WSU is ready to welcome the Rochester community back to school– whether students are continuing their classes online or joining us in person at our Rochester campus locations.
While we can’t predict how this ongoing pandemic will unfold or when it will end, we remain ready to respond as circumstances change.
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Ready for the University Experience
The flexible and accessible online and hybrid programs available from WSU-Rochester have continued without interruption. We are ready to help our students complete their degrees with classes available from home and close to home in Rochester.
We remain committed to help our students acquire valuable skills and obtain college credits so that they can continue to safely work and live their daily lives.
We will continue to provide student life activities in accordance with Minnesota State guidelines and in response to external factors. We welcome student feedback on how we can adapt our campus activities to help us all stay connected with virtual and safe outdoor activities. Just because we must maintain a social distance doesn’t mean we can’t socialize.
We will continue to work with RCTC and our Rochester community partners to coordinate what campus facilities and external programs will be accessible this fall. Direct student services and tech support will always be available in Rochester whether students choose to visit us on campus or reach out remotely. Our WSU-Rochester Student and Campus Services staff remain ready to provide our students with assistance from a distance.
To protect public health and safety, these experiences will be different, but we’re ready to make them happen. Our students will always have opportunities to continue their studies, advance their careers, and move forward with their futures.
Ready for a Safe Return
We are putting student safety at the forefront of all our plans. That’s why we’ve carefully prepared measures to ensure a safe return for all.
In coordination with RCTC, we’re making sure our classrooms and campus facilities are set up in a way that maintains proper social distance.
We’ve ordered cloth face masks for all students, faculty and staff. Sanitizing stations will be available to encourage effective hygiene.
WSU Health Services and Counseling Services staff will continue providing telehealth appointments. Student health services are also available to WSU-Rochester students through RCTC.
See the latest updates on our COVID-19 response and read the full Back to Campus Preparedness Plan (PDF).
For information about the campus space we share at Rochester Center, please see the latest updates on the RCTC COVID-19 response and read the RCTC Back to Campus Preparedness Plan (PDF)
Ready to Teach and to Learn
Our faculty are ready to deliver high-quality educational experiences whether they are teaching face-to-face, online or a mix of both. Based on years of experience delivering distance learning instruction and developing hybrid classroom environments in Rochester, they’ve designed their online courses to be engaging and effective.
This level of preparation is in large part due to WSU’s decades-long commitment to technology and our investment in a robust digital infrastructure. Through the eWarrior program, our Rochester students, faculty and staff can be fully equipped with laptops and the online tools they need to be successful.
Not only do we have the technology tools in place, but also on-going training and support is always available thanks to the expertise and experience of our TLT and IT staff and thanks to innovative WSU-Rochester faculty who were early adopters of online, hybrid and flexible delivery.
Ready to Meet Students Where They Are
There’s a reason WSU has the highest student success rate in the Minnesota State System. Our faculty and staff go above and beyond to make sure students get help in a way that suits their needs. We continue to provide high-level support across all our programs in Rochester and beyond.
That’s why we’re offering students as much choice as possible for their classes.
As always, our Rochester programs remain committed to responding to student needs and adapting to student schedules to provide flexibility and accessibility no matter the external challenges we may be facing in our lives.
Our support staff are ready to do what they do best to help students achieve their goals– whether that’s through an in-person appointment, online meeting, or another form of communication.
Advising, tutoring, career exploration, health services, mental health counseling—all these support systems and more are ready for students at WSU. Students at WSU-Rochester can also continue to access health services through RCTC.
Ready to Adapt to Whatever Comes Our Way
Rather than rush to re-open without assessing the risks, WSU has worked through the “what-ifs” now.
We have a plan prepared for when the pandemic subsides, and we can lift these precautions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our lives, rearranged our work, and upended many plans. But it doesn’t have to put college education on hold.
WSU-Rochester is ready to help students achieve their goals because we are:
- Ready with choices – so students can choose the class options that best fit their needs
- Ready with technology – to ensure students get a quality education whether on campus or remote
- Ready with opportunities – so students can feel supported, be successful, and build our Rochester community
- Ready with safe learning spaces and protective measures – to keep students healthy and safe
To be a WSU-Rochester student is to persevere, and we’re going to get through this together. Meet what’s possible at WSU, and choose what’s right for you.
For questions about WSU’s COVID-19 planning please contact covid19-info@winona.edu.
If you have questions about returning to classes or starting your education, please contact WSU-Rochester Student and Campus Services at WSURstudentservices@winona.edu or 507.285.7100.
