Guidance for Faculty and Staff on Positive Student Cases

Dear Twin Cities Faculty, Instructors, and Staff:

Our framework for Fall semester is built around a curriculum that is richly multi-modal, provides flexibility for instructors and learners, and continues to put health and safety first.

The steps we are taking to reduce campus density, maintain 6-feet physical distancing, require face coverings, and make testing available, among other protocols, are designed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to limit opportunities for exposure.

Despite all of our best efforts, members of our community may contract COVID-19. If a student discloses they have tested positive for COVID-19 or been notified of a COVID-19 exposure, or if you believe there has been a potential exposure in a classroom, lab, studio, advising office, or any learning or student life space, this online guidance document describes the process you should follow. (You can also view and download this pdf).

Please note especially these critical guidelines:

  • When a student discloses they have tested positive for COVID-19 or been notified of a COVID-19 exposure, faculty, instructors, and staff must closely follow Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines as directed by the University’s Health Emergency Response Office (HERO).
  • If a student appears to be sick or tells you they may have been exposed to COVID-19 (even if asymptomatic), advise them to contact the Boynton Nurse Line at 612-625-3222 (answered 24/7) or another trusted health care provider, who will provide guidance on testing and isolation/quarantine.
  • If you believe that physical distancing guidelines have not been followed and that there has been a potential exposure, inform your department head/supervisor, who in turn should notify HERO (by contacting Boynton Health, 612-625-3222) to determine if local or state public health investigators should be notified.
    • Exposure is defined as close contact with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case closer than 6 feet for 15 minutes or more.
  • State and local public health officials are handling all notifications and contact tracing. No member of the University community—except those identified by the University’s HERO and public health officials—is responsible for doing this work, including notifying others of a positive case. In some instances, departments in the University may be asked to assist with this, but this must be specifically requested and guided by HERO, Boynton Health, and/or state and local health officials.
  • Confidentiality of personal health information is paramount. Instructors and staff may not disclose to classes, colleagues, or others that someone is sick, has a positive COVID-19 test, or is in quarantine due to exposure, according to federal and state law.
  • If a student must isolate or quarantine, instructors and staff should arrange accommodations for class participation (regardless of modality), as guided by UMN policy for legitimate absences due to illness. (Refer to the policy and related FAQs for guidance). A student in isolation or quarantine should not be referred to the Disability Resource Center (DRC), but any preexisting accommodations requested via the DRC should continue to be provided.
  • Instructors should not unilaterally change the modality of a class before receiving guidance by health investigators and consulting with your department chair/unit head at a minimum and others as appropriate. Departments should also engage HERO, collegiate deans, and the provost.
  • Supporting our commitment to providing an effective learning and research environment while taking steps that reduce the spread of COVID-19, all members of the University community must comply with University public health guidelines and directives including physical distancing in all settings and wearing face coverings in all indoor settings (with limited exceptions).

Please reach out directly to your department head or supervisor if you have any questions about these guidelines or other concerns. For guidelines related to potential or confirmed cases of COVID-19 among faculty and staff, department heads and supervisors should refer to information conveyed earlier this month by the Office for Human Resources and posted on this resource page.

Each of you plays an important role in our collective efforts to reduce the risk of pandemic spread while continuing to teach, research, and serve at world-class levels. Thank you for your continued commitment as we prepare to deliver excellent teaching and learning to our students this fall.

Sincerely yours,

Rachel T.A. Croson
Executive Vice President and Provost

email sent to all Twin Cities campus faculty, staff, and graduate-student instructors on August 7, 2020