Coronavirus Updates
[Latest News] [Additional Information] [Archived News]
Latest News:
01/12/2021 ‐ New COVID‐19 Intercollegiate Sports Guidance for Higher Education The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has issued a guidance intended for intercollegiate sports activities only, relevant under the Executive Order 20‐01 (EO 20‐01) in effect from Sunday, January 10, 2021, with key requirements that impact intercollegiate sports and athletics. Under EO 20‐21, multi‐team (greater than two teams) events or tournaments are not allowed until January 14, 2021.
This guidance document outlines prevention strategies to reduce the spread of COVID‐19 during sports activities. This document is intended for organizers and participants of college sports. In‐person organized sports activities for intercollegiate athletics must follow the requirements described in the guidance.
Read MDH's COVID‐19 Intercollegiate Sports Guidance for Higher Education.
11/23/2020 ‐ New Free COVID‐19 Exposure Notification App is Available to All Minnesotans Today, Governor Tim Walz announced the release of Minnesota’s free app COVIDaware MN, an app that will notify citizens if they’ve been near someone who tested positive for COVID‐19. If a someone tests positive, they can use the app to anonymously notify anyone they’ve been near.
The free exposure notification app can help Minnesotans make sure they are staying as safe as possible and can take action to keep their family and community safe. By understanding exposure risk, Minnesotans can make more informed decisions about their health.
Download COVIDaware MN today from the Google Play Store or App Store, and encourage your colleagues, family members, and friends to do the same. The app is free and does not collect any personal information or track your location.
Additional Information:
Archived News:
11/19/2020 ‐New Executive Order reinstates safety measures on certain activities to slow the spread of COVID‐19 Governor Tim Walz recently issued Executive Order 20‐99 in response to the outstanding rise in the spread of coronavirus cases in Minnesota, which will be in effect during four weeks from Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. The Executive Order dials back safety measures on social activities, in‐person dining, sports, and fitness establishments for a four‐week period.
Higher education institutions may continue to offer in‐person classes or activities consistent with the up‐to‐date MDH Guidance for Mitigating COVID‐19 at Higher Education Institutions. These guidelines are available at MDH’s Institutes of Higher Education website.
New updates for higher education institutions have been released. Please review the updated recommendations for different levels of COVID‐19 transmission among higher education ‐ see Scenario 4.
Finally, in regards to safety measures for sport activities in higher education, please review the updated COVID‐19 Sports Guidance for Higher Education.
08/17/2020 ‐ Newly Updated Guidance for Colleges and Universities to Mitigate COVID‐19 The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has updated their guidance intended for colleges and universities planning to reopen their campuses in the fall. The document emphasizes the importance of reducing transmission opportunities and minimizing risk to people at high risk, while also supporting students and communities. The requirements and recommendations for higher education institutions are meant to be implemented according an institution’s settings and circumstances. Please review our COVID‐19 Preparedness Plans page for relevant information and resources.
Read MDH's Guidance for Mitigating COVID‐19 at Higher Education Institutions.
07/16/2020 ‐ MDH issues Guidance for Colleges and Universities to Mitigate COVID‐19 The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has published a new guidance intended for colleges and universities planning to reopen their campuses in the fall. The document provides both requirements for all higher education institutions and recommendations meant to be implemented according an institution’s settings and circumstances. This guidance is a starting point and will be followed by future updates from MDH. Please review our COVID‐19 Preparedness Plans page for relevant information on this regard.
Read MDH's Guidance for Mitigating COVID‐19 at Higher Education Institutions.
06/09/2020 ‐ New Executive Order Allows for In‐Person Classes of Up to 25 Students Effective June 10, Executive Order 20‐74 authorizes Minnesota postsecondary institutions to open their campus for in‐person classes and activities of 25 people or less, if those services cannot be provided through a distance learning model and contingent on institutions meeting specific requirements. Visit Executive Order 20‐74 Guidance for more information.
06/05/2020 ‐ Newly Issued Guidance for Postsecondary Institutions Reopening This Fall The Minnesota Department of Health has put out a document intended for colleges and universities to apply as guidance for possible reopening of campuses in fall 2020. All recommendations offered are contingent on disease transmission levels in Minnesota; colleges and universities are expected to have contingency plans in the event there is another Stay‐at‐Home order or some other significant mitigation effort in the future. Please review our COVID‐19 Preparedness Plans page for relevant information on this regard.
Read MDH's Recommendations for Mitigating COVID‐19 at Higher Education Institutions.
06/01/2020 ‐ Colleges Are Authorized to Reopen Campus Following Specific Guidelines Effective June 1, Executive Order 20‐63 authorizes Minnesota postsecondary institutions to open their campus for in‐person classes and activities of 10 people or less, if those services cannot be provided through a distance learning model and contingent on institutions meeting specific requirements. Visit Executive Order 20‐63 Guidance for more information.
The latest Executive Order keeps in place the guidelines provided in Executive Order 20‐56, signed by Governor Walz on May 13th. Previously, authorization provided by Executive Order 20‐52, signed on May 11th, only allowed colleges to reopen their campus for in‐person education to students in programs that prepare them to enter critical sectors of the economy. Read more here.
04/01/2020 ‐ OHE is Temporarily Closed to Visitors Due to COVID‐19 concerns, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education is currently not accepting walk‐in visitors but we do remain open for business. Our physical office is closed until further notice.
For general inquiries, you can reach us at info.OHE@state.mn.us or by calling our main line at 651‐259‐3973. We will promptly respond to your questions and concerns.
03/27/2020 ‐ Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and Emergency Financial Aid Grants The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced on their website that grants received by students through their institution, under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), are not taxable.
The CARES Act has made available funds out of the Higher Education Relief Fund to higher education institutions for directly helping students facing urgent needs related to the COVID‐19 pandemic. Institutions can also make use of these funds to help them cope with the immediate effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic.
You can learn more about the Emergency Relief Fund available to students on the State Financial Aid Guidance related to COVID‐19 webpage.
03/27/2020 ‐ SELF and SELF Refi Payment Relief Options OHE is offering payment relief options for borrowers and cosigners impacted by COVID‐19.
- 0% interest rate
- All SELF and SELF Refi Loans have a 0% interest rate for March 13, 2020 through September 30, 2020. No action is needed to obtain this rate.
- Six‐month forbearances
- Special six‐month COVID‐19 forbearances are available upon request for SELF and SELF Refi Loans serviced by Firstmark Services. Request a COVID‐19 forbearance by logging into your Firstmark account at FirstmarkServices.com.
- COVID‐19 forbearance must be requested by September 30, 2020.
- COVID‐19 forbearances are not available for loans with first disbursement dates after June 30, 2020.
03/27/2020 ‐ College Board Cancels May SAT In response to the rapidly evolving situation around the coronavirus (COVID‐19), the College Board is canceling the May 2, 2020, SAT administration. Makeup exams for the March 14 administration (scheduled March 28) are also canceled. Registered students will receive refunds. Read more