Fall 2020: The Maroon and Gold Sunrise

Updated September 1, 2020

Our Plan – Maroon and Gold Sunrise

Throughout the summer, University of Minnesota leaders have been developing in-depth protocols for Fall 2020.
Extensive plans were in place for what the semester would require, including a carefully scheduled move-in to on-
campus housing; consideration of how classes could be taught and precautions necessary to do so; dedicated isolation
and quarantine space for those with housing contracts; instructions for on- and off-campus students, faculty, and staff if
they become sick or test positive for COVID-19; a comprehensive MTest process that follows Minnesota Department of
Health (MDH) guidelines; and many other public health and medically-recommended adjustments.

We developed these plans relying on key guiding principles:

• Prioritize the health and safety of all students, faculty, and staff;
• Ensure that our students, faculty, and staff are as safe, if not safer, than the surrounding communities in which our
campuses exist;
• Give students flexibility around the choice of an on-campus experience, or other alternative;
• Reinforce our mission of teaching and learning, research and discovery, and outreach and public service, while
keeping our community safe; and
• Use data and science to evaluate the status and effectiveness of our public health response systems and general
campus operations designed to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

Using these principles, many faculty and staff who can only do their work on site have developed detailed safety plans
through the University’s Sunrise Plan process, allowing for their successful return to campus. Students have partnered
with the University to encourage use of safety precautions including face coverings, handwashing, and physical
distancing. In fact, student leaders on both the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses have recently launched campaigns that
focus on students influencing fellow students for positive outcomes. We were able to see these plans in action during
Julymester, where in-person courses were successfully delivered with students, staff, and faculty following our safety
protocols.

Even with these successes and the optimism they gave us about the fall, we saw many higher education institutions
across the country start their semester with spikes in COVID-19 transmission. But in some cases, the institutions were
forced to abruptly change their approaches to online learning to slow the virus’ spread in their communities.

We knew that taking time to learn from our peers’ experiences would allow the University to adjust its approach to
ensure a higher level of safety for our students, faculty, and staff. New research discoveries, evolving data, and the
experiences of other campuses help us improve what we do in our own community. We are also grateful for the

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expertise and advice of our public health and medical professionals—at a state level and within our own University—and
we have relied on that advice to refine how we fulfill our commitment to safety.

To this end, we have developed what we are calling the Maroon and Gold Sunrise Plan for Fall 2020.

The Maroon and Gold Sunrise Plan includes four important steps for how students living in University housing will return
to campus, attend classes, and ultimately, enjoy campus life in our new COVID-19 normal.

Here is what students residing in University housing need to know:

Students in University Housing

Students will receive notification about move-in dates and times from the housing and residential life staff on their
campus. When you arrive, you will move in and enter Step One of the plan.

Step One
Students living in University housing will have limited on-campus activities. These limits are designed to reduce
transmission of COVID-19.

Duluth - Move-in starting on September 9.

Twin Cities - Move-in starting on September 15.
Rochester - Move-in starting on September 18.

Students living in University housing will:

• Remain in their residence hall except to:

o Attend classes (when such classes are in-person or blended)
o Use residence hall dining facilities
o Use campus health, libraries, and recreation and wellness facilities
o Participate in work study or other employment
o Be outdoors and physically distant
o Attend to a family emergency
o Go to medical, dental, or mental health appointments
o Residential life staff will be empowered to make common sense decisions
• Students should not visit businesses or residences off campus during Step One.
• Students should not visit other residence halls (unless that is your primary dining hall) or have visitors in their room.
• Students should follow the University’s community pledge to protect yourself and others.
• Students who do not follow Step One requirements may face disciplinary action, including termination of a student’s
housing contract.
• Per MDH guidelines, students moving into residence halls will not be tested on arrival, but students experiencing any
symptoms of COVID-19 should immediately follow the existing MTest process to access information, COVID-19
testing, and support from campus healthcare providers. If the student lives in on-campus housing, they will be
quarantined from other students (unless they are already in a single room) to protect their peers while awaiting test
results. If the test is positive, on-campus students will be offered isolation space on campus unless they wish to
return home or to another location for their isolation time period.
• Step One is expected to last at least 10 days. Campus leaders will review available COVID-19 case information,
status, and the effectiveness of public health response operations (in partnership with local and state public health

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 partners), as well as status of general campus operations to determine if moving to Step Two is feasible or if Step
One restrictions should be extended. It is very important that students with symptoms utilize the MTest process to
ensure the public health system on our campuses and surrounding communities are working as designed to meet
individual and campus needs.

We know that these requirements are different from any other year. There will be special activities planned for all
residence halls to help you connect with others in ways that abide by physical distancing and other public health
guidance. Even so, this will be difficult, but by working together, we can minimize transmission and safely remain on
campus with classes continuing, whether online, in-person, or hybrid.

Step Two
During Step Two, students in University housing will enjoy increased access as follows:

• In addition to everything allowed under Step One, students can also visit student unions, other on-campus locations,
and the surrounding community.
• Students must be “back home” in their room by 9 p.m. Exceptions will continue to be made as noted in Step One.
• Step Two is expected to last two weeks, provided public health guidance indicates good compliance and progress.
• Campus leaders will continue to review available COVID-19 case information, status, and the effectiveness of public
health response operations (in partnership with local and state public health partners), as well as status of general
campus operations to determine if moving to Step Three is feasible or if Step Two restrictions should be extended. It
is very important that students with symptoms utilize the MTest process to ensure the public health system on our
campus is working as designed to meet individual and campus needs.

Step Three
In this step:

• Students in University housing will enjoy full access to University facilities and to communities off campus as they do
during Step Two, but they must be “back home” in their room by midnight. We expect Step Three to last
approximately two weeks.
• Campus public health leaders will continue to review available COVID case information, status and effectiveness of
public health response operations (in partnership with local and state public health partners), as well as the status of
general campus operations to determine if moving to Step Four is feasible or if Step Three restrictions should be
extended.

Step Four
In Step Four, students living in University housing will continue to have full access to University facilities and to
surrounding communities (but should still wear masks, maintain distance, avoid large gatherings, etc.). But different
from Step Three, there are no “back home” time constraints.

Campus public health leaders will continue to review available COVID-19 case information, status, and the effectiveness
of public health response operations (in partnership with local and state public health partners), as well as the status of
general campus operations until the conclusion of the fall semester.

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Throughout the process, reverting back to a previous Step will be required should the situation on campus dictate that
action.

Off-Campus Students

Students living off campus are expected to follow all public health guidance around wearing masks, physical distancing,
and avoiding gatherings. Students can attend class and use campus facilities. Know that those facilities are operating in
compliance with public health guidelines.

The MTest program is available to all students regardless of where they live. Any student who is experiencing symptoms
of COVID-19 (or has reason to believe they have been exposed) should immediately seek testing and support. Students
who reside off-campus and test positive for COVID-19 will be called by a public health representative, which is the
typical process for all people living in Minnesota who test positive. During that call, students should expect public health
officials will assess their individual living situation and provide appropriate instructions for the person who tested
positive, their roommates, and any close contacts about self-isolation (for the person who tested positive) and how to
limit use of shared spaces to best protect the health of roommates and close contacts. In situations where additional
resources are needed to support self-isolation, public health officials will work with individuals to find solutions.

If the individual has no family or other outlets to appropriately isolate, the county in which the person resides will
provide support. We are fortunate that Minnesota has a strong public health network. Our communities are well
supported by MDH and the public health partners at the city and county levels. This system has been working well since
the beginning of the pandemic in Minnesota.

In almost all cases, local public health partners are able to find a solution that does not require emergency housing.
These partners are routinely working on complex cases—including large, multi-generational families with limited
means—and are able to develop appropriate isolation and quarantine plans in these instances. They anticipate the same
will be true for any students living in off-campus housing.

Graduate and Professional Students

This plan does not apply to graduate or professional students unless they live in University residence halls. These
students are covered by guidance provided on August 21: graduate and professional students will continue with their
schedule as communicated previously by their programs.

Crookston and Morris Students

Because move-ins have already occurred and these campuses’ fall semesters have started, this plan does not apply to
Crookston and Morris students. Please refer to the Fall 2020 Crookston Protect the Nest website or the Fall 2020 Morris
website if you have questions.

Student Conduct Expectations

Until there is a vaccine, the only way to be together on campus and minimize the spread of COVID-19 is by wearing a
mask, maintaining physical distance, and avoiding large gatherings. We know that spending time together is a key part
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of the campus experience, but we must exercise restraint until we have a vaccine or other treatment, especially for
social gatherings (e.g., off-campus parties, bars/restaurants) that have been directly linked to clusters and outbreaks on
many campuses in recent weeks. Avoiding such gatherings and following public health policies creates an opportunity
for the University to remain in an in-person environment versus returning to the online mode that institutions found
themselves in last spring. More importantly, complying with our established public health measures will protect those
within our campus community, and those outside our community, who are at increased risk of COVID-19 complications.

Our success depends on:

• Collaboration. By working together—students, faculty, and staff—we can move forward with our hybrid classroom
model and on-campus experiences, ensure the safety of our University community, and engage in the core missions
of this institution to the benefit of our students and the state.
• Flexibility. We will need to adapt as individuals and across our campuses.
• Choice. We know that everyone is in the best position to define what makes them comfortable.
• Commitment. This isn’t easy, but if we work together and support compliance, we will get to the other side of this
pandemic faster.

We expect students to follow this Maroon and Gold Sunrise Plan as the best way to keep themselves and others safe
and healthy, with the understanding that disciplinary action may be taken when expectations are not met.

Community Expectations

We will reach out to the mayors, Chambers of Commerce and local business organizations in Crookston, Duluth, Morris,
Rochester, St. Paul, and Minneapolis, to seek their partnership in keeping our surrounding communities safe and
allowing for a successful semester for our students.