, Iran, and South Korea at Level 3 (Warning, Avoid Nonessential Travel) and the rest of the world, including the United States, has now been designated at Level 2 (Practice Enhanced Precautions) as a Global Outbreak Notice.

With the number of individuals returning from spring break after either international or domestic travel, the Minnesota State system has asked all campuses to share the following update which goes into effect immediately:

All travelers that are returning from a Level 3 country must stay home for 14 days after returning from travel, monitor their health, and practice social distancing.  The full guidance from the CDC is located at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-europe.

Travelers returning from other countries or from domestic travel need to monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning from travel.  Travelers that are sick with fever, cough, or have trouble breathing should stay home and call ahead before seeking medical care.  The full guidance from the CDC is located at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/coronavirus-global.

If you are a faculty or staff member that needs to self-quarantine or stay home to monitor your health after traveling, please communicate with your supervisor – and if you have further concerns/questions please also contact your academic dean and/or the administrator (VP) who oversees your area.

If you are a student that needs to needs to self-quarantine, stay home to monitor your health, or needs accommodations to self-quarantine, please communicate with your instructor, and if you have further concerns/questions please also contact your advisor and/or Dean of Students Wade Gordon at wade.go[email protected] or (218) 733-7656.

If you have questions regarding exposure as a result of travel, Minnesota Department of Health asks you to call (651) 201-5414 or (877) 676-5414 for guidance.

We will continue to provide updates as they become available and will continue to put the latest information on the website www.lsc.edu/coronavirus. Please communicate directly with your instructors and/or supervisors, but if you have general questions and/or concerns please send them to [email protected] and our dedicated team will make sure they get to the appropriate contact.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this unique and challenging time. Overall, there has been an overwhelming and inspiring spirit of cooperation and unity this past week. That says a lot about you all, our campus and our community. Thank you!

During the extended spring break (March 16-20), the LSC Store will remain open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. The LSC Cafe will be open Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., serving only coffee and snacks. The Tutoring and Learning Center and Wellness Center will remain closed during the extended spring break.

From Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra:
Minnesota State is continuously reviewing a range of strategies to limit the spread of COVID-19 and its impact on our campuses and the communities in which we live and serve. I am committed to taking all steps necessary, in consultation with administrative and statewide faculty leadership, to protect the health and safety of our faculty, our staff, and our students. I am also tremendously grateful to all of the faculty and staff for the sacrifices you have had to make, as well as for the hard work you have engaged in to address this challenging and dynamic situation.

All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to heed the guidance of the Minnesota Department of Health, and in particular, staying home when sick, covering your cough, and practicing good hand hygiene.

Today, I am announcing that the 32 Minnesota State colleges and universities that are currently on Spring Break will suspend classes March 16-22, with classes resuming March 23 (this includes Lake Superior College). The five Minnesota State colleges that have Spring Break scheduled the week of March 16-20 will suspend classes March 23-29, with classes resuming March 30.

While there will be no classes during each campuses’ extra week, administrators, faculty, and staff will spend that week exploring alternative modes of delivery and adjust campus learning spaces to ensure the safety of our communities. All campuses, including residence halls, dining facilities, and student support services, will remain open and appropriately staffed, including student workers. Our goal is to accommodate students and help them continue their education despite interruptions caused by COVID-19.

Minnesota State-Related Travel
Minnesota State suspended all school and business-related international travel effective February 28. In addition, we are now suspending all out-of-state business travel for students, faculty, and staff, effective March 16. For in-state travel or other events, please carefully assess, along with supervisors, the conditions of destination communities to carefully consider the potential risks to yourself, participants, fellow students, families, and friends. Event hosts and coordinators should also be engaged in this assessment. If you choose to travel, ensure you have essential items you might need if you are not able to return immediately, such as medications, laptops, or other items needed to continue your studies.

Campus Cleanliness
The cleanliness of our campuses is a key element in keeping our faculty, staff, and students healthy. The facilities and maintenance teams at all the campuses are adhering to updated guidance from the CDC to ensure comfortable and save campuses within which to learn.

Large Events
All events or other gatherings totaling more than 100 attendees are cancelled until May 1, and the situation will be re-evaluated. The diversity of our student body and employees is one of our greatest strengths. As such, we are committed to ensuring welcoming and supportive campus environments for all of our students, faculty, and staff. It is vitally important we work together, follow the practices recommended by public health officials, and proceed with preparedness, calm, and understanding.

Once again, thank you for your hard work and your efforts to deliver an extraordinary education even during these challenging times.

For more information, continue to visit the Minnesota State website and your college/university website.

Sincerely,

Devinder Malhotra
Chancellor

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Dear LSC Campus Community:

Lake Superior College administration is in frequent and regular communication with the Minnesota State system – as well as government agencies, healthcare providers, fellow higher education institutions, and other community partners – regarding how the coronavirus (COVID-19) will impact our system and campus community. The safety of our students and employees is our top priority and we will continue to monitor the situation diligently and provide updates as they are available.

We will provide new and/or updated information at lsc.edu/coronavirus, along with additional resources and health guidance. We encourage everyone to check this site regularly and we will also provide updates via email, LSC’s official social media sources, and/or through campus leadership. We also encourage everyone to avoid misinformation regarding LSC’s actions concerning classes, travel, and so forth. Please rely only on confirmed information provided by LSC administration, which will be provided on our website and through our various official email and social media channels.

At this time, the only universal and direct impact to institutions within the Minnesota State system, including Lake Superior College, is that all international travel has been suspended as of February 28, until further notice by the Minnesota State system. Those directly impacted at Lake Superior College have already been contacted about this and are working with department leaders to make alternative plans.

We encourage everyone to take necessary steps to ensure your own health and safety, as well as those around you, including practicing respiratory (coughing and sneezing) etiquette and hand hygiene.  Additional hand sanitizers have been made available throughout campus and additional and deeper than usual cleaning, including sanitizing hand rails, is already underway by the LSC facilities team during this week of spring break. We would like to thank the team for their dedication and for their continued efforts!

If necessary, we are prepared to take additional precautions and actions which could potentially include moving more classes to an online format but at this time there are no immediate and confirmed plans to do so. We have been discussing contingency plans just to be safe and prepared, but hope that will not be necessary. However, if it does become necessary we will be prepared for a smooth transition and again will provide any relevant information and directions through official communication channels including lsc.edu/coronavirus.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact your instructor and/or supervisor directly, or the administrator in charge of your department. You can also send general questions or comments to [email protected] and our team can help direct those to the appropriate contact.

Thank you all for your cooperation, calmness and understanding during this unique time. Overall, it’s largely business as usual unless and until anything changes.

For those of you on spring break, we hope you’ve been enjoying some time off and hope you have a happy and safe rest of the break.

Patricia L. Rogers, Ph.D.
President
Lake Superior College

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