by Jennifer Donovan, Parade of Nations Committee
There’s not going to be a physical Parade of Nations this fall. Due to COVID-19, the popular parade and multicultural festival that followed it have been canceled, but Parade of Nations lives. Its sponsors are still making plans to celebrate the Keweenaw’s rich international heritage in safe and healthy ways.
This year’s theme is “One World, Our World.” A logo designed by Linnea Oja of Hancock won a competition to represent the theme.
by Calvin Larson, Assistant Athletic Director – Media Relations
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Council of Presidents voted Friday to play a conference-only schedule during the Fall 2020 sports season and will evaluate the feasibility of league competition on a sport-by-sport basis.
Playing a conference-only schedule affords GLIAC members additional time to get student-athletes back on campuses and through COVID-19 monitoring protocols, as well as the necessary time to conduct pre-season training in football, volleyball, soccer, cross country and women’s tennis. Collegiate athletics has been on hold since mid-March.
by Rick Koubek, President
Dear Members of the Michigan Tech Community:
Today marks an important milestone for our campus—we have moved to the third and final step of our Return to Campus Plan and transitioned to the Health and Safety Levels system. We entered today at Level Three, and anticipate sustaining that level through the start of classes on August 27.
The Health and Safety Levels system will allow campus activities to be modified in response to the risk factors present on campus and in the area. Thank you in advance for your patience and flexibility as we adjust to the protocols prescribed at each of the various levels.
by University Marketing and Communications
Editor’s Note: This article is part of a series detailing several aspects of campus operations as the University enters Step Three in our Return to Campus Plan.
Today (July 27), Michigan Tech completed our Return to Campus Plan and transitioned to the Health and Safety Levels that will guide our behavior from the fall semester forward. In this article, Theresa Coleman-Kaiser, associate vice president for administration, and Scott Wendt, manager of health and safety for Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), discuss specifics of the University’s plan for cleaning this fall.
by Michigan Tech Archives
Beginning Monday (July 27), the Michigan Tech Archives reading room will reopen to patrons on an appointment basis. Appointments may be requested through this form available on the library website, by emailing copper@mtu.edu, or by calling 7-2505. Please note that all appointments must be confirmed by an archives staff member via telephone or email at least 24 hours prior to the requested appointment time. Any appointment requests for Mondays must be confirmed by the close of business on the preceding Friday.
by Administration
Taking your own trash and recycling to the designated area in your building will continue during the fall semester for all individual employees and departments.
Your help makes it possible for our custodial staff to continue their intensified efforts to clean and sanitize public spaces including high-frequency touchpoints.
We appreciate your help keeping campus clean and safe.
by Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
To help ensure the safety of our classroom environments, Michigan Tech is producing a face shield specifically designed for instructors to use while teaching face-to-face in a classroom. The shield permits visibility of the instructor’s full face, both for in-person students and those who may be joining via video conference, and is sufficiently comfortable to be worn for more than an hour.
David Holden and John Schneiderhan from the Van Pelt and Opie Library and many others have worked tirelessly over the summer months to develop the “teaching shield.” Their work began with a successful open-source model for medical personnel — the same model the University modified to produce a face shield for frontline COVID-19 responders.
by MTU Flex Task Force
We have received a number of questions regarding yesterday’s Tech Today article on campus visitors and the COVID-19 Visitor Symptom Tracking Form.
Beginning July 27, we request that all Michigan Tech guests and visitors complete the form. This includes those visiting the Van Pelt and Opie Library, A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Portage Lake Golf Course, Campus Bookstore, University Images, and other retail outlets, as well as those visiting academic or office spaces. Ice arena patrons will also be required to complete the form when the facility opens to the community.
by University Marketing and Communications
On Monday (July 27), Michigan Tech enters Step Three of our Return to Campus Plan. In this final step, we resume campus operations at the level at which the University will function when students return, and transition to the Health and Safety Levels system that we will maintain from the fall semester forward.
In addition to the return of students and University employees, Step Three allows for campus visitation. Joel Isaacson, senior associate athletic director, said while visitors to campus are allowed, all visitors must fill out a COVID-19 Visitor Tracking Form.
by University Marketing and Communications
In a student-led effort, some Michigan Tech students have elected to donate the money they received from the CARES Act to the Husky Emergency Assistance Fund to help fellow students in need.
In order to help alleviate the financial impact COVID-19 has had on students, Michigan Tech has distributed $1.5 million from its CARES Act relief funds via a $350 grant to all eligible students.
