Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. All faculty, staff, and students at all Minnesota State colleges, universities, and the system office are required to wear a mask, social distance, and continue hand washing protocols until further notice. 

Everyone on campus is responsible for helping create a healthy environment. This is being done by following guidelines from Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and OSHA for handwashing, social distancing, wearing face coverings and limiting the number of people on campus.

• Back to Campus Plan

Face coverings must be worn in public or common spaces on campus including skyways, the cafeteria and computer labs. Employees, students and visitors are expected to provide their own face coverings. Students and instructors who can medically tolerate face coverings must wear them in the classroom, even when social distancing is maintained.

Face coverings are encouraged but not expected to be worn only in the following situations:

• When alone in a space and with the door closed.
• In an enclosed area with a closed door to the general public and where social distancing can be maintained.
• When eating or drinking in a designated area when social distancing practices are observed.
• When a face covering cannot be tolerated for medical reasons, an accommodation must be attained:

Employees with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a face covering should contact Human Resources.

Students with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a face covering should contact Becky Nordin.

• Back to Campus Plan

Students must wash their hands before entering each classroom. Staff must wash their hands before beginning each shift. Visitors must wash their hands upon arrival. Everyone must wash hands and clean shared spaces after using them.

Additional housekeeping practices have been implemented with a focus on classrooms, labs, restrooms, common areas, break rooms, lunchrooms, meeting rooms and drop-off and pick-up locations.

• Back to Campus Plan

Employees and students should not come to the Minneapolis College campus or to other locations where Minneapolis College offers instruction if they are sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 that CANNOT be attributed to another health condition such as:

• Feverish/temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• Chills
• A persistent cough that is new or worsening
• Shortness of breath that is new or worsening or difficulty breathing
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Have had a COVID-19 test and are awaiting results
• Have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days

• Students should also notify their instructor(s) if they are not able to attend class or meet their class obligations due to illness.  
• The dean of students or the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) will follow-up with the student to determine if a short-term accommodation is required. 
• Employees should also notify their supervisor. 

For additional information about how Minneapolis College is planning a safe, gradual return to campus, email healthresponse@minneapolis.edu.

In Spring 2021, about two-thirds of course sections are being offered entirely online. About quarter more are being offered using a blend of online and face-to-face class meetings, though in cases the number of face-to-face meetings is quite limited.

Additionally, students whose programs require them to complete internships, practica or clinicals will be allowed to complete those at external sites as long as appropriate safety measures are being observed at those sites. Information on which modality will be used in each course section can be found in the Course Schedule.

Computer labs are available on the third floor of the Technical Building. Work areas are arranged to provide social distancing. For hours of operation, visit the Academic Success Center webpage.

The Library will continue to offer all services remotely. In addition, a procedure is being developed for students to return books that they may have previously took out on loan.

To request an accommodation, employees must contact Human Resources. Employees seeking accommodations will be required to utilize the process for requesting reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Contact Human Resources for more information.

• Back to Campus Plan

For additional information about how Minneapolis College is planning a safe, gradual return to campus, email healthresponse@minneapolis.edu.

Students who are concerned they may have been exposed to the virus should contact Becky Nordin, Dean of Students or by phone at 612-659-6712. follow self-care and quarantining guidance from the CDC. Contact the Minnesota Department of Health, your primary care physician or the Boynton Student Health Clinic regarding testing or treatment.

Computer labs are available on the third floor of the Technical Building. Work areas are arranged to provide social distancing. For hours of operation, visit the Academic Success Center webpage.

The Boynton Student Health Clinic is open and providing limited healthcare services with most medical and mental health visits being conducted via phone or online. Please call the clinic at 612-659-6384. Most services are provided at no cost to currently enrolled students

Students who have been working spring semester are encouraged to ask their supervisor about hour and resources for teleworking. Work Study students who are unable to continue working should make arrangements through their supervisor to ensure there are no interruptions in their payroll approvals. Funding is being secured to support student employees who are unable to work.

Computer labs are available on the third floor of the Technical Building. Work areas are arranged to provide social distancing. For hours of operation, visit the Academic Success Center webpage.

Many technology questions are answered in the Student Technology Guide online.

• Visit the ITS page for more information and services.

Have a question?

• Technology Support Request

Phone

• IT Service Desk 612-659-6600
  If you get the voicemail, please leave your name, contact information, StarID and brief description of what you are calling about.

IT Remote Service Desk Hours:

• Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

After Hours Technology Support

For after hours help with StarID, D2L, Zoom, O365, students can call 1-844-456-3876 for direct support. Students will receive immediate assistance or be guided through the process to submit a ticket for more complex issues.

Wireless access on campus Specialized software can be found on computers 7-12 & 33-36. in the ASC T.3200.

Visit the StarID Self Service webpage to reset your password, sign in to your profile and more.

Even more information:

• StarID Help and FAQ

For more information on affordably leasing a laptop, visit the Digital Learning Program webpage.

Options for low-cost internet, Wifi, computers:

• Internet Essentials – Comcast is offering 'Internet Essentials' package free for low-income customers for 60 days. There is also an option to buy refurbished low-cost computers. 
•  NOTE - Comcast announced Friday 3/13, it would open free public Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the country, as part of its response to the Coronavirus outbreak. It will also eliminate data caps for its customers.  
• Charter Communications is offering Free Spectrum broadband and WiFi access for 60 days in home with K-12 and/or college students that don’t have an existing Spectrum service level up to 100 Mbps. 
• Minnesota Computers for Schools – Lifelong Learners Program: Do you needed a computer but had no way of getting one? This may be a program to help. There is an application process, and the student would need a portion filled out by a Learning Partner/Counselor/Social Worker/Job Coach, etc. 
• PCs for People - This option provides the ability to provide low cost internet and computers to individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements. The internet access is provided with mobile hot-spots, which would allow students to take it wherever it is needed. 
• Refurble – Provides low cost refurbished machines to students.
• MIDCO Lifeline - Lifeline is a federal program intended to put home phone and internet service within the reach of qualifying families – giving low-income households affordable home phone or internet access. 
• Minnesota Office of Broadband Development -  Digital Inclusion 
• City of Minneapolis Public Wifi- USI opened their WiFi network in Minneapolis for those that may need temporary internet access.Look for the “City of Minneapolis Public WiFi” or “USI Wireless” networks on your mobile device and you will be connected. The process is similar to using Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or the airport. No password or credit card is required to sign in. Contact USI Internet support for more information or to get help over the phone. Note: You need to be within 50 feet of the hotspots. Signal strength varies indoors. Please contact USI Internet support if you are experiencing problems.

Log in using your StarID@go.minnstate.edu and your StarID password.

You can easily access many Minneapolis College Library Resources online. For help with accessing library resources please Ask a Librarian

The Tutoring webpage staff provides online tutoring and other support to help students in their classes.

Yes. Visit the Academic Advising webpage for information about scheduling an appointment or using Virtual Drop-In Advising to meet with an academic advisor.

Instructors can set up virtual meetings through Zoom Video Conferencing. They will place links to access the meetings within your D2L Brightspace courses. To initiate a meeting with an instructor, Zoom Cloud Meetings offer full video and audio conferencing capabilities with content sharing and cloud recording.

Log in to Zoom Meetings to automatically create your account by clicking on the Sign In button with your StarID and password. Once logged in, download the Zoom Client for Meetings from the Zoom Download Center on your computer.

You can connect with your fellow classmates in the Study Buddies feature in Navigate, and then once connected, coordinate a meeting time virtually in Zoom and Navigate

Please view our step by step informational guide