Institutes of Higher Education (IHE): COVID-19
On this page:
To be on campus safely
Planning
Additional resources
Minnesota needs a strong higher education sector that supports students and communities in returning to on-campus instruction at colleges and universities. This must be balanced with a need for everyone to take steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to minimize infecting people at high risk of getting very sick.
Traveling off campus means you may bring COVID-19 with you if you have contact with someone with COVID-19 before you leave or while traveling. It is important to remember the following:
- Follow appropriate face covering recommendations and requirements.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others as much as possible.
- Wash your hands a lot, or use hand sanitizer.
If you are not vaccinated and know you will be traveling:
- Lay low before you go! Stay home and stay at least 6 feet apart from others as much as you can before you travel. Stay away from large crowds, gatherings, etc.
- Get tested. If your test is negative, continue to lay low until you go. If you are positive, you need to stay home and away from other people (isolation) as much as possible for at least 10 days.
Follow your return-to-campus policy and the recommendations outlined below.
- If you've left campus for an extended period of time, limit who you see and where you go before heading back to campus.
- Wash your hands often.
- Once you return to campus, self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days. Any time you start to have COVID-19 symptoms, get tested right away; stay by yourself and away from others while waiting for results.
- If you have traveled internationally, follow CDC: International Travel During COVID-19.
If you are not vaccinated:
- Once you return to campus, lay low when you get back, in case you were exposed to COVID-19. You should do this for at least a week – two weeks if you can.
- Some campuses will ask you to stay in your room, keep to yourself, and not participate in activities. This helps slow down the spread of COVID-19 on your campus and in your community; it also helps to prevent new variants of COVID-19 from spreading. You will want to check with your campus on their policies before you travel.
- Remember to get tested five to seven days after you return to campus.
- Wear a mask when you leave your room and limit the time you spend around your roommates or in shared living spaces for 14 days after returning.
Planning
- Guidance for Mitigating COVID-19 at Higher Education Institutions (PDF)
This guidance document features several topics to aid in planning.
Updated 6/30/21
- Recommendations for Different Levels of COVID-19 Transmission Among Higher Education Institutions (PDF)
Updated 5/28/21
- Strategies for Responding to COVID-19 Cases and Outbreaks in Higher Education (PDF)
Updated 5/18/21
- Isolation and Quarantine Quick Reference Guidance for Higher Education (PDF)
Updated 12/29/20
- Abbot BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 AG Card Test (PDF)
Description and provider instructions for distribution to institutes of higher education.
2/24/21
Additional resources
- Minnesota Office of Higher Education: Coronavirus Updates
- University of Minnesota: COVID-19 Updates
- Minnesota State: Students, employees, and visitors must complete a COVID-19 health assessment prior to entering any Minnesota State campus or the system office
- Minnesota Private Colleges: COVID-19 updates
- CDC: Considerations for Institutes of Higher Education
- CDC: COVID-19 Guidance for Shared or Congregate Housing
- American College Health Association: COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 Public Hotline:
For questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, call 1-833-431-2053
Mon.-Fri.: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sat.: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Mental Health Crisis Line - Call: **CRISIS (**274747)
COVID-19 information in other languages:
- Kab Mob Khaus Las Nas Vais Lav 2019 (COVID-19)
(Hmong) - Cudurka Koronafayras 2019 (COVID-19)
(Somali) - Enfermedad del Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
(Spanish) - American Sign Language (ASL) Videos
Contact us:
If you have questions or comments about this page, use our IDEPC Comment Form or call 651-201-5414 for the MDH Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division.