News

Members of the Gustavus community, I write today with an important update on course delivery, on-campus living, and the academic calendar for the Fall 2020 semester. After careful deliberation by the President’s Cabinet and Board of Trustees, informed by the thoughtful work of the Faculty Emergency Planning Committee and the COVID-19 Response Leadership Team, and in consultation with local and state public health authorities, we have made the difficult decision to begin the fall semester with only first-year students, new transfer students, and a small number of returning students living on campus. All other students will complete the first three and a half weeks (September 2-September 25) of classes in an online format while living away from campus. During this period, all classes will be online with the exception of First Term Seminars and CUR-100—Transformations, Values, & Identity, which will be taught in their currently planned instructional format. We know based on our recent survey about online learning that students overwhelmingly want to be back on campus. We want you here, too. We have been and will continue to strive to have all students who desire living and learning on campus this semester when COVID conditions indicate we can do so in a safe manner.

Capital Commentaries are now available for the following series:

Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority (University of St Thomas) Revenue Refunding Note, Series 2020A

Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority (University of St Thomas) Revenue Note, Series 2020B

Plans change with rising coronavirus cases

Only freshmen, new transfers and international students will live on campus and take in-person classes when the new school year starts next month, Macalester College announced Monday.

President Suzanne Rivera said coronavirus infection rates in Minnesota and parts of the country have increased since the St. Paul private school made its initial plans earlier this summer.

As the new dean of the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Anthony Niedwiecki is taking the reins of a 120-year-old law school at an unusual time.

Even as concerns over COVID-19 have steered a move toward complete remote learning in the fall, he’s seen growing interest in the school’s blended online/on-campus learning program and in the practice of law in general.

Dear St. Thomas community,

Today, we received long-awaited news from the NCAA that St. Thomas has been approved to begin reclassification to Division I athletics. This announcement paves the way for our St. Thomas student-athletes, coaches, fans and community to build Minnesota’s first private D-I collegiate athletics program and just the second D-I program in the state.

St. Thomas is the first university that has been approved to transition directly to D-I from D-III in the modern history of the NCAA. This approval recognizes St. Thomas’ growing reputation and academic and athletic success and will help us expand our mission and impact beyond Minnesota.

Ray VinZant, of Wyoming, MN, has been reappointed to the MN Higher Education Facilities Authority Board. The Governor’s Press Release is available here.