COVID-19 and Community-Based Activities

Updated: July 1, 2021

Governor Walz's Executive Order requiring us to establish and maintain
Sunrise plans expires June 30, 2021.

As of July 1, 2021, in-person community-engaged research activities and non-clinical in-person community-engaged learning (i.e., fieldwork activities) may resume without the submission of an exemption petition to conduct in-person activities.

This page offers guidance on how to navigate community-based and field-based activities as we resume in-person activities. The Office for Public Engagement is committed to providing you with the most up-to-date and accurate information to support your community-engaged efforts.

You can submit questions, issues or concerns regarding conducting community-engaged research, teaching, or outreach activities here. The Office for Public Engagement staff will review your comments and will work with key administrative, campus, and collegiate units and the University's Public Engagement Council to address your questions and concerns.

Teaching and Learning

Summer 2021 Community-Based and Field Based Experiential Learning (non-Clinical) 

Beginning July 1, central campus approval (via petition or blanket exemption) is no longer required for students to conduct in-person fieldwork or community-engaged learning activities.

Governor Walz has lifted the mask mandate for all who are vaccinated. For all who are not vaccinated, masks are expected when indoors.  This policy now applies to students, faculty, and staff working on campus, per President Gabel's most recent message. 

Activities occurring now through June 30, 2021: 

1. Student Experiences via Petition

Students, faculty, and others who wish to engage in credit-bearing off-campus field-based activities in person between now and June 30, 2021 should complete and submit the petition application linked below: 

Individual Student Petition Form: Request for Approval to Conduct In-Person, Off-Campus Community-Based Learning, Internships, and Field Work (for activities starting prior to July 1, 2021)

2. Department Blanket Exemptions

Program leaders that seek a blanket exemption to engage students in in-person field-based activities between now and June 30, 2021, please contact Associate Vice President Andy Furco at [email protected] for more information.   

NOTE: Students, faculty, and units that already have approval to conduct in-person activities that take place after July 1, 2021 do not need to resubmit a petition or blanket exemption request.

Activities starting after June 30, 2021:

No blanket-exemption or petition is required to conduct in-person field-based activities for credit that begin after June 30, 2021.

Note:  This policy is subject to change.

Research 

Summer 2021 Sunrise Plan for Community-Engaged Research

Update: May 17, 2021

FROM ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH, MICHAEL OAKES

Given our scientific and administrative understanding it seems appropriate to update Sunrise plans that regulate human subjects research (HSR), at least those that are not processed by the Medical School (MS).
Effective immediately, for both already approved and new/pending Sunrise applications to conduct research with human research subject participants that:

        * Do not involve especially vulnerable subject participants;

        * Do not rely on MS Sunrise procedures; and

        * Have your Associate Dean for Research’s approval

The updated and now default OVPR Sunrise Plan is that researchers must only share the approved COVID information sheet at least 24 hours before interacting with a subject participant. There are no other requirements and, provided researcher abide by this plan, no special OVPR approval is needed.

Note well that researchers still must notify the IRB they wish to resume their previously IRB approved research. And that any protocol changes must receive ex ante IRB approval. Deviations from IRB approved protocols remain unacceptable. This is very important.

Human Subjects Researchers need to only get your approval and provide to subject participants the COVID info sheet at least 24 hours prior to face-to-face interactions. Your approval may be blanket for all your researchers, or regulated any way you wish. You may decide to offer formal letters or a simple email response to applicants.

We recognize some persons are especially vulnerable because they cannot be vaccinated (e.g., allergies), have diminished consent capacity (due to illness, perhaps), or have sub-optimal immune systems (due to age or illness). It is our duty to be more careful with such persons; it's the right thing do to. Please check with me (email or Zoom) about studies involving vulnerable persons. We will discuss optimal strategies for COVID protections for all those involved. Please err on the side of caution. But the decision about "vulnerability" and my consultation is yours to make.

For more information visit: the Office of the Vice President for Research

Our Values

Public health emergencies, such as COVID-19, often instill fear and anxiety that can lead to finger pointing, blame, and social stigma directed at particular communities or groups of people.

With the rise of COVID-19, several groups have faced increased incidents of racism and xenophobia, particularly person of Asian descent. As professionals, scholars, and students who work to advance mutually-beneficial University-community collaboration and partnerships, we stand in solidarity with those who have been targeted, directly and indirectly, by racist and xenophobic words and actions.  

We:

  • stand with the Asian American community and all peoples and call out and report all incidents of racism and discrimination;
  • honor and lift up emergency responders and healthcare professionals who give of themselves to reduce the suffering of the victims of COVID-19; and
  • welcome travelers and visitors into our neighborhoods.

Acts of exclusion, harassment, and hate speech do nothing to prevent viruses and other illnesses from spreading; instead, such actions simply impair our abilities to work together as a community at a crucial time. 

We urge all to act with compassion and concern for those who have been afflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases as well as for those who care for those who have been impacted by the virus. 

We expect all to show kindness, care, and mutual respect as we work together in solidarity in addressing this global pandemic.

Resources

The COVID-19 and Community-Based Activities Resources page provides links to strategies, activities, and materials for moving community-engaged work to a remote, on-line, or other alternative format. It also provides information about the many units and centers across the University that offer support to faculty, staff, students, and community partners in developing alternative formats for community-engaged research and teaching.

The following principles should guide all decisions and actions:

  • Actions must be in line with all established University policies and health precautions. Visit the Safe Campus site often as the information on the site is updated regularly.
  • You may be a pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic carrier of the virus, and therefore, you should consider the extent that your actions may put others at risk. 
  • Practice healthy hygiene habits at all times (i.e., no handshakes, wash hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, etc.)
  • If you are at risk for complications from COVID-19, consult with a physician for guidance on protective measures to reduce potential exposure and protect your health.
  • Inform and secure approval from your supervisor, department chair, advisor of your intended actions regarding all actions pertaining to community-based and field-based activities.

Please consult with your managers and department leaders and regularly visit the University’s main Safe Campus website for up-to-date University-wide information regarding actions, restrictions, and policies pertaining to the COVID-19 virus.

For more information, contact the Office for Public Engagement at [email protected].