Welcome back, faculty. I am compelled to begin this message with some comments related to the events that transpired at the U.S. Capitol last week. At a time when our democracy was validating the Presidential election and we are preparing for a peaceful transfer of power, it was horrifying to observe sedition and the insurrection that followed. I am sure many of you have spent time this week helping our students understand the actions of these extremists and the profound impact they will have in defining our history. Our collective response as a society will also have a defining effect on our nation; violence can never be tolerated and as a union of university faculty we strongly condemn the images, motives, incitement, and conduct of the actions of January 6.
The IFO has made an unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion, promoting a high-quality liberal arts education, and developing our students into active and engaged members of society. Now more than ever, we need higher education to address the issues that divide us. The role of faculty and systems of higher education is essential in helping our country deal with the normalization of rampant misinformation, the need to continue to teach students critical thinking skills as they engage with current events and how to navigate complicated historical contexts, including how to engage our national history of structural racism and white supremacy has never been more urgent. We are uniquely positioned and qualified to find the strategies to move our communities forward.
Faculty have worked harder than ever in the face of compounding tragedies and challenges. We understand this has taken a toll and have worked hard to address the mental health issues that have arisen since March. I am so proud of the work faculty, coaches, and counselors do every day and the profound role our institutions have in making our communities better.
COVID Vaccine Update
On January 7, the IFO sent a letter urging for the inclusion of higher education faculty and staff to Gov. Walz and the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group. This group provides recommendations to Gov. Walz. You can read the letter here. In addition, IFO Leaders are meeting with Gov. Walz on Friday, January 22 to discuss campus budgets and other legislative objectives.
COVID Higher Education Financial Support
The federal government passed a COVID relief package in December 2020. The package included funding for higher education institutions. There are still many questions to be answered for how these resources may be rolled out on our campuses, we’re incredibly thankful for the support and hope it helps our campus communities through these challenging times. Click here to read an FAQ sheet with more information about the financial support guidelines.
Estimates for COVID relief, by campus (click here to check other campuses):
MinnState Total: $185M
We will continue to advocate our federal lawmakers for additional funding to help protect access, affordability, and quality. President-Elect Biden has made it clear he intends to push for a robust COVID relief package after being sworn in next week.
COVID Leave Policy Update
Starting January 1 and continuing until the end of the Governor’s Peacetime Emergency Order ends, MinnState employees continue to be eligible for up to 80 hours of paid Health, Care, and School Leave for full-time appointments, and a pro-rated amount for those in part-time appointments, when teleworking is not possible.
In addition to the 80 hours of paid COVID leave, MinnState employees may take up to 10 weeks of partially paid Extended School Leave to care for a child whose school or place of care is closed or whose childcare provider is unavailable due to COVID-19, if the employee is not able to telework. Click here for more information on the new COVID Leave Policy.
IFO Delegate Assembly Scheduled
The 2020 IFO Delegate Assembly has been rescheduled and will be held using a virtual format on April 16-17, 2021. More details will be released soon.
Conclusion
Thank you for your trust and support over the last few years, and especially the last 9 months. I’m proud and thankful for all the work our faculty, coaches, and counselors have done to help students. I’m also proud of our team for the work they have done to navigate the really important decisions being made to address the pandemic, structural racism, political division, and the many other challenges we’ve encountered.
