Message from the Department Head

Since the Minneapolis Police Department’s killing of George Floyd, the state of Minnesota, and specifically the city of Minneapolis, has become the epicenter of a national uprising against police violence and in support of the rights of the Black community. I stand in solidarity with those communities, and truly hope that the tragic events currently unfolding will ultimately lead to a just, inclusive, and equitable future. 

As a department, we strive to build a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment for all of our students, staff, and faculty. The current events and appropriate demands for justice are a reminder of the urgency of this goal, and our ongoing need for improvement. While we cannot physically be on campus together to support each other and discuss current events, we in CS&E welcome feedback on how we can do our part to provide a more supportive, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all.

Please reach out to us for support and help as well as with questions, concerns, criticisms, and suggestions:
 

• Email our supportive advising staff with any questions or needs: (csciug@umn.edu, csgradmn@umn.edu)

• Provide anonymous feedback: CS&E Undergraduate Student Suggestion Box

• Provide anonymous feedback: CS&E Graduate Student Suggestion Box

• Or, email the department head directly: (heimdahl@umn.edu)

Department leadership and our Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy Committee (CS-IDEA) will review the feedback and take actions as appropriate. 

Resources

Most of all, we recognize that our primary job is always to support you, our students. Now more than ever, we are striving to improve how we provide and communicate that support. The Office of Student Affairs sent out an email earlier referencing some support resources, and we want to reiterate that the departmental student services team is one of those resources. 
 

• For those of you seeking to become more involved, we recommend reaching out to the College of Science and Engineering’s Diversity & Inclusivity Alliance.

• Emergency funding is available to both undergraduate and graduate students who may require it for any reason, (such as addressing housing, food, transportation, or mental health needs during this time). Any student may request these funds through One Stop and expect a fairly rapid turnaround. 

• To help our students with children cope with these events, the CDC provides information on how to help children in an emergency.

Wishing you all well in these trying times,

Mats Heimdahl
Department Head