Board of Regents

Emergency Declaration

The Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota has issued the following statement regarding Emergency Declaration and Notice under Minnesota Statute 13D.021 of Electronic or Telephonic Meetings Due to Pandemic:

On March 25, 2020, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and national, state, and local declarations, University of Minnesota President Joan T.A. Gabel declared a University State of Emergency, to remain in effect as long as the State of Minnesota peacetime emergency declaration of Executive Order 20-01 remains in effect or as otherwise rescinded by President Gabel, a designee, or the Board of Regents. That same day, President Gabel requested that Chair Kendall J. Powell, Vice Chair Steven A. Sviggum, and Regent David J. McMillan, as chair of the Finance and Operations Committee, exercise their authority to approve this declaration under Board of Regents Policy: Board Operations and Agenda Guidelines, Section V, Subdivision 7, Urgent Approvals. Each individual Regent did approve this declaration, without meeting, as documented in the memorandum from Brian R. Steeves, Executive Director & Corporate Secretary, to President Gabel.

The pandemic and declared emergencies necessitate that future meetings of the Regents of the University of Minnesota be conducted in accordance with Minnesota Statutes 13D.021— Meetings by Telephone or Other Electronic Means, until further notice. Consistent with the federal and state guidance, Chair Powell has determined that in-person meetings are not practical or prudent because of the current health pandemic. Further, due to the pandemic, it is not feasible for at least one Board member to be physically present at the regular meeting location. It is also not feasible for the public to attend at the regular meeting location due to the pandemic. Thus, members of the public are not permitted to attend any upcoming meetings due to the current pandemic.

The Board will, to the extent practical, provide means for the public to monitor meetings electronically from a remote location during this pandemic. The Board will provide notice of the public method with any notice of a meeting during this pandemic.