Update on Fall Instruction - 7/20/20

Dear students and family members,

Staff and faculty have been working hard all summer with the goal of welcoming you back to campus this fall. Our strategy is to provide options so you can experience the campus in the way that is best for your particular situation, whether that be fully in-person, virtually, or some of each. While we obviously cannot guarantee your safety, we have done our best to follow guidance from state and federal public health agencies to reduce risk while maintaining the engaging campus experience that we all value.

I hope the updates below are helpful as you plan for fall semester. As always, please continue to check the website for up to date information.

Virtual Open Forum
On Wednesday, July 22 at 7:00 PM (Central Time) you are welcome to tune into an open forum and ask questions of campus administrators related to fall semester. Please use this zoom link to join the meeting https://ndsu.zoom.us/j/98995346076 . If this meeting does not work with your schedule, please email your questions to NDSU.fall2020@ndsu.edu and we will respond individually.

Welcome Week
Welcome Week offers a range of fun and engaging activities for new students starting Saturday, August 22, and going through the first week or so of classes. This is a great way for new students to meet friends and become immersed in campus life. More details will follow in the coming weeks, but know that Bison Pride will be on full display along with risk reduction measures including face coverings, smaller outdoor events combined with some virtual entertainment.

Well-being
The well-being of our community is a priority for NDSU. As we experience the uncertainty of the pandemic we remind you to practice good self-care prior to coming to campus and after you arrive. Things like getting proper sleep, exercise and nutrition are key to maintaining our health. A host of resources on maintaining well-being can be found here.

Classroom Instruction
Fall semester is scheduled to begin on August 24 and we plan to maintain instruction through December 18. We are not planning to shorten the semester or move to on-line instruction after Thanksgiving as some campuses have done. Of course, we will follow state or local public health guidance in terms of campus operations.

NDSU's HyFlex model will allow us to resume face-to-face instruction this fall.  While students attending  classes in-person remains the optimal format, they will also have a choice to attend remotely through HyFlex in real-time. Students do not need to opt in to take advantage of the HyFlex model since the majority of classrooms will be equipped with technology to deliver both in-person instruction and real-time remote instruction. There may be some exceptions. For example, not all labs or other experiential classes will be offered in a HyFlex format. Students who are not able to participate in labs, experiential classes or other face-to-face offerings should contact their academic advisors for suggestions about rearranging their schedules.

Face Coverings
Don't forget to bring a face covering as NDSU strongly encourages all students, faculty, staff and visitors to wear face coverings when they are on campus and unable to maintain an appropriate physical distance. In some spaces, such as the classroom, students and faculty are required to wear face coverings. Other places that require face coverings include meeting rooms and lounges when a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained. More information on face coverings can be found here. We will all need to do our part to protect each other by following general risk reduction guidelines.

Please continue to submit questions to NDSU.fall2020@ndsu.edu. We will monitor this email address, reply to your inquiries individually and distribute the answers more widely through emails throughout the summer.

Sincerely,

Laura

Laura Oster-Aaland, PhD
Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Old Main 100
Dept 2830, PO Box 6050
Fargo ND 58108-6050
p: 701.231.7052
www.ndsu.edu