Fall 2020 and Graduate Education: FAQs

For Students/Prospective Students

How can I take an English language proficiency exam while testing centers are closed?

In select countries, the TOEFL exam is available to take at home. Students should regularly check websites for all accepted language exams for the most up-to-date information on test availability: IELTS, Pearson, Cambridge 

How are processing for i20s and visa interviews affected by COVID-19?

• As of late March, visa services have been suspended at US consulates worldwide and we do not know when visa services will resume
• The Graduate School Admissions Office will continue to process and ship I-20 documents despite embassy closures. At this time, shipping to India is on hold.
• Students should check with their local consulates periodically for the most up-to-date information on the resumption of visa services, and schedule appointments as soon as they are able. 

I'm an international student already in the U.S. at another institution. Do I need to travel overseas for visa purposes or visit a U.S. consulate before starting my grad program?

These students are NOT required to travel overseas for visa purposes and they are NOT required to visit a US consulate before starting their grad program at the U of M. 

How can I get updates from ETS about the GRE and TOEFL? 

You can register for customized updates via the ETS Email Preference Center.

How can I get updates from IELTS? 

You can register for customized updates via the IELTS Communications Preferences Page.

For Faculty/Staff

What should I tell prospective graduate students who are wondering about the 2020 Fall term?

While the University of Minnesota continues to closely monitor the developing situation regarding COVID-19, our graduate admissions process for the fall 2020 semester is proceeding normally. Although we can't promise that all will be "back to normal" by the start of the academic year, we are moving forward as if that will be the case, and we encourage you to do the same. We will keep you informed of any changes over the coming months.

What if a matriculated student is unable to travel to the U.S. before the beginning of the 2020 fall semester?

Programs are encouraged to consider alternative learning options and/or deferring students’ admission until they are able to arrive in the U.S. 

What if an international student is already in the U.S. at another institution?

These students are NOT required to travel overseas for visa purposes and they are NOT required to visit a US consulate before starting their grad program at the U of M. 

What online teaching resources are available for TAs?

There are currently two central locations where TAs can get support for online teaching:

The Keep Teaching website includes:

• Support for academic technology (i.e. teaching with Zoom and Canvas)
• Online consultations

The Center for Educational Innovation website includes:

• Practical pedagogical support for remote teaching that is manageable for both instructors and students. 
• Resources for Online Instruction such as:
  • Online Course Design seminar
    • Running from April 17 until May 26, and we welcome later registrations as well.  TAs can also “drop in” or participate in a self-paced way.
  • The Online Course Design canvas site (open to the public)
    • A stand-alone resource that can be accessed at any time
  • Making a Good Online Course Even Better
    • For additional/more advanced online teaching topics
  • The Guidelines for Online Teaching and Design
    • A searchable, practical guide to assist members of the University of Minnesota community (e.g., faculty, instructors, administrators, instructional designers) in supporting student learning in online courses and programs.

During this time period, will electronic signatures from committee members be acceptable on prelim and final oral exam forms? 

Academic Support Resources is committed to minimizing impacts on degree progress or degree clearance for students. Contact GSSP at [email protected] to discuss options for alternate signatures.

I’m scheduled to take my doctoral preliminary oral soon. What are my options? Can I take the exam off site? 

In-person events like doctoral preliminary oral examinations must be conducted electronically to allow for off-site participation until further notice. Refer to information about requirements and best practices related to the University’s policy allowing for remote participation in graduate examinations. Using Zoom to conduct the examination is strongly recommended. Refer to the “Using Zoom for Meetings or Exams” FAQ for tech assistance related to Zoom.

One of my doctoral advisees is scheduled to defend their dissertation soon. What are our options? Can the student participate from an off-site location? Can the committee members do so? 

In-person events like doctoral preliminary oral examinations must be conducted electronically to allow for off-site participation until further notice. Refer to information about requirements and best practices related to the University’s policy allowing for remote participation in graduate examinations. Using Zoom to conduct the examination is strongly recommended. Refer to the “Using Zoom for Meetings or Exams” FAQ for tech assistance related to Zoom.

The final doctoral defense requires a public presentation prior to the closed examination. Is that still required? 

Yes. University policy requires the doctoral final oral examination to include a public presentation of the dissertation to the doctoral final oral examination committee/invited scholarly community, followed by a closed session (open only to the doctoral final oral examination committee and the student) immediately following the public presentation. Using Zoom to conduct both the public presentation and final oral examination is strongly recommended. Refer to the “Using Zoom for Meetings or Exams” FAQ for tech assistance related to Zoom.

Our program’s doctoral preliminary written examinations are scheduled to be given soon. Students are required to sit for the examination at a specified UMN site with a proctor. Do we have to reschedule/cancel this semester’s scheduled prelim written exam? 

In-person events, including doctoral preliminary written exams, are not currently allowed. Rescheduling, or reformatting the delivery method, to address current restrictions is within the purview of each graduate program and in collaboration with the college.

Our graduate program has master’s students scheduled to take their final oral examinations this semester. Can the student and committee members participate remotely? 

In-person events like master’s final oral examinations must be conducted electronically to allow for off-site participation until further notice. Refer to information about requirements and best practices related to the University’s policy allowing for remote participation in graduate examinations. Using Zoom to conduct the examination is strongly recommended. Refer to the “Using Zoom for Meetings or Exams” FAQ for tech assistance related to Zoom.

Our master’s program requires a final written examination. Students are required to sit for the examination at a specified UMN site with a proctor.  Is an on-site master’s written examination allowed?

Graduate programs may conduct on-site master’s final written examinations, with the understanding that all University social distancing and safe classroom protocols are followed.  For written examinations that require proctors, assignments must comply with the departmental/unit sunrise plan.

How do I submit forms to the Graduate Student Services and Progress (GSSP) office? 

The GSSP office strongly encourages individuals to email forms/documents to [email protected] to ensure the quickest service. Those unable to send via email should contact [email protected] to discuss alternative options.

When we conduct virtual milestone examinations (master’s finals, doctoral preliminary and final orals), what do we do about obtaining the required signatures from the committee members? 

The Graduate Student Services and Progress office (GSSP) is introducing flexibility around their signature standards. Electronic signatures, such as DocuSign and mouse-based signatures, will be accepted on graduate and professional student forms, such as examination forms, submitted to GSSP. Please contact the GSSP office directly at [email protected] with questions about e-signatures.

What can you tell me about the a recent proclamation by the U.S. government that will ban the entry of certain F-1 and J-1 graduate students and visiting scholars from China effective June 1, 2020?

There is a lot that is unknown about the details of the proclamation and how it will be implemented, but we want to be clear that this does not affect undergraduate students who are currently studying in the United States and does not have any immediate impact on current graduate students or scholars.

The proclamation states that it does NOT apply to:

• All new and continuing undergraduate students regardless of their majors
• All legal permanent residents
• A spouse of a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
• F-1 or J-1 graduate students or visiting scholars "in a field involving information that would not contribute to the PRC’s military‑civil fusion strategy" (This section of the proclamation is vague and will be defined by the U.S. Secretaries of State and Homeland Security. We will update you as we know more.)

The focus of the proclamation is on new graduate F-1 or J-1 students and visiting scholars with connections to an entity in the People's Republic of China “that implements or supports the PRC’s 'military-civil fusion strategy,'" which is broadly defined as "actions by or at the behest of the PRC to acquire and divert foreign technologies, specifically critical and emerging technologies, to incorporate into and advance the PRC’s military capabilities."

The proclamation also says that the U.S. Secretary of State may determine if current F-1 or J-1 graduate students and visiting scholars who meet the criteria regarding involvement in "military-fusion strategy" could have their visas revoked. Again, this is vague and we do not have further guidance at this time. Note that visa revocation is not the same thing as being forced to leave the U.S.; it means the person no longer has permission to enter the U.S. if they leave.

If you have concerns about your specific situation, reach out to ISSS. We will try our best to address your concerns, but please understand there may be many questions we are not yet able to answer without further information from the U.S. Secretary of State.