Archives for February 21, 2022

After reviewing capacity limits and the number of guests graduating students anticipate inviting to the baccalaureate service and commencement ceremony, we are pleased to announce further details about these events.

Baccalaureate Service with Holy Communion

2 p.m. Saturday, June 4
Chapel of the Incarnation, Luther Seminary

Baccalaureate preacher: Professor Michael Chan
Baccalaureate presider: Professor Craig Koester

Graduating students may invite immediate family only. Limited additional seating will be available on campus for those who wish to attend in person but would prefer more space or if overflow seating is needed.

Weather permitting, the class photo will be taken outside following the service.

The service will also be livestreamed, and a recording will be made available.

Commencement Ceremony

3 p.m. Sunday, June 5
Central Lutheran Church
333 S. 12th St., Minneapolis

Commencement student speaker: Kelly Sherman-Conroy, Ph.D. candidate
Commencement faculty speaker: Professor Lois Malcolm

Graduating students are welcome to bring guests. All attendees should plan to wear a mask.

The service will also be livestreamed, and a recording will be made available.

Luther Seminary’s COVID-19 protocols have required masks since the beginning of the pandemic, and this requirement remains in effect. Given the high COVID-19 test positivity and case rates in Ramsey and Hennepin counties as well as the new omicron variant, it is important for us all to adhere to this standard whenever we are on campus, regardless of our vaccination status. Masks can protect you and others, especially those who have not been vaccinated, such as children under 5.

Our mask policy remains limited to indoor areas; masks are not required outdoors. Individuals may remove masks when in private offices, but please remember to wear your mask in hallways.

Thank you for complying with our mask requirements. Helping one another stay healthy is one of the key things we can do to support community.

Reported employee cases: 0
Reported student cases: 0
Students in quarantine or isolation: 0

Reported cases only include students and employees who have been on campus within a period of time during which they may have been contagious. According to the CDC this includes two days prior to the onset of symptoms or a positive test.

If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19, or if you are an unvaccinated individual who has been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of that person for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period), please report that to the appropriate person. For employees, that person is Michael Morrow (mmorrow001@luthersem.edu). Students should contact David Fenrick; email deanofstudents@luthersem.edu, or text 651-300-3537.

Contact Tracing Protocol

When an on-campus case of COVID-19 is reported, that person is first asked to stay off-campus and quarantine in accordance with CDC guidelines. In addition, the seminary takes two steps for contact tracing:

1. The Minnesota Department of Health is notified, per guidelines for institutions of higher education

2. The person reporting the case is asked to identify “close contacts”; the close contacts identified are notified of the exposure and asked to follow CDC guidelines for testing and quarantining (quarantine applies only to close contacts who are unvaccinated).